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Kim Woo-bin of ‘Genie, Make a Wish’ reflects on his cancer battle

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Actor Kim Woo-bin has opened up about the lifestyle habit he neglected before being diagnosed with cancer. The 36-year-old actor appeared recently on the YouTube channel Fairy Jae-hyung, where he spoke about his recovery and new outlook on life. Kim, who was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer in 2017, said he now prioritizes health and rest above all else. “There was a time when, out of three hours to sleep, I would rest for just one and use the rest to work out,” he said. “Now I sleep properly because I think about my health. I’m much healthier now. The time I took off during treatment gave me many good things.” His reflection offers a reminder of the link between lifestyle and serious illness — and why rest is as vital to recovery as treatment itself. What is nasopharyngeal cancer? Nasopharyngeal cancer forms in the upper part of the throat behind the nose, an area connecting the nasal cavity to the ear and palate. It can result from genetic factors, viral infections or chronic nasal inflammation. Early symptoms may include a lump

Oct 18, 2025By Kormedi.com
Kim Woo-bin of ‘Genie, Make a Wish’ reflects on his cancer battle

How stress makes your teeth fall out: Cases of Korea’s top officials

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com Korea Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho, known for his muscular physique and love of weightlifting, has reportedly lost several front teeth due to stress from his heavy workload — drawing public attention to a health problem more common than people think. Despite his reputation as a fitness enthusiast — he served as captain of his university’s weightlifting team and can still bench press 100 kilograms — even he could not protect his teeth from stress-induced damage. Experts say that gum disease caused by chronic stress is a leading cause of tooth loss, and many Koreans experience far worse symptoms. When stress silently erodes oral health One businessman in his late 60s said he lost all his teeth in his 50s due to extreme work stress. Constant corporate mergers and restructuring took such a toll on him that he eventually had to undergo full dental implants. Excessive stress suppresses the immune system, reduces saliva production and triggers inflammation in the gums — leading to periodontitis, or gum disease. As the gums weaken, teeth loos

Oct 18, 2025By Kormedi.com
How stress makes your teeth fall out: Cases of Korea’s top officials

Why you should never drink coffee right after waking up — and what to eat instead

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. After a night’s sleep, the body remains in a prolonged fasting state. If dinner was eaten early, that fast can last up to 12 hours by the time you wake up. How you manage this period can determine your physical rhythm for the morning. Here are several morning habits to follow – and others to avoid – to help your body start the day in balance. Bad breath occurs on an empty stomach — rinse or brush right after waking up Morning breath can damage a person’s first impression. It tends to appear right after waking up or when fasting for long hours. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, saliva production slows during sleep, which allows bacteria to multiply in the mouth. Ideally, you should brush your teeth immediately after getting up, or at least rinse your mouth with water. Bad breath becomes more common with age and can worsen during menstruation or pregnancy due to hormonal changes. Workouts on an empty stomach may help with weight loss — but pose danger for diabetics Some people believe exercising on an empty

Oct 14, 2025By Kormedi.com
Why you should never drink coffee right after waking up — and what to eat instead

From 80 kg to balance: ‘You and Everything Else’ star Park Ji-hyun credits ballet for 20 kg weight loss

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Actress Park Ji-hyun has revealed how she maintains her famously balanced physique — through consistent ballet training. Park recently shared photos of herself practicing ballet on social media, showing elegant posture and perfect stretching form despite her busy schedule. She previously disclosed on a TV show that her weight once reached 80 kilograms (about 176 pounds) but that she lost 20 to 30 kilograms through strict diet control and exercise. Ballet, she said, has been one of the keys to keeping her slim and toned. Ballet offers both aerobic and strength benefits Ballet is considered a moderate-intensity aerobic exercise that also strengthens muscles. Many of its moves involve lifting the heels or holding positions that require core engagement. According to a study by the University of West Attica in Greece, long-term ballet dancers tend to have lower body mass index and body fat percentages than non-dancers, though the study noted that their reduced food intake could also contribute. Improved posture and flexibility Ballet focuses more o

Oct 11, 2025By Kormedi.com
From 80 kg to balance: ‘You and Everything Else’ star Park Ji-hyun credits ballet for 20 kg weight loss

‘You look tired’ even when you’re not? The hidden causes and treatments for dark circles

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Dark circles under the eyes are a common concern for people of all ages. If you often hear, “You look tired,” despite getting enough sleep, the cause may go beyond fatigue or lack of rest. Dark circles refer to the discoloration and shadowing of the skin beneath the eyes. They come in several types: vascular dark circles, which appear bluish or purplish due to visible blood vessels under thin skin; structural dark circles, caused by shadows formed by protruding fat or bone structure differences; pigmented dark circles, resulting from melanin buildup; and mixed dark circles that combine two or more of these factors. Allergies and aging among main culprits Allergic rhinitis is a frequent cause of vascular dark circles. When nasal membranes become swollen and inflamed, blood flow around the nose and under the eyes slows down, creating bluish or purplish discoloration. Rubbing the eyes due to itching can also lead to melanin accumulation, producing brownish pigmentation. Aging can worsen structural dark circles. As people reach middle age, the

Oct 11, 2025By Kormedi.com
‘You look tired’ even when you’re not? The hidden causes and treatments for dark circles

Cigarette smoking rate among men in 30s dips nearly 20% in 9 years

Cigarette smoking rates among men in their 30s have slumped by 19.5 percentage points over the past nine years amid steady declines among some other age groups, government data showed Thursday. The figure stood at 28.5 percent in 2024, compared with 48 percent in 2015, according to an annual nationwide survey conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The fall was sharper compared with a 16.1 percentage-point drop among men aged 19 to 29 and an 8.9 percentage-point decline among men in their 40s over the same period, according to the data. No significant changes were seen among men in their 50s, 60s and 70s, according to the report. Overall tobacco use, which includes smoking rates of e-cigarettes, showed a more gradual change. The figure came in at 40.1 percent last year for men in their 30s, slipping 4.9 percentage points from when the KDCA began releasing relevant data in 2019. The figure for men aged 19-29 fell 10.5 percentage points over the same period, according to the data. The narrow decline, compared with cigarette smoking rates, appeared to be attributab

Oct 9, 2025By Yonhap
Cigarette smoking rate among men in 30s dips nearly 20% in 9 years

Gained weight over the holidays? Experts warn against extreme dieting

Many believe that shedding pounds quickly after suddenly gaining weight is both possible and ideal. But while it may sound appealing, experts say the healthier and more sustainable approach is to lose weight slowly, even if it was gained quickly. Contrary to popular belief, the idea that people gain 2 to 3 kilograms during holidays is exaggerated. Research suggests that the average weight gain during festive periods is typically less than half a kilogram. A 2000 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) examined the myth that Americans gain about 5 pounds (2.27 kilograms) during Thanksgiving. Researchers tracked 195 adults before, during and after the holiday season and found that the average gain was only 0.37 kilograms. A 2016 NEJM study comparing weight changes across the United States, Germany and Japan found similar results. Tracking 2,924 participants over a year, researchers observed an average weight increase of around 0.3 percent. Specifically, participants in Japan gained 0.3 percent during the late-April to early-May “Golden Week,” those in Germany gai

Oct 9, 2025By Hankookilbo
Gained weight over the holidays? Experts warn against extreme dieting

Don’t binge-watch dramas lying down this holiday, experts warn

Planning to catch up on your favorite dramas or variety shows during the long holiday? Doctors say you should watch your posture as well as your screen. Spending long hours staring at a screen in the same position can strain the muscles in your neck, shoulders and back — and even cause spinal problems. Lying down for extended periods can weaken spinal muscles and impair blood circulation, leading to back pain. Poor posture while watching TV or a monitor for too long can overly tense the muscles, tendons and ligaments in the shoulders, resulting in pain. One of the most common conditions linked to this is myofascial pain syndrome, which causes tenderness in specific muscle trigger points that can radiate pain to other areas of the body. Slouching for long periods may also trigger a lumbar herniated disc, commonly known as a slipped disc. The discs between the spinal bones act as cushions made of a jelly-like nucleus pulposus and surrounded by fibrous tissue. Prolonged pressure from bad posture accelerates disc wear and damage. “Myofascial pain syndrome cannot be detected through MRI

Oct 9, 2025By Hankookilbo
Don’t binge-watch dramas lying down this holiday, experts warn

‘Don't wake me up’… Is it okay to catch up on lost sleep over the holidays?

For many Koreans, the 10-day Chuseok holiday has been a rare chance to truly rest and recharge. It is a time when people can sleep in without the guilt of wasting time, enjoy long naps after a big meal, and silence the alarm clocks that usually rush them out the door. With this “unlimited sleep pass,” it’s no surprise that many are using the break to catch up on lost rest. Yet in Korean society, sleep often carries a stigma. People who sleep a lot are considered lazy, and phrases such as “sleep when you’re dead” or “walk or die” reflect a cultural mindset that equates less sleep with success. The statistics underscore this attitude: South Koreans consumed an average of 416 cups of coffee per person last year, more than double the global average of 150, according to market research firm Euromonitor — a testament to how hard people fight to stay awake. Koreans among the most sleep-deprived The reality is that Koreans are chronically sleep-deprived. According to the “2024 Korean Sleep Status” report by the Korean Sleep Research Society, the average Korean sleeps 6 hou

Oct 8, 2025By Hankookilbo
‘Don't wake me up’… Is it okay to catch up on lost sleep over the holidays?

Severance Hospital surgeons restore hand function for Filipino teacher with rare disorder

Yonsei University Gangnam Severance Hospital medical staff have successfully treated Angeles Yvonne N-Jel from the Philippines, who was born with the rare congenital condition brachypolysyndactyly, the hospital said Wednesday. The disorder, characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of polydactyly (having extra digits) and syndactyly (webbed digits), had caused her hands to be fused together since birth. The 29-year-old, an art and music teacher in a rural area of the Philippines, was raised by her grandmother after losing her parents when she was just six months old. Brachypolysyndactyly involves complex entanglements of bones, joints and ligaments, making early surgery advantageous. However, limited health care access and financial hardship prevented Angeles from receiving treatment, forcing her to live with the hand deformity into adulthood. Earlier this year, Angeles lost her grandmother, leaving her entirely on her own. Her case was referred to the hospital by the nonprofit organization Mentoris. Upon receiving her information, Professor Yun In-sik, a specialist in plastic surgery,

Oct 2, 2025By Jun Ji-hye
Severance Hospital surgeons restore hand function for Filipino teacher with rare disorder
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