The Korea Times

Korea's oldest doctor dies at 94

By Bahk Eun-jiHan Won-joo, director of internal medicine at Magnus Rehabilitation and Nursing Hospital, who was 94 years old and cared for patients until the last minute, died of chronic disease on Sept. 30, according to her bereaved family, Thursday.Han Won-ju /YonhapHan was the oldest active-duty doctor in Korea who treated patients at the Magnus Rehabilitation and Nursing Hospital in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, until April.In her mid-80s, Han began working at a nursing hospital and took care of about 10 patients daily until this April as her own health deteriorated. “It seems like my shoulders all of a sudden collapsed when Han, who was the spiritual support of all the staff, passed away,” an official at Magnus Nursing Hospital said. “Our patients were also sad and regretful.”The staff at the hospital called her “President,” as a mark of respect for her ceaseless efforts as a doctor.Born to parents who were both doctors and Korean independence activists, Han Gyu-sang and Park Deok-sil, she graduated from Kyungsung Women's School of Medicine, t

Oct 8, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji

Society

'Gov't should provide education for undocumented children from multicultural families'

Children from multiracial families participate in a Korean class at a school in Seoul, in this file photo. /Korea Times file By Bahk Eun-jiThe number of students from multicultural families in Korea continues to grow, but many of them are in a blind spot for education and healthcare, according to data submitted to Rep. Kwon In-suk of the Democratic Party Korea by the Ministry of Education, Tuesday.The data showed a total of 147,378 students from multiracial families enrolled in elementary, middle and high school this year. The number increased by 15,013 year-on-year to 137,225 in 2019 from 122,212 in 2018. By grade, 107,770 or 73.12 percent were in elementary school, 26,850 or 18.21 percent were in middle school and 12,277 or 8.67 percent were in high school.Under the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which was ratified in 1991, the Korean government is required to provide education to all children living in the country regardless of nationality or e

Oct 6, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji

'Gov't should provide education for undocumented children from multicultural families'

Society

Controversy rises over vegetarian school meal options

By Bahk Eun-jiSeoul's education office is set to introduce more plant-based food in elementary, middle and high schools under its jurisdiction as it takes steps to become more eco-friendly to help tackle climate change. Tentatively titled the “Vegetarian meal choice system,” meals at participating schools will include meat-free options as a part of ecological education, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE). In some regions including Busan and Gwangju, meat has been already taken off the menu for one day a week, resulting in mixed reactions from many parents and educators. The controversy over adding a vegetarian option to school meals is mainly focused on whether it is a guarantee of choice or nutrition guidance that does not meet the dietary needs of growing students. In early June during a press conference at the SMOE building in Seoul, Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon said, "Despite the growing number of young students choosing vegetarian meals by recognizing health problems and the climate crisis, school meals are mainly meat-based without vegetar

Oct 6, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji

Controversy rises over vegetarian school meal options

Health

Nurses at greater risk of coronavirus infection than doctors

By Bahk Eun-jiNurses are at greater risk of contracting coronavirus than doctors because they come into contact with patients more often, according to data submitted to Rep. Choi Youn-suk of the People's Party by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Monday.Nurses in full protective suits line up to enter the treatment ward for novel coronavirus patients at Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital in Daegu, March 23. YonhapThe data showed 159 medical workers have been infected with COVID-19 over the nine months since Jan. 20 when the first patient was reported here. Until July 13, the number of medical workers infected with the virus was 133, but it increased by 26 in the last two months during the second wave of the pandemic. By occupation, 101 nurses were infected, followed by 33 nursing assistants, 11 doctors and 14 radiological technologists and physical therapists. Among the 101 nurses, 39 were infected through direct contact with COVID-19 patients while 44 were involved in group infections at hospitals. Sixteen nurses were infected while attending COVID-19 patients at treatment wards

Oct 5, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji

Nurses at greater risk of coronavirus infection than doctors

Society

Learning Korean

Foreigners wearing masks learn Korean during an event to celebrate Hangeul Day at Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, Monday, while keeping their distance to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Hangeul is the Korean alphabet system devised by King Sejong in 1443. Yonhap

Oct 5, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji

Health

Drug safety ministry in hot seat over remdesivir approval despite side effects

By Bahk Eun-jiSuspicions have been raised that the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety granted conditional permission for anti-viral drug remdesivir to be used as a COVID-19 treatment, despite having received a report about side effects. Vials of Gilead's anti-viral drug remdesivir YonhapAccording to data submitted to Rep. Kang Gi-yoon of the People Power Party, Tuesday, the report on Phase 3 clinical trials conducted by Seoul Medical Center from March 27 to June 25 included possible side effects such as a lowered heart rate. Although the report was submitted to the drug safety ministry in April, the ministry granted authorization for remedesivir to be marketed as a coronavirus treatment July 24. The ministry said it was a conditional authorization and Gilead is still required to submit the final results of international clinical trials, data on manufacturing and quality control standards, and additional risk mitigation measures after marketing.Unlike special imports, marketing authorization indicates that considerable safety and effectiveness trials have been carried out on a substance

Sep 29, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji

Drug safety ministry in hot seat over remdesivir approval despite side effects

Society

Branksome Hall Asia nurtures future-thinking innovators

Students take part in a design technology class at Branksome Hall Asia on Jeju Island, in this October 2019 photo. Courtesy of Branksome Hall AsiaBy Bahk Eun-jiWhen the coronavirus began sweeping the country in late January, schools nationwide shifted to online learning, but most of them faced hurdles due to lack of technology infrastructure and experience. Things were different for Branksome Hall Asia, as the school was ready to embrace this change in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic with its strong teaching of digital literacy and technology education. The school's advanced online learning infrastructure has been enabling its students to thrive in digital learning environments, actively incorporating digital devices in its classrooms.IB education for life-changing learning experienceBranksome Hall Asia, opened on Jeju Island in 2012, has grown to become a prestigious international school. The institute produces outstanding graduates as a result of its excellent curriculum, teaching staff and educational environment based on the 117 years of tradition of Branksome Hall in Canada.Ab

Sep 27, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji

Branksome Hall Asia nurtures future-thinking innovators

Health

Free flu shots program temporarily halted

A nurse holds a flu vaccine at a clinic in Songpa-gu, southeastern Seoul, Tuesday. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said the same day that the government will temporarily halt its plan to offer free seasonal flu vaccines due to problems reported during vaccine transport. Yonhap By Bahk Eun-jiThe Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said Tuesday that government has postponed free vaccinations for influenza due to problems detected during the transport of the vaccine.“We had reports yesterday that 5 million doses of the flu vaccine, which needs to be refrigerated, had been exposed to room temperatures while being transported to medical institutions,” KDCA Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong said during an emergency briefing at the agency's building in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. “We cannot rule out the possibility of quality problems if the vaccine is exposed to room temperature,” said Moon Eun-hee, director of the Pharmaceutic

Sep 22, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji

Free flu shots program temporarily halted

Health

Police vow to crack down on Oct. 3 rallies

The secretary general of a coalition of conservative civic groups seeking to hold anti-government rallies submits an application for Oct. 3 demonstrations at Jongno Police Station in central Seoul in this Sept. 16 photo. YonhapDaily new cases stay below 100 for 2 straight daysBy Bahk Eun-jiThe National Police Agency warned Monday that it will take stern measures against illegal rallies to be held on National Foundation Day, Oct. 3, to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.As of Monday, police said they had so far received 798 requests to hold rallies in central Seoul that day.“Should they push ahead with the rallies despite the government's refusal to give permission, police will immediately take measures to disperse them. Officers will be deployed in advance and a steel fence will also be erected to block and deter demonstrations,” Police Commissioner-General Kim Chang-ryong said during a press conference at the NPA building in Seoul. The vow came after criticism that the police's failure to respond to the outdoor massive rallies by conservative activists, Aug.15,

Sep 21, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji

Society

Int'l school for multiracial families to be opened next March

By Bahk Eun-jiGyeonggi Provincial Office of Education announced Monday that it will open an international school next March providing an integrated education for students from multiracial and Korean families.Gyeonggido Office of Education building /Korea Times fileTentatively named Gunseo Future International School, the education office said the school would be the country's first public alternative school providing an integrated curriculum with a non-graded system. The Gunseo Middle School building in Siheung will be remodeled to house the new international school.Students will come from multiracial and Korean families at a one-to-one ratio, and will learn various languages including Korean, English and their mother tongue at each level. In addition, there will be Korean and world history, literature and art classes.The GOE said the curriculum of the school will be differentiated from other regular schools without grade levels, and with advancement based on credits.The school will offer six middle school level classes, including two for Chinese, one Russian and three Korean, f

Sep 21, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji

Bahk Eun-ji

Read more

Korea's oldest doctor dies at 94

'Gov't should provide education for undocumented children from multicultural families'

Controversy rises over vegetarian school meal options

Nurses at greater risk of coronavirus infection than doctors

Learning Korean

Drug safety ministry in hot seat over remdesivir approval despite side effects

Branksome Hall Asia nurtures future-thinking innovators

Free flu shots program temporarily halted

Police vow to crack down on Oct. 3 rallies

Int'l school for multiracial families to be opened next March

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