South Korea - The Korea Times

CARE employees urge representative to quit over euthanasia

Staffers of Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth (CARE) urge its president Park So-youn to step down at the body's office in Seoul, Sunday, following revelations that the organization had euthanized sheltered animals. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunThe head of the nation's largest animal rights organization is under pressure to quit in the wake of disclosure that the organization put hundreds of its sheltered animals to death “indiscreetly.”The call comes after a former employee of Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth (CARE) revealed that its president, Park So-youn, was responsible for the euthanization of more than 230 animals at its shelter from 2015 to 2018, including 80 last year, without telling employees about the mercy killings.“We are very sorry as staff of CARE. We did not know such a horrible thing happened. Park, who has deceived us, should resign,” an official said during a press conference at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Saturday. “CARE's slogan that it is a no-kill shelter has turned out to be a downright lie. Given that Park made most of the de

Jan 13, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

CARE employees urge representative to quit over euthanasia

No. of measles patients surges more than 6-fold: report

By Kim Hyun-binMeasles infections have been rising around the world and Korea is no exception, with the number of cases surging over six times in 2018 compared to the previous year. Thanks to modern medicine, measles no longer results in death but is still a highly contagious disease which continues to keep health officials on their toes.It had been thought that measles had been eradicated here thanks to vaccinations. But health officials say frequent international travel by Koreans, as well as an increase in the number of infected foreigners entering the country, have increased the infection rate.Reason behind 6.4 times increaseAccording to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), there were 45 measles cases reported in 2018, a 6.4-fold increase from seven the year before.In the recent decade, the number of measles patients has fluctuated _ 17 in 2009, 114 in 2010, 42 in 2011, three in 2012, 107 in 2013, 442 in 2014, seven in 2015, 18 in 2016 and seven in 2017.“The infections used to occur in local communities such as schools and hospitals, but infections t

Jan 13, 2019By Kim Hyun-bin

No. of measles patients surges more than 6-fold: report

Eight measles cases reported near Daegu

Measles-caused rashBy Oh Young-jin At least eight cases of measles and 31 cases of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), a viral infection that afflicts newborns, have been reported in Gyeongsan and the adjacent Daegu region.According to Gyeongsan health authorities Friday, four infants and toddlers who contracted measles were found to have visited the same pediatrician, while three of four adult patients went to the same clinic.Measles is an airborne disease that is easily spread by the coughs and sneezes of infected people. Symptoms include a rash, runny nose, fever and inflamed eyes. Authorities advised people to contact them immediately if they believe they have come in contact with an infected person or think they are infected. At an institute that provides midwifery services in Daegu, 31 babies were diagnosed with RSV that, if not properly treated, can develop into life-threatening illnesses.

Jan 11, 2019By Oh Young-jin

Marriage rate on sharp drop

This image is unrelated to the story. / GettyimagesbankBy Kim Jae-heunMany young people are delaying marriage until they find employment and save a certain amount of money. According to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA), Tuesday, the marriage rate has plummeted rapidly over the last 20 years.Kim Soo-hyun had once planned to get married in her early 20s. It was her dream to have a family and go on picnics together by the Han River in Seoul.However, now at 31, Kim does not even have a boyfriend.“It was my dream to date a guy for two to three years and get married at age 24. I heard younger mothers give birth to more healthy babies,” Kim told The Korea Times. “But I learned the reality that you cannot get married if you don't have money or a job in Korea.”She said at least 50 million won ($44,456) is needed just for a wedding in Korea. But before that, a couple should have saved 200 million won together and borrow an additional 100 million won from the bank to start off at a small apartment in a commuter town outside the capital

Jan 8, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Refusing checkup is discrimination against HIV carrier: rights watchdog

This picture is unrelated to the story. / GettyimagesbankBy Kim Jae-heunIt is discrimination against HIV carriers for a healthcare center to refuse them a medical checkup, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) said.The rights watchdog advised the institution to educate its staff of human rights.According to the commission, Monday, an HIV positive patients made a temporary reservation in August 2017 for a medical checkup at the health examination center of a local university hospital, which was the region's only institution designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to provide medical consultations for people with HIV.He had been receiving treatment at the hospital's infectious disease division since 2012.However, the center turned down the person's request to confirm the checkup, telling him to go to the gastroenterology division as an outpatient instead. He protested, and the center decided later to accept his reservation. But he submitted a petition with the NHRCK about the case.The center claimed it did not have the necessary protection equipment for staff an

Jan 7, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Refusing checkup is discrimination against HIV carrier: rights watchdog

'Mental illness did not hand him knife'

A bereaved family member carries the portrait of deceased psychiatrist Lim Se-won during his funeral at Korea Red Cross Hospital in central Seoul, Friday. He was stabbed to death by a patient with bipolar disorder at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Dec. 31./ YonhapBy Jung Hae-myoung The recent murder of Lim Se-won, a psychiatrist at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital in Seoul, by one of his patients, has catalyzed a debate on mental health. Experts worry such cases could aggravate distorted views and prejudices against mental patients, preventing people from seeking proper medication and treatment and thus resulting in more serious social problems.A patient with bipolar disorder stabbed Lim at the hospital on Dec. 31. The cause of the murder is still unclear as the patient is not giving a clear testimony. In another murder case where a customer at an internet cafe in western Seoul stabbed a worker there to death in October, the perpetrator said he had been suffering from depression for over 10 years.While these cases have brought public fear of sudden attacks by mentally unstable people, Jeong Dong-

Jan 7, 2019

Childcare institutions lack isolation places for infectious diseases

By Kang Seung-wooHalf of daycare centers and kindergartens in the country do not have adequate spaces to isolate children with infectious diseases to prevent further infections, a recent report said, Monday.Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is common in young children with symptoms of fever, mouth sores, and a skin rash. / Korea Times fileAccording to the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education (KICCE), 98.1 percent of 808 daycare centers and 409 kindergartens in the nation had regulations on how to respond to a breakout of infectious diseases such as influenza and hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD), a viral illness common in young children with symptoms of fever, mouth sores and a skin rash. The regulations said the children should be sent home or kept at an isolated place within the facilities.However, only 48.7 percent of the institutions were equipped with isolation areas.When such infectious diseases break out among children, 80 percent of the pre-school facilities returned them home, while only 10 percent isolated sick children in different areas. The facility owners said they do

Jan 7, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Childcare institutions lack isolation places for infectious diseases

New law to ban online suicide tips

 gettyimagesbankBy Lee Suh-yoonPeople who share suicide tips or seek to make suicide pacts online can now face a prison sentence, according to a new suicide prevention law, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Sunday. The revised law, passed in the National Assembly at the end of last year, targets a growing online trend to share suicide methods that are accessible within a few clicks. Such online postings discuss the various merits of different ways to die and sometimes coordinate offline meetings so people can commit suicide together.Once the revision takes effect in June, internet users who form suicide pacts with others or share information that could “incite or assist suicide” with detailed methods or images can be sentenced to up to two years in jail or fines up to 20 million won ($18,000).The regulation also allows emergency outreach centers to acquire the personal data ― including phone numbers and locations ― of internet users who show warning signs of suicide, through cooperation with telecommunication companies.On Dec. 27, the ministry opened a 24-hour

Jan 6, 2019

Major changes in healthcare benefits in 2019

By Kim Hyun-binStarting this year, there are some major changes in government's medical policies that will greatly benefit the public.In line with the government's efforts to strengthen health insurance coverage, more illnesses and checkups will be included under the medical insurance as well as deductions on wide array of treatments. The Ministry of Health and Welfare is also scheduled to come out with a series of more policies to better tackle the country's low birthrate by providing more government subsidies for childbirth procedures and community care.Reduction in medical cost for infants and expectant mothersPregnant women and babies less than one year old are getting more insurance coverage. Parents or guardians of such babies under 12 months used to pay 21 to 42 percent of the medical bills for outpatient treatments. Starting this year, they only need to pay 5 percent to 20 percent of the cost.The government also provides an additional 100,000 won ($88) for childbirth and pregnancy medical inspections, to 600,000 won for a baby and 1 million won for twins. The parents can use

Jan 4, 2019By Kim Hyun-bin

Major changes in healthcare benefits in 2019

Gov't revises law to allow lung donations from living people

The revision to the relevant law was passed on Dec. 27, with the motion set to take effect following a proclamation. Korea Times filePatients suffering from pulmonary diseases will be able to receive lung transplant operations using organs donated by living people, the government said Friday.The Ministry of Health and Welfare said a revision to the relevant law was passed on Dec. 27, with the motion set to take effect following a proclamation.The revision permits lung donations by living donors, as well as donations of hands, arms, legs, and feet from people who have been confirmed brain dead.Up until now, lung transplantation surgery was possible only when lungs were harvested from deceased donors. However, such lungs were often unusable.Government data shows that the average waiting time for receiving a lung from a brain-dead patient is 1,456 days.The revision would allow a total of seven organs in addition to the six existing body parts -- kidney, liver, marrow, pancreas, insulinoma and small intestine -- to be harvested from living donors. (Yonhap)

Jan 4, 2019

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