South Korea - The Korea Times

Complaints rising over sanitary pad

Consumers begin filing complaints in aftermath of recent uproarBy You Soo-sunConsumer complaints about the side effects of sanitary pads have soared following the recent controversy over Lilian products, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Wednesday,According to the ministry, complaints filed to a public safety management institution have increased to 74 since Aug. 21, around the time the controversy over toxic sanitary pads swept the nation. No complaints had been raised prior to the recent uproar this year, and nearly none the previous year.Complaints came to the Korea Institute of Drug Safety & Risk Management (KIDS), a governmental organization that collects information on foods and drugs and their side effects and provides consultations for damage recovery. Customers can file reports with drugsafe.or.kr or by calling 1644-6223.The 74 cases will be reviewed by a separate sanitary pad safety investigation committee of experts outside of the government. The committee is considering different ways to deal with the complaints and has said it will review the request

Sep 6, 2017

Patients to face up to 50% extra charges at hospitals, drug stores during Chuseok holiday

People will have to pay upwards of 50 percent in additional charges when they go to hospitals or drug stores during the Chuseok holiday starting late this month, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Wednesday.The government designated Oct. 2 as a one-off holiday to bridge the weekend to make it possible for workers to take 10 consecutive days off.The higher rates are applicable beginning on the Sept. 30 weekend and run through the three-day Chuseok holiday and Oct. 6, designated as an alternative holiday, before finishing Oct. 9, which commemorates the invention of the Korean alphabet Hangeul.Additional charges ranging from 30 percent to 50 percent are applied in accordance with relevant government regulations, which require people to pay more while using medical facilities and drug stores during holidays and nighttime.The rules require patients to pay 30 percent of additional charges when they consult doctors and get medicine at drug stores.The 50 percent extra charges will also be levied on those who are treated at emergency rooms at hospitals during holidays or at night. (Yonha

Sep 6, 2017

Patients to face up to 50% extra charges at hospitals, drug stores during Chuseok holiday

'Sluts' on bicycles defy patriarchal society

By Kim Se-jeongWomen’s rights activists held a bicycle rally in Seoul, Saturday, challenging the assertion that the way women dress contributes to sexual crimes.Ten participants gathered at the Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul wearing shorts and crop tops exposing their bellies _ some wore only a bra as a top.Phrases such as “slut” and “this is how I am,”was written on their bodies.Their bicycles were also decorated with messages such as: “Stop looking at my body! Wash your hands.”At the end of the one-hour ride, the participants came together to jump rope ― the rope was made with bras.“Earlier this year, I read an opinion piece in a local newspaper in which the author, a policeman, wrote that to reduce summer sexual crimes, women should look at what they wear,” an activist from Femimonsters, a women’s rights group, said as to why she organized the “slut ride.”She added “that such a message can run in the newspaper speaks volumes of patriarchal characters in the Korean society. It’s so wrong to beli

Sep 4, 2017

Record amount of cancer-causing components detected in Yuhan-Kimberly sanitary pad

By Kim Bo-eunThe largest amount of cancer-causing components was detected in a Yuhan-Kimberly’s sanitary pad product, according to a report by a local daily. The manufacturer holds the largest share in the domestic sanitary pad market.The largest amount of group 1 and 2 carcinogens was detected in Yuhan Kimberly’s product, in a study by the Korean Women’s Environmental Network and Kangwon National University professor Kim Man-goo.Last month, the civic group stated 22 harmful substances were found in 10 types of pads of domestic manufacturers, but did not disclose the names of the manufacturers.The International Agency for Research on Cancer categorizes group 1 as agents being “carcinogenic to humans” and group 2 as “probably or possibly carcinogenic to humans.”Following the Yuhan-Kimberly product, sanitary products of LGUnicharm, Kleannara and P&G were found to be harmful as well.The product with the most volatile organic compounds (VOC) as well as around 200 types of harmful substances including carcinogens was Kleannara’s.But the

Sep 4, 2017

Authorities look into McDonald's bulgogi burger

By Kim Bo-eunHealth authorities are inspecting McDonald’s bulgogi burgers, which are alleged to have caused stomach flu in multiple elementary school students in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province.On Saturday, the global fast-food chain’s Korean unit suspended sales of the locally-inspired burger nationwide.McDonald’s move came after seven elementary school students and a teacher showed symptoms of enteritis including stomachache, diarrhea and fever, after eating the burger at a McDonald’s store in the southwestern city of Jeonju Aug 25. One of the students was reportedly hospitalized. They submitted a complaint to McDonald’s Aug. 28.“We deeply regret that the customers who visited the restaurant in Jeonju experienced any illness and wish the customers a quick recovery,” McDonald’s Korea said in a statement. “The company is cooperating with the government authorities’ investigation to identify the cause of the illness _ the suspension of sales is a precautionary measure prior to uncovering the exact cause of the disease.”Th

Sep 3, 2017

Authorities look into McDonald's bulgogi burger

Malaria infections spread in inter-Korean border areas

Nine out of 10 malaria infections in South Korea occur in border areas with North Korea, a member of a provincial government disease control body said Saturday.Officials at the government of Gyeonggi Province that surrounds Seoul said Saturday that a college professor belonging to the province's Committee on Infectious Diseases argued against the construction of a large-scale housing complex and crowd facilities within 10 km of the inter-Korean border, citing the dangers of malaria originating from North Korea."An analysis of local malaria patients found that over 90 percent of the infections occurred within 10 km of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Accordingly, large-scale housing and other crowd facilities should not be built in the border areas," the professor was quoted as saying. The DMZ bisects the Korean Peninsula and forms the de-facto border between the Koreas.According to data, 235 malaria patients have been reported in Gyeonggi Province so far this year, which account for 58.6 percent of the nation's total of 401. In the same period of last year, the province witnessed 307 ma

Sep 2, 2017

Malaria infections spread in inter-Korean border areas

Gov't to boost protection of marriage immigrants

By Kim Bo-eunThe Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said Thursday it would boost its efforts to protect the rights of marriage immigrants here, most of whom are women from Southeast Asia. It is seeking to help prevent domestic violence and expand support for these women.The ministry came with the measures in a briefing to President Moon Jae-in at the Sejong Government Complex.It said it will provide more detailed information on living in Korea to those who plan to immigrate to marry, and raise awareness of their rights. The ministry also said it would provide spouses and other family members with sessions helping them learn how to protect their rights.Currently, there are around 270,000 foreign spouses in Korea, 85 percent of them women.While there is no state data on domestic violence for multiracial families, the Danuri Call Center for marriage immigrants receives over 40,000 calls a year about domestic violence.Meanwhile, the ministry will also help the marriage immigrants become financially independent, by expanding subsidies and offering counseling and services to help them

Aug 31, 2017

President defends welfare policy

By Kim Se-jeongPresident Moon Jae-in defended his generous welfare policy Wednesday, arguing that in the long run it will lead to national development and the enhancement of the quality of life for citizens.“Money spent on combating a low birthrate and creating jobs is the best way to protect citizens and create better lives for people with more jobs and social and economic developments,” Moon said at a briefing on health and welfare, women and family, and labor policies in the Sejong administrative city. Members of his cabinet, relevant ministry officials gave the briefing at which lawmakers were also present.Moon lashed out at critics of his welfare policies. “The notion that a generous welfare policy will lead to a weaker economy is that of the past. I firmly believe that investing money in the quality of life for citizens is a real investment for the future and a way forward for Korea’s economy.”Moon’s current welfare budget bill was passed by the National Assembly in July after a sharp partisan division. Lawmakers are likely to again clash ove

Aug 31, 2017

DDT found in soil of tainted egg farms

By Lee Kyung-minTwo egg farms in North Gyeongsang Province that were found to have eggs contaminated with the pesticide DDT also turned out to have the harmful substance in the soil, the government said Tuesday. It was not found in the water, fodder or other plants nearby.Criticism is yet again mounting against safety authorities over their inadequate safety guidelines on the permissible amount of harmful substances farms can have, including DDT. The eggs found there were all recalled and destroyed, according to the Ministry of Drug and Food Safety.The Rural Development Administration said its on-site inspection found the two farms in Gyeongsan and Yeongcheon had 0.163mg/kg of DDT in areas within 100 ｍeters from them. Areas farther had between 0.046 and 0.539mg/kg.The ministry said the amount found is six times that of what has been reported in the country using standards on persistent organic pollutants thus far, but is less than the legal limit in Canada which is 0.7 mg/kg.The Ministry of Environment said it launched an on-site inspection into the two farms to see if the soil and w

Aug 29, 2017

Manufacturer of controversial sanitary pad began refunds

 By Lee Kyung-minKleannara, the local manufacturer of controversial disposable sanitary pads, said it started refunding customers from 2 p.m, Monday.Those who bought products can file a refund request by visiting http://www.thelilian.com/refund/ or calling 080-082-2100. The manufacturer already halted production of all sanitary pads after major retailers pulled its Lilian products off their shelves.The company initially dismissed customer complaints that they experienced numerous side effects after using its products.But it decided to give them a full refund following a public outcry coupled with efforts by thousands of women who organized to mount a collective action suit against the “faulty” product.Law firm Bubjungwon, which represents more than 4,000 women who claim to have suffered from side effects after using the company’s pads, said it will soon file a complaint with a district court seeking damages.They are among more than 26,000 women who signed up with an online community comprised of women who claim they experienced changes in their menstrual cycles

Aug 28, 2017

Health