South Korea - The Korea Times

Chronic diseases more common among poor, in rural areas: data

The poorer you are, the more likely you suffer from chronic diseases. gettyimagesbankThe prevalence rate of chronic diseases, including diabetes and hypertension, is higher among people with low incomes or living in rural areas, government data showed Friday.According to the data by the Korea Health Promotion Institute, the prevalence rate of people over the age of 30 with diabetes came to 9.7 percent in the high-income bracket in 2016, compared with 13.7 percent in the low-income bracket.Diabetes prevalence has been rising more rapidly among low-income earners since 2013, the latest findings showed.The prevalence rate of diabetes among people living in "dong" administrative districts came to 10.7 percent, compared with 14.8 percent in "eup" areas.Dong is an administrative unit of a city, while eup is similar to the unit of town in rural areas.The prevalence rate of hypertension was logged at 28.7 percent among highly paid people, compared with 31.6 percent for low-income earners.The obesity rate among women in high-income brackets came to 20.5 percent, compared with 31.6 percen

Jan 4, 2019

Chronic diseases more common among poor, in rural areas: data

Warning flag raised again over 'toxic' toy slimes

Slime / Korea Times fileBy Lee Suh-yoonA majority of toy slimes on the market contain harmful levels of chemicals, according to a study published on Tuesday.A research team at Seoul National University's Institute of Health and Environment found 25 out of 30 slime products on the market had seven times the recommended levels of boron by the European Union.Boron is a chemical compound found in borax, a key ingredient that creates the slime's gooey texture. Excessive exposure to boron can cause skin inflammation, headaches, diarrhea and vomiting. Repeated exposure has been linked to birth defects in pregnant women. A liquid- or goo-based toy can contain no more than 300 milligrams of boron per kilogram, according to the EU's safety standards. Korea has yet to set a safety standard for boron concentration in toys. The 25 tested products had an average boron concentration level of 1,005 milligrams per kilogram. This is not the first time high toxicity levels have been found in toy slimes. But authorities have not taken active measures to regulate chemical substances in all slime products

Jan 3, 2019

Warning flag raised again over 'toxic' toy slimes

Gov't to expand monthly allowance for children

All parents will receive a monthly allowance of 100,000 won ($87) for each child under the age of six starting later in the year. Korea Times fileAll parents will receive a monthly allowance of 100,000 won ($87) for each child under the age of six starting later in the year, the government said Tuesday.The Ministry of Health and Welfare said a revision to the relevant law was passed on Thursday with the motion taking effect in April.The revision will cover all households with children; under the previous version of the law, households in the top 10 percent income bracket were not entitled to the benefit, the ministry said.Seoul said it will again expand the benefit to all children under the age of seven starting in September, thereby also covering a total of 440,000 children born between October 2012 and September 2013, the ministry said.The benefit is in line with President Moon Jae-in's childcare policy pledges. During the 2017 election campaign, Moon stressed a greater government role in childcare with the aim of tackling the country's chronically low birthrate. (Yonhap)

Jan 1, 2019

Gov't to expand monthly allowance for children

Cheil hospital on verge of shutting down

An annex building of Cheil General Hospital in Seoul is shown. The famous ob/gyn hospital recently announced a halt to most medical services as it has faced financial difficulties from the nation's nosediving birthrate. YonhapBy Kim Hyun-binCheil General Hospital & Women's Healthcare Center, one of the nation's most famous ob/gyn hospitals and the country's first women's healthcare center, is on the verge of closing down due to the increasingly low birthrate.The country's first child delivery-specialized hospital, which has been in operation for 55 years, announced recently it would suspend most of its treatments and services.“Due to our circumstances we will not be able to provide examinations and treatments for the time being. We sincerely ask for your understanding,” the hospital announced via a message on its website and a text message to patients, Friday. “If you are in need of a patient referral form or other medical records, please come by the hospital.”Last month, the hospital closed down its ward and delivery room, but from now on it will halt med

Dec 31, 2018By Kim Hyun-bin

Cheil hospital on verge of shutting down

More smokers switch to electronic cigarettes

By Kim Hyun-bin In recent years, the Korean government has been working to curb the country's smoking rate by increasing cigarette prices as well as placing gruesome graphics on the packs in efforts to reduce nicotine cravings. Such efforts seem to be paying off, but not to a great extent.According to recent government data, the smoking rate for men aged 19 or over was 20.3 percent in 2018, down 0.5 percentage points from 2016.Cigarette sales have been on a decline for the last two consecutive years as well.The Ministry of Economy and Finance said 3.1 billion packs have been sold from January to November this year, which is a decline of 50 million packs from the same period last year.It said the increase in cigarette prices in 2015, from 2,500 won ($2.20) to 4,500 won, led to a steep drop in sales by 1 billion packs to 3.32 billion packs compared to the previous year.“Since 2015 when the prices increased by 80 percent, sales of conventional cigarettes have been on a sharp decline,” the health ministry said.Surge in e-cigarette salesOne notable thing is the increasing numb

Dec 30, 2018By Kim Hyun-bin

More smokers switch to electronic cigarettes

Tougher traffic rules to come into force in 2019

The government has changed the law in response to a growing number of car accidents involving older drivers. YonhapBy Lee Min-youngOlder drivers will have to renew their licenses every three years and drunk driving offenders will face tougher penalties under changes to take effect in 2019.According to the National Police Agency (NPA) Sunday, drivers who are 75 or older will have to renew their licenses every three years ― as against five years now. They will also have to take a two-hour traffic safety course.The government changed the law in response to a growing number of car accidents involving older drivers. According to the NPA, car accidents caused by people aged 75-79 have increased by 14.3 percent on average every year between 2012 and 2017. Among drivers 80 or older, the figure rose by 18.5 percent.Also, revised impaired driving legislation will come into force in June. The law lowers the legal blood alcohol limit to 0.03 percent from 0.05 percent.Violators will face tougher penalties. Currently, three-time offenders face up to three years' jail or a fine of up to 10 million

Dec 30, 2018By Lee Min-young

Tougher traffic rules to come into force in 2019

Koreans in their 20s have unhealthiest diets, survey shows

By Kim Hyun-binKoreans in their 20s have the unhealthiest eating habits among age groups, according to the latest state report, Sunday.According to the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) from the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), those aged 19 to 29 rated lowest at 57.5 out of 100 points, compared with the national average of 63.3 points. People in their 30s were also below the average with 61.1. The findings are based on a survey of 15,954 people ― 6,688 males and 9,266 females. The HEI is an indication of diet quality to assess how well recommended food groups align with specific nutrient intake according to dietary guidelines. It divides dietary life into 14 categories, graded from either zero through 10 or zero to five points, with all categories summed up. According to the report, the below-average HEI grades in the younger age groups were due to their eating habits: skipping breakfast and eating fewer fruits and grains. The study also showed that with age, people improve their eating habits as evidenced by the finding that older age groups had higher HEI scores _

Dec 30, 2018By Kim Hyun-bin

Koreans in their 20s have unhealthiest diets, survey shows

Smoking to be banned near day care centers

Violators will be fined 100,000 won ($89). gettyimagesbankSouth Korea's health ministry said Sunday smoking near day care centers and kindergartens will be banned starting this week, with violators being fined 100,000 won ($89).As of Monday, smoking within 10 meters of the 390,000 day care centers and 9,000 kindergartens in the country will be prohibited.The Ministry of Health and Welfare said the decision aims to protect children from secondhand smoking.Provincial governments are also ordered to put up signs notifying smokers of the regulation around day care centers and kindergartens.The ministry said it will give a grace period through March 30, so as to give people time to adjust to the changes.Tougher regulations will also be applied for so-called smoking cafes.Smoking cafes, which have permitted customers to smoke by not being registered as cafes, but as vending-machine shops, will be designated as smoke-free areas starting in 2019.Such cafes, which sold drinks through vending machines in contrast to conventional cafes, were considered loopholes in Seoul's anti-smoking pol

Dec 30, 2018

Smoking to be banned near day care centers

Organization launched for 'well-dying'

The founding members of the civic organization for “well-dying” salute the national flag at the inauguration ceremony of the group at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in Seoul, Friday. Around 300 people participated in the launch of the civic group, which was formed to help individuals prepare for their life’s end with dignity. / YonhapBy Jung Hae-myoung In an aged society where longevity is not specific to an affluent group of people, what becomes important is how to live in later life and how to end life with dignity.In this context, civic group members, lawmakers, scholars and businesspeople have formed a group for “well-dying,” holding the inaugural meeting at the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) building in Seoul, Friday.The group is aimed at helping individuals prepare better for their later years and a beautiful ending to their lives in a super-aged society, where the elderly aged 65 or over take up over 20 percent of the total population. Korea has become an aged society, with more than 14 percent of the populati

Dec 28, 2018

Former police torture facility to be turned into human rights memorial hall

Government officials and citizens attend the ceremony at the former anti-communism investigation division office of the police's National Security Bureau in Namyeong-dong, central Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunA former police investigation building in Namyeong-dong, Seoul, where officers tortured hundreds of pro-democracy activists in the 1970s and 1980s, has been turned into a memorial hall for human rights and democracy.The police, Wednesday, turned over their ownership of the former “Namyeong-dong anti-communist room,” which had been used as its own human rights center since 2005, to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to make better use of it as a memorial hall.Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon participated in the transfer ceremony, along with Minister of the Interior and Safety Kim Boo-kyum and Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon.“I can hear the screams and moans of deceased activists who were abused by the state authority. We will remember that we are enjoying our freedom because of their devotion to create today’s democratic Korea,” Lee said. “T

Dec 26, 2018

Health