Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Korea’s 1st nationwide syphilis survey finds nearly 2,800 cases
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By Jung Min-ho
Nearly 2,800 cases of syphilis were reported across Korea in 2024, with men and young adults accounting for the majority of cases, according to the country’s first nationwide survey on the disease.
The report, released on Friday by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency shows that 2,790 cases were confirmed last year ― an incidence rate of 5.4 per 100,000 people. The majority of cases occurred in the Seoul metropolitan area, and July marked the peak with the highest monthly count.
Men made up 78 percent of cases ― a rate 3.5 times higher than women. People in their 20s and 30s were the most likely to report infections, accounting for 58.6 percent of all cases. Those in their 20s showed the highest incidence rate of 14 per 100,000.
Syphilis, which was previously classified as a Class 4 infectious disease, was upgraded to Class 3 last year, changing its status from sample-based surveillance to comprehensive surveillance.
A sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum, syphilis can lead to severe complications if left untreated but can be cured with early treatment. The disease starts as a sore that’s often painless and typically appears on the genitals, rectum or mouth.
Syphilis bacteria can stay in the body for many years without causing visible symptoms. It can become active again even years after the initial infection and develop into life-threatening conditions.
The disease saw a steady increase throughout 2024, with a spike in July. Most cases were domestic, while 4.2 percent of cases were traced to infections acquired overseas.
“Last year, the incidence of syphilis showed the traditional epidemiological trend of being concentrated among men in their 20s and 30s,” the disease agency said. “It is necessary to establish the evidence required for syphilis prevention and control policies through ongoing surveillance and epidemiological investigations.”