The Korea Times

Gov't seeks to apply stricter health insurance criteria on foreigners

gettyimagebankChinese nationals reap highest benefits among foreign residentsBy Lee Hyo-jin The government plans to apply stricter standards on National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) coverage of foreign residents' dependents, hoping to control expenditures by the public health insurance system.The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Wednesday that it is looking into applying tougher measures to screen health insurance coverage of foreign residents' dependents. One of the options under discussion is obligating them to continuously reside in Korea for at least six months in order to become eligible for the state healthcare program. At present, salaried workers of foreign nationality wishing to apply for NHIS coverage are required to live in Korea for at least six months to sign up for the program through their employers and pay monthly premiums.But their dependents ― spouse, children or immediate family members ― are not subject to such requirements and thus are eligible to sign up regardless of their duration of stay here, as long as they meet certain criteria such as income and ass

Aug 24, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin

Gov't seeks to apply stricter health insurance criteria on foreigners

Society

Literacy levels among Koreans falling

gettyimagesbankBy Lee Hyo-jin Korea boasts a literacy rate of 98 percent, meaning that almost everyone aged 15 and above can read and write, however, an increasing number of people seem to be having difficulties using certain literacy skills in their daily lives.In one example, a Seoul-based cafe selling webtoon-related merchandise uploaded an announcement on its Twitter account, Aug. 20, to apologize for technical glitches in its registration system during an autograph session with a webtoon artist. “Registration is now closed. We once again deliver our deep and profound apologies for the inconveniences caused in the process,” the tweet read in Korean. The administrator used the word “shim shim,” which means “deep and profound,” a homonym of the word that also means “to be bored” in Korean. Some Twitter users who apparently misunderstood the meaning of the phrase as indicating being bored strongly criticized the cafe for its “insincere” apology. Their comments read: “Shim shim apologies? I'm not bored at all,” &

Aug 23, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin

Health

Western, traditional Korean medicine doctors clash over terminology

GettyimagesbankConflict continues over English term for traditional Korean medicine doctorsBy Lee Hyo-jin Western and traditional Korean medicine, both of which are widely practiced in Korea, take different approaches in treating a patient.The former focuses mainly on diagnosing a disease based on a patient's symptoms and treats ailments by using drugs and surgery. In contrast, traditional Korean medicine approaches diagnosis, treatment and prevention as a whole, with the aim of curing the root causes of the illness by restoring balance in the body using herbal medicine and acupuncture.The roots of traditional Korean medicine can be traced back as far as 3000 B.C., according to its practitioners. Although the field has been influenced by ancient Chinese medicine, traditional Korean medicine is recognized for its own unique treatment techniques. It saw a significant acceleration of use by Heo Jun, a royal physician in the 16th century who authored “Donguibogam,” a treasured Korean medical encyclopedia.Western medicine was introduced to Korea late in the 19th century by Dr.

Aug 16, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin

Western, traditional Korean medicine doctors clash over terminology

Politics

Commemorating National Liberation Day

President Yoon Suk-yeol, center, takes part in a ceremony at the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak District, Seoul, Sunday, to transfer the remains of 17 independence fighters buried at a cemetery in Northern Seoul to the Daejeon National Cemetery, ahead of the 77th National Liberation Day, today. Yonhap

Aug 14, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin

Society

Seoul City to phase out semi-basements as dwellings

This photo shows the semi-basement flat where a family of three was trapped and killed by flooding due to the torrential rainfall, Sillim-dong, Gwanak District, Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin The Seoul Metropolitan Government is planning to phase out the use of semi-basements as dwellings as a number of people living in semi-basement flats were killed when Seoul was hit with torrential rains and flooding, underscoring the vulnerability of those in poor living conditions. Seoul and its surrounding areas were pounded with record-breaking rainfall for two straight days from Monday, before the rains moved to other parts of the country, resulting in 10 dead and 8 missing, as well as major damage to thousands of homes, shops, cars and farmland, so far.A family of three living in Sillim-dong, Gwanak District of Seoul was found dead in their semi-basement home after becoming trapped there when water gushed down into the flat through a sinkhole in the adjacent road.A 50-something woman living with her mother in a semi-basement flat in Sangdo-dong, Dongjak District, was also killed in th

Aug 11, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin

Seoul City to phase out semi-basements as dwellings

Environment & Animals

Korea urged to take preemptive steps to deal with climate change-induced disasters

This photo shows landslides triggered by the heavy rain near a high school in Dongjak District, Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapYoon orders new measures to cope with extreme weatherBy Lee Hyo-jinAfter Seoul and its surrounding areas were battered by record-breaking downpours over the last two days, experts are calling for preemptive mitigation and prevention efforts, warning that the country may witness more extreme weather events caused by climate change.Nine people were killed in the torrential rainfall as of Wednesday ― five in Seoul, three in surrounding Gyeonggi Province and one in Gangwon Province, while seven people went missing, according to the Central Disaster Safety and Countermeasures Headquarters. The authorities said 2,600 homes and residential buildings were destroyed, leaving at least 600 people displaced.The accumulated rainfall across Seoul stood at 525 millimeters as of 11 a.m., while some parts of Gyeonggi Province were drenched with 532.5 millimeters of rain.Presiding over a flood response meeting, President Yoon Suk-yeol offered an apology to the public for the inconven

Aug 10, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin

Korea urged to take preemptive steps to deal with climate change-induced disasters

Society

'Pandemic kids': Plan to lower school entry age backfires

First grade students at an elementary school in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, attend class on their first day of school, March 2. NewsisFive-year-olds' brain development requires play: experts By Lee Hyo-jin First grade in elementary school is widely considered a milestone year for children, when their academic learning begins in earnest, leaving behind the play-based activities of kindergarten. They also begin to create their individual identities outside of the home and acquire social skills through daily interactions with peers.The debate about the ideal age to start school is not new, with educators, child development experts, parents and policymakers offering differing views. Some believe the older the better, while some suggest that it is better to give children an educational experience from early on.Currently, children in Korea are enrolled in elementary school on March 1 following the year in which they have turned six in international age, under the Education Act established in 1949. But the country may see a change in this 73-year-old practice in the coming years, as the curre

Aug 5, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin

'Pandemic kids': Plan to lower school entry age backfires

Health

Amid explosive COVID-19 spread, gov't announces 'targeted' measures

An official at the Songpa District Office in Seoul points to the figure of 119,922 daily COVID-19 cases reported on Wednesday, the highest figure in 110 days. Joint Press CorpsCumulative cases surpass 20 million, critical cases at 3-month high of 284By Lee Hyo-jin The government announced “targeted” quarantine measures, Wednesday, while the country is grappling with an explosive increase of infections driven by the super contagious and antibody-evading BA.5 Omicron subvariant.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 119,922 new cases for Tuesday, the highest figure in 110 days. The number of critical cases stood at 284 ― the highest level in nearly three months ― with 26 COVID-19-related deaths. The cumulative number of infections stood at 20,052,305, surpassing 20 million in two years and six months since the country reported its first case on Jan. 20, 2020. The figure amounts to 38.8 percent of the total population of 51.78 million, meaning that roughly four out of 10 people have been infected with the virus at least once.Korea has become the eigh

Aug 3, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin

Amid explosive COVID-19 spread, gov't announces 'targeted' measures

Trends

Number of non-family households hits record high

GettyimagesbankBy Lee Hyo-jin A female office worker surnamed Jeong, 29, has been living together with her boyfriend for over two years in a studio apartment in Yeongdeungpo District, southwestern Seoul.Saving rent and spending more time together were the main reasons why they chose to live together, but two years on, Jeong feels there are many more benefits. “It definitely feels more secure and safer than living alone, both emotionally and physically. We spilt household chores and take care of each other when someone gets ill,” she said. “Of course, we sometimes argue, but it's easier to talk it out since we have to see each other every day.” She may marry her boyfriend in the future, but not now. “Marriage seems like a big decision that I should make at some point in my life. But I'm not ready for it yet. Anyways, we already consider each other as family,” she said. Jeong is not alone. The makeup of Korean households is rapidly changing, with diverse forms of households, such as unmarried cohabiting couples and roommates, significantly increasing

Aug 1, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin

Number of non-family households hits record high

Global Community

Gov't to launch research department to improve refugee screening

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon speaks during a National Assembly session, July 28. Joint Press CorpsBy Lee Hyo-jinThe Ministry of Justice is seeking to launch a new department dedicated to collecting and analyzing data on human rights, security and political situations in crisis-prone countries, in an effort to better ensure fairness and transparency in Korea's refugee-screening process.The ministry has recently announced plans to conduct research into overseas cases in operating Country of Origin Information (COI) agencies, based on which it will come up with detailed plans on setting up the new organization. The COI is a term referring to accurate, reliable and up-to-date information on third countries which are used by asylum and migration authorities in reaching accurate and fair decisions in asylum procedures.Once launched, the organization will look comprehensively at human rights and security issues, political situations, legal systems and cultural aspects of home countries of people seeking asylum in Korea.Although the ministry currently has officials who are in charge of col

Aug 1, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin

Lee Hyo-jin

Read more

Gov't seeks to apply stricter health insurance criteria on foreigners

Literacy levels among Koreans falling

Western, traditional Korean medicine doctors clash over terminology

Commemorating National Liberation Day

Seoul City to phase out semi-basements as dwellings

Korea urged to take preemptive steps to deal with climate change-induced disasters

'Pandemic kids': Plan to lower school entry age backfires

Amid explosive COVID-19 spread, gov't announces 'targeted' measures

Number of non-family households hits record high

Gov't to launch research department to improve refugee screening

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