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Elderly involved in most car accidents near traditional market crosswalks

A senior citizen uses a crosswalk. YonhapBy Jung Hae-myoungMore than half of car accidents involving senior citizens happen at crossroads near traditional markets.Because elderly old people walk slowly, extending the “walk” signal duration could be the first step to reduce such accidents. According to Hyundai Fire and Life Insurance research, Monday, 52.6 percent of seniors who filed traffic accidents claims with the insurer over the past five years had mishaps at crossings near the traditional markets.The survey showed that 31.1 percent of elderly pedestrians find the crosswalk signal too short. Seniors who depend on walkers find the time far too short.“A 'Silver Zone' for slower elderly people is a must. Also the time for crossing should be lengthened for them as well,” Dr.  Kim Tae-ho, a researcher at the Hyundai institute, told Yonhap.

Jul 30, 2018

Elderly involved in most car accidents near traditional market crosswalks

Government to enlarge graphic warnings on cigarette packs

By Kim Hyun-binThe government is set to beef up anti-smoking efforts to further raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco use.According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Sunday, it is planning to enlarge the graphic warning signs on cigarette packs from the current 50 percent of the package to 70 percent. The plan is part of the ministry's envisaged comprehensive anti-smoking measures that are due in September or October.Currently, pictorial warnings take up more than 30 percent of both sides of a cigarette pack, with 20 percent covered by written warnings.In 2016, the government made it mandatory for all tobacco companies to put graphic warnings on the upper part of both sides of each cigarette pack in a move to discourage people from smoking.Anti-smoking experts have been advising the ministry to enlarge the warning graphics, which could be enforced after the ministry makes slight revisions to the Health Promotion Law enforcement ordinance.It is mandatory for cigarette companies to change graphic and textual warnings every two years and given that new warnings will be issue

Jul 29, 2018

Government to enlarge graphic warnings on cigarette packs

Korea moves to enlarge warning images on cigarette packs

The health ministry is pushing to enlarge the size of graphic warning images on cigarette packs, officials said Sunday, a move aimed at discouraging people from smoking.The Ministry of Health and Welfare said it plans to announce the measure in September or October to send a stronger message to smokers by expanding the size of the warning images from the current 50 percent of the package's exterior to 70 percent.Currently, the size of the warning photos must cover more than 30 percent of both sides of cigarette packages with warning text making up an additional 20 percent.In 2016, South Korea began requiring tobacco companies to put pictorial warnings on the upper part of both sides of cigarette packs, with the graphic images being changed every 24 months as part of efforts to maintain awareness of the side effects of smoking.Currently, 105 countries have adopted such pictorial warnings, with 43 of them mandating over 65 percent of tobacco packages to be covered with disturbing pictures that depict the serious consequences of smoking.The ministry said it also plans to expand no-smoki

Jul 29, 2018

Korea moves to enlarge warning images on cigarette packs

Mercy of prison: Pororo cartoon character wallpaper for imprisoned moms, babies

A prison cell decorated with the Pororo wallpaper has a baby walker and baby seat at the ready. Courtesy of Seoul East Regional Correctional HeadquartersBy Jung Hae-myoungA young mom jailed for online fraud is lucky to be able to keep her baby with her while she serves her sentence, thanks to facilities at the Seoul East Regional Correctional Headquarters (SERCH). SERCH, in Songpa, southern Seoul, has a place where they can live together ― a “cell” decorated with Pororo cartoon character wallpaper. It also provides baby toys and seats. The woman, 22, considered giving her baby up for adoption before finding a way to keep her beloved little one. The baby can stay with its mom until it is 18 months old.Another inmate will be separated from her child when it is 18 months old next year.

Jul 28, 2018

Mercy of prison: Pororo cartoon character wallpaper for imprisoned moms, babies

'Gender imbalance in children's animation needs correction'

Chae Su-jeongBy Lee Kyung-minChildren’s cartoon that casually portray women in the context that normalizes gender-stereotyped discrimination needs immediate correction to help them form ideas without the filter of inequality, an official at a gender equality promotion organization said, Friday.“Children learn negative stereotypes usually between the ages of six and seven, according to the Korean Educational Psychology Association,” she said. “It is highly feared they will internalize discriminatory attitudes from the cartoons which can continue into later life, never knowing what is wrong or why.”The urgent call follows a recent study by the institute, which identified various forms of discriminatory gender stereotypes in cartoons. According to the study of 112 children’s cartoons available on online platforms between June 1 and 7, only 31.9 percent of the 920 characters were female. Of 306 leading characters, only about a third, or 108, were female.In one show, “Uncle Grandpa,” a male character was seen in a pool with two female charac

Jul 27, 2018

Gov't steps up fight against obesity

By Lee Kyung-min The government will cover surgery cost for “highly obese” people starting in the latter half of this year, as well as shoulder treatment consultation costs for those who consider undergoing the procedures, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Thursday. It will also seek to mandate expanded physical checkups for children to help them manage early onset child obesity starting next year. These are among a set of obesity-tackling policies jointly announced by the ministries of health, food and drug safety, education, labor, culture, infrastructure and food. Under the measures, the National Health Insurance Service will shoulder surgery costs for lap-band, gastric resection and gastric bypass, options mostly considered by those who fall under the category of “highly obese” under the Body Mass Index (BMI). The government will require children to be checked for metabolic syndrome, closely linked to obesity and a lack of physical exercise. Those diagnosed with the syndrome are prone to increased risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes, foll

Jul 26, 2018

Korea's childbirths continue to decline in May

The number of newborns in South Korea fell again in May, government data showed Wednesday, in the latest sign of the chronic low birthrate that has plagued Asia's fourth-largest economy for more than a decade.About 27,900 babies were born in May, down 7.9 percent, from 30,400 tallied a year earlier, according to data by Statistics Korea.In the first five months of the year, the number of newborns fell 8.8 percent on-year to 145,300, official numbers showed.Monthly childbirths have decreased on-year every month since December 2015.Last year, the number of newborns dropped to a record low despite concerted efforts to tackle the problem.The number of babies born in all of 2017 reached 357,700, down 11.9 percent, or 48,500, from a year earlier.That figure was the lowest number of newborns tallied since the statistics agency started to compile such data in 1970.The crude birthrate, which refers to the number of births per 1,000 people per year, also came to an all-time low of 7 last year, down from the previous year's 7.9.In addition, the total fertility rate, or the number of babies that

Jul 25, 2018

Nearly nine out of 10 Koreans say low birthrate is a serious issue

Nearly nine out of 10 Koreans say low birthrate is a serious issue

YonhapNearly nine out of 10 South Koreans have expressed concerns about the country's low birthrate, a new survey showed Wednesday, in the latest wake-up call to address the chronically low birthrate.The survey -- submitted to opposition lawmaker Yoon Jong-pil by the Ministry of Health and Welfare -- showed 87.4 percent of 2,000 adults said the low birthrate is a serious issue in South Korea.The poll showed 31.2 percent cited financial burdens after marriage as the key reason behind the low birthrate, followed by youth unemployment and job security with 19.5 percent and the difficulty in striking a work-life balance at 18.1 percent.A presidential committee warned earlier this month that the country's total fertility rate -- the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime -- is expected to fall below 1.0 in 2018, down from 1.05 a year earlier.The figure is much lower than the replacement level of 2.1 that would keep South Korea's population stable at 51 million.The government has unveiled a set of measures to lessen women's burdens in childbirth and child-rearing as a gro

Jul 25, 2018

Nearly nine out of 10 Koreans say low birthrate is a serious issue

Korea's childbirths continue to decline in May

Korea to expand welfare subsidies for elderly

By Lee Kyung-min Starting next year, about 150,000 people aged over 64 earning less than 20 percent of the median income will be able to receive 300,000 won ($270) as a basic pension, two years sooner than initially scheduled, the government said Wednesday. The program to raise the amount by 50,000 won will be expanded to those who earn less than 40 percent of the median income by 2020. Strategy and Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon and the ministers of welfare, SMEs and trade, unveiled the measure to expand state welfare subsidy programs for people in the lowest income bracket including the elderly, day laborers and self-employed. The pension increase is in addition to a similar one set to take effect in September, which will allow those aged over 64 who earn less than 70 percent of the median income to receive 250,000 won, a 40,000 won increase from the current 210,000 won. About 5 million people will benefit from the increase, which comes nearly four years after the last increase in July 2014. The ministry will help the elderly with daily expenses, housing and medical expenses over

Jul 22, 2018

Warning issued against heat wave

By Lee Kyung-min More human fatalities and livestock loss are expected in the coming weeks as the scorching hot weather continues to blanket the peninsula. The Korea Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said a total of 723 people have fallen ill due to the heat wave including six who died due to heatstroke. It said 180 people were reported to have fallen ill last week, a 3.5 percent increase from the week before. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said 790,000 livestock have died, incurring 4.2 billion won ($4 million) in financial damage, a 28 percent increase from last year. A total of 750,000 chickens, 26,000 ducks and 3,500 pigs have also died. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), midday highs reached 34 degrees Celsius in Seoul, 35 in Daejeon, 36 in Gwangju and 37 in Daegu, Friday.The figure in the capital, on a gradual increase over the past week, stood at 31.9 degrees, Tuesday, nearly 4 degrees Celsius higher than the previous highest average temperature in mid-July of 28.2 degrees Celsius. The mercury is likely to surpass 36

Jul 22, 2018

Health

Health

Elderly involved in most car accidents near traditional market crosswalks

Government to enlarge graphic warnings on cigarette packs

Korea moves to enlarge warning images on cigarette packs

Mercy of prison: Pororo cartoon character wallpaper for imprisoned moms, babies

'Gender imbalance in children's animation needs correction'

Gov't steps up fight against obesity

Korea's childbirths continue to decline in May

Nearly nine out of 10 Koreans say low birthrate is a serious issue

Korea to expand welfare subsidies for elderly

Warning issued against heat wave

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