South Korea - The Korea Times

Why are clinical trials still dominated by men? Gender gap raises concern

A line of people rolled their suitcases out of a clinical trial center in Seoul’s Gangseo District on Oct. 18. Leading the group was a young man wearing a black cap pulled low. Several men in hoodies and athletic wear followed. By the time the last participant walked out, 50 people had exited the building. All of them were men. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, clinical trial participants last year included about 92,600 men and about 68,600 women, showing a clear gap of more than 30 percent. The pattern was the same in previous years. In 2022, about 90,000 men participated compared with about 65,500 women. In 2023, about 89,500 men participated compared with about 67,100 women. An investigation by the Hankook Ilbo found similar results. Reporters visited about 20 hospitals conducting clinical trials for healthy volunteers more than 20 times in August and observed that most centers were filled with male participants. This was true even when recruitment postings said “healthy men and women aged 18 or older.” People with previous experience in trials said the same. Al

Nov 11, 2025By Hankookilbo

Why are clinical trials still dominated by men? Gender gap raises concern

Study says strength training more effective than running for obesity, diabetes treatment

Strength training that repeatedly contracts and relaxes muscles may be more effective than aerobic exercise such as running in treating obesity and diabetes, according to a new study. A research team at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine recently published the findings in the Journal of Sport and Health Science. For the experiment, researchers induced obesity and type 2 diabetes in mice by feeding them a high-fat diet, then divided them into a strength training group and an aerobic exercise group. They built a “mouse-only strength training device” that required the animals to lift a weight to access food. Mice in the aerobic group were given free access to a running wheel. After eight weeks, both exercise groups showed significantly reduced weight gain compared with mice that did not exercise. They also saw a reduction in fat mass and improvements in fasting glucose and insulin sensitivity. The effects, however, were greater in the strength training group, including larger reductions in visceral and subcutaneous fat. Their fasting

Nov 11, 2025By Hankookilbo

Study says strength training more effective than running for obesity, diabetes treatment

Too beautiful to like? Study finds highly attractive influencers get fewer likes on social media

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. In an era when beauty standards on social media are becoming increasingly extreme, a new study suggests that being too beautiful might actually hurt one’s online popularity. A research team led by Andrew Edelblum at the University of Dayton and Abby Frank at the University of Oregon found that influencers perceived as “extremely attractive” received fewer likes and follows than those with moderate attractiveness. The team presented hundreds of participants with mock posts from fictional fitness influencers and analyzed their engagement patterns. The results, published on research-based news site The Conversation, describe the phenomenon as the “beauty backfire effect.” According to the researchers, highly attractive individuals are often viewed as less relatable or realistic in digital environments. They noted that this trend was especially pronounced in the fitness influencer category. The findings challenge the long-standing marketing principle of “sex sells.” While earlier studies suggested that physically attractive models in

Nov 10, 2025By Kormedi.com

Too beautiful to like? Study finds highly attractive influencers get fewer likes on social media

Big noses, big findings? Japanese study suggests nose size may predict penis length

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. The old saying that “men with big noses are well-endowed” may have some scientific truth to it, according to a new Japanese study that found a stronger correlation between nose length and penis size than with hand or foot size. Researchers at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine analyzed autopsy data from 124 men, measuring various body parts and comparing them to each man’s “stretched penile length” — the length of the penis when gently pulled while flaccid. Their findings, published in the journal Basic and Clinical Andrology, suggest that nose size may indeed be a more reliable physical indicator. Men with larger noses had an average penile length of about 5.3 inches (13.5 centimeters), while those with smaller noses averaged about 4.1 inches (10.4 centimeters). The team said this difference was unrelated to height, weight, or age, implying that the relationship may be determined by developmental factors established before birth. Lead author Dr. Hiroshi Ikegaya said, “The link between nose size and penile length suggests t

Nov 8, 2025By Kormedi.com

Big noses, big findings? Japanese study suggests nose size may predict penis length

Once 37kg, actress Park Min-young reappears looking healthier and happier

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Actor Park Min-young has reassured fans with a healthier appearance, putting to rest rumors of health issues that followed her extreme weight loss. Recently, Park was spotted at Gimpo International Airport before departing for an overseas trip. Unlike her earlier frail appearance that worried fans, she now looks noticeably more vibrant, with fuller cheeks and a brighter expression. Fans commented, “She looks so much younger with her cheeks filled out,” and “I’m relieved she looks healthy again.” Park had previously dropped her weight to around 37 kilograms while filming the drama “Marry My Husband,” where she played a terminally ill character. Even after filming ended, her slender frame continued to draw concern. At the time, she clarified, “I only went on a diet for the role. I’m healthy.” Experts say being underweight can carry serious health risks. Being underweight can weaken bones and raise dementia risk Celebrities like Park, whose appearance is part of their profession, often face drastic body transformations — somet

Nov 5, 2025By Kormedi.com

Once 37kg, actress Park Min-young reappears looking healthier and happier

Korea faces early flu surge, triggering medicine shortages as cases triple

Korea is grappling with an intense influenza season, with infections more than tripling from a year ago and showing pronounced peaks among school-aged children and adults over 50. Official data suggests a potentially severe season ahead. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the national outpatient influenza-like illness rate for the 43rd week of the year (Oct. 19-Oct. 25) climbed to 13.6 cases per 1,000 patients, a significant leap from the previous week’s 7.9 cases. The current rate decisively exceeds the national epidemic threshold of 9.1 cases and is nearly 3.5 times higher than the rate recorded during the same period 2024 (3.9 cases). The surge is most pronounced among younger age groups, with children aged 7 to 12 recording 31.6 cases per 1,000 outpatients and those aged 1 to 6 reporting 25.8 — the highest incidence rates this season. The dominant strain in circulation is influenza A (H3N2), the most prevalent and virulent type, known for its ability to infect both humans and animals and trigger global pandemics. By contrast, influenza B infects

Nov 5, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Korea faces early flu surge, triggering medicine shortages as cases triple

Agriculture ministry unveils plan to eradicate classic swine fever in Korea by 2030

The agriculture ministry unveiled Wednesday its plan to make Korea free of classic swine fever (CSF) and minimize outbreaks of other major viral diseases affecting pigs, such as porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED), and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), by 2030. Under the road map, the country plans to establish infrastructure by 2027 for eradicating CSF, according to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs. To this end, the ministry will first replace the current CSF vaccine with a new marker vaccine, a special type of vaccine designed to let authorities distinguish animals that have been vaccinated from those that have been naturally infected with a disease, starting next year. The ministry will conduct detailed examinations of at least 25,000 animals at swine farms across the country each year to detect any potential outbreaks at the early stage, according to the ministry. It will check the progress of such efforts from 2028 to 2029 and apply for CSF-free status with the World Organization for Animal Health in 2030. Seoul will also work to minimize the outbre

Nov 5, 2025By Yonhap

Agriculture ministry unveils plan to eradicate classic swine fever in Korea by 2030

Why you shouldn’t sit on grass in Korea without a mat this autumn

Health authorities are urging caution against tick-borne infectious diseases such as scrub typhus and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), which occur most frequently in Korea during the months of October and November. The risk is particularly high during the harvest season and as outdoor activities like hiking and camping increase. Scrub typhus is caused by the bite of larval mites carrying the Orientia tsutsugamushi bacterium. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), around 6,000 cases are reported each year, with infections peaking in autumn. After an incubation period of one to three weeks, symptoms such as chills, fever and headaches typically appear, but are often mistaken for the common cold. While early antibiotic treatment can lead to a full recovery, untreated cases may develop severe complications such as pneumonia, meningitis or kidney failure. Early diagnosis is critical. SFTS is transmitted by Haemaphysalis longicornis, commonly known as the Asian longhorn tick, which carries the SFTS virus. Roughly 200 cases are reported annuall

Nov 1, 2025By Hankookilbo

Why you shouldn’t sit on grass in Korea without a mat this autumn

Depression, bipolar cases surge over 45% in 7 years

The number of people suffering from depression or bipolar disorders in Korea has surged, with cases of each of the conditions growing more than 45 percent over the past six years. According to government data disclosed on Thursday by the office of Rep. Kim Mi-ae of the main opposition People Power Party, the number of people diagnosed with depression rose from 752,976 in 2018 to 1,106,744 in 2024, a 47 percent increase. Meanwhile, treatment costs for the mental condition nearly doubled to exceed 761.5 billion won ($535 million), data from the National Health Insurance Service showed. Cases of bipolar disorder also increased rapidly, with patients rising 45.7 percent to nearly 140,000 during the same period. Treatment costs for bipolar disorder surged 57 percent to about 182.3 billion won. Combined, annual health care spending for these two mental conditions nearly hit 1 trillion won ― a concerning trend underscoring Korea’s worsening mental health problem. Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety and hopelessness. Bipolar disorder is a con

Oct 30, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Depression, bipolar cases surge over 45% in 7 years

How too many cookies could hurt your mind: Everyday habits that quietly damage mental health

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Seemingly harmless daily habits like spending hours on your phone or snacking on chips can quietly take a toll on your mental health, according to WebMD. Experts say the mind is just as sensitive to lifestyle choices as the body, and small changes can make a significant difference. Being inactive The human body is built to move. However, many people spend long hours sitting or lying down, particularly as they age. Studies show that increased sedentary time can worsen anxiety, depression and chronic pain. The key, experts say, is finding the right level of activity that suits you. For some, high-intensity workouts bring energy and pleasure, while others may prefer to start small with something simple like walking. Even committing to one day a week of movement can make it easier to build consistency over time. Chronic stress No one can live entirely free from stress — and in small doses, it can actually be helpful. Moderate stress keeps the mind alert and engaged. But when stress becomes chronic, it harms both body and mind. Irritability, anxiet

Oct 26, 2025By Kormedi.com

Health