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Doctor shortage projections ignite fresh tensions with medical groups

A recent estimate showing Korea could face a severe doctor shortage by 2040 is reigniting tensions over medical school quotas, as medical groups move to discredit the projections. The Physician Workforce Projection Committee, an advisory body involving representatives of doctors, warned earlier this week that the country could face a shortage of up to 11,136 doctors by that year, even if artificial intelligence is deployed more widely in clinical practice. The projections put demand for physicians at between 144,688 and 149,273 by 2040, while the active workforce is expected to reach only 138,137 to 138,984, leaving a gap of 5,704 to 11,136 doctors. The new numbers are significantly lower than the “15,000 doctors short by 2035” projection presented during the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration, which used that number to justify expanding the nationwide medical school quota by 2,000 extra students. This plan of increasing the annual intake from 3,058 to 5,058 students was eventually reversed following a fierce backlash from trainee physicians, who demanded an objective basis for

Jan 1, 2026By Jung Min-ho
Doctor shortage projections ignite fresh tensions with medical groups

Foreign graduate employment tops 30% for first time

The employment rate of foreign graduates in Korea topped 30 percent for the first time, according to the Ministry of Education Tuesday, in contrast to a decline in Korean graduate employment statistics. An analysis released by the ministry and the Korean Educational Development Institute showed that 36,271 international students completed undergraduate and graduate programs in Korea between August 2023 and February 2024. Of those, 42.9 percent, or 15,576 individuals, ended their stay in Korea. Of those who remained, 4,993 of the 14,966 international graduates eligible for employment, or 33.4 percent, landed jobs locally as of Dec. 31 last year. This represents an increase of 11.7 percentage points from the previous year, when 3,607 foreign graduates secured jobs. The figures are the first accurate statistics of foreign graduate employment based on cross-ministry data sharing introduced last year, the ministry said. Until 2022, such data was compiled solely through the Basic Higher Education Statistics, relying on email and phone surveys to determine employment status. However, authoritie

Dec 30, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Foreign graduate employment tops 30% for first time

Korea reports 3 new bird flu cases at poultry farms

Korea reported new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza at three poultry farms Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases this season to 21. The cases were found at a chicken farm in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, a duck farm in Gochang, Norht Jeolla Province, and another duck farm in Naju, South Jeolla Province, according to the Central Disaster Management Headquarters. Authorities have restricted entry to the farms, and begun culling animals and investigating the outbreaks. They have also ordered a temporary standstill order on farms and farming vehicles in the affected areas. Inspections will take place at duck farms affiliated with the two affected duck farms as well as all duck farms in North Jeolla Province. Agriculture ministry officials will also be dispatched to Anseong and Cheonan, South Chungcheon Province, where there is a high possibility of additional cases.

Dec 24, 2025By Yonhap
Korea reports 3 new bird flu cases at poultry farms

Turning up heat may be costing you sleep in winter

As winter cold intensifies, many people respond by cranking up indoor heating. But sleep specialists warn that excessive warmth can be one of the biggest obstacles to a good night’s sleep, as it interferes with the body’s natural temperature regulation. When room temperatures rise too high, peripheral blood vessels dilate excessively, preventing internal heat from being released. As a result, the body’s core temperature remains elevated, making it harder to fall asleep. Core body temperature refers to the temperature maintained by vital internal organs such as the heart, lungs and liver. For healthy sleep, core temperature needs to drop by about 0.5 to 1 degree Celsius before bedtime. This cooling process also promotes the release of melatonin, the hormone that induces sleep. Overheating suppresses this natural decline, delaying the onset of sleep. Experts recommend keeping indoor temperatures between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius, with humidity levels maintained at 40 to 60 percent. Sohn Yeo-ju, a professor of family medicine at Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, said, “When in

Dec 24, 2025By Hankookilbo
Turning up heat may be costing you sleep in winter

Diet pill controversy highlights hidden risks behind celebrity weight loss

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. A growing controversy over alleged illegal medical services has put comedian Park Na-rae and popular "mukbang" eating program YouTuber Short_mouth_sun at the center of a public debate over so-called “diet injections” and appetite suppressants known as the “butterfly pill.” The two celebrities are under police investigation after being accused of receiving unlicensed medical services from an “injection aunt,” identified as A. As scrutiny intensified, attention has shifted to diet pills allegedly provided by A, which some suspect to be phentermine, a controlled appetite suppressant drug. According to a report by entertainment outlet Dispatch on Dec. 18, A discussed the medication in KakaoTalk messages with Park’s manager, saying, “Short_mouth_sun takes it three times a day, and up to four times on days she eats heavily.” Based on images of the pills and pharmaceutical information released by Dispatch, the drug is suspected to be phentermine, nicknamed because of its distinct shape resembling a butterfly. Phentermine is regulate

Dec 24, 2025By Kormedi.com
Diet pill controversy highlights hidden risks behind celebrity weight loss

Lee apologizes to victims of toxic humidifier disinfectants

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday apologized to victims of toxic humidifier disinfectants blamed for deaths and diseases involving thousands of people, saying the government will define the case as a "social disaster." In 2011, sales of such toxic sterilizers were suspended as health authorities announced they could cause lung diseases. A special law was enacted in 2017 to compensate victims, and 5,942 people were formally recognized as victims as of last month. "It was too late," Lee said in a Facebook posting, adding he "conveys condolences and consolation to the victims and their families." In 2017, then President Moon Jae-in apologized to the victims, but Lee's apology came as the government announced comprehensive measures to compensate and support the victims earlier in the day. Last year, a court recognized the state's liability to compensate humidifier disinfectant victims or their bereaved families for the first time. The case gained attention after four pregnant women died of lung disease for unknown reasons in 2011. "It is hard to fathom how unjust and devastating it must hav

Dec 24, 2025By Yonhap
Lee apologizes to victims of toxic humidifier disinfectants

How to survive year-end party season without getting drunk

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. As year-end gatherings swing into full gear, alcohol often takes center stage. Office dinners, reunions with old classmates, family get-togethers, workplace parties and New Year’s celebrations tend to pile up in quick succession. Before long, drinking can start to feel like part of everyday life. But behind the festive mood is a set of health and safety risks. According to the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol consumption during the year-end holiday season increases by as much as 25 percent compared with usual levels, accompanied by a rise in alcohol-related accidents and hospitalizations. Binge drinking, in particular, becomes more common, driving up traffic accidents and alcohol-related crimes and potentially turning casual drinking into a broader social problem. In South Korea, the Korea Transportation Safety Authority reported a total of 13,042 drunk-driving accidents in 2023. Of those, 4,025 occurred in December alone, about 18 percent higher than the monthly average. Around 100 people were killed in drun

Dec 23, 2025By Kormedi.com
How to survive year-end party season without getting drunk

Do hangover IV drips really sober you up faster?

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Following allegations that comedian Park Na-rae received illegal medical treatment from a so-called “injection aunt,” public attention has quickly shifted to the IV nutrient drips she was reported to have received. While IV infusions are commonly marketed for fatigue recovery or skin care, interest has spiked in so-called hangover IV drips, given Park’s well-known drinking habits. Online communities have been flooded with questions like, “After seeing the Park Na-rae case, I’m curious if a hangover IV really sobers you up immediately?” and “Are hangover drips actually that effective?” Despite the name, hangover IV drips are not fundamentally different from standard glucose infusions used to combat fatigue. Many local clinics mix glucose solutions with electrolytes and vitamins and promote them as “hangover injections” or “hangover recovery drips.” A product often nicknamed the “licorice injection,” Hishiphagen-C, is also frequently used for this purpose and is widely promoted for fatigue relief and liver function s

Dec 19, 2025By Kormedi.com
Do hangover IV drips really sober you up faster?

Iced Americano in winter? What Koreans’ habit may reveal about their health

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Even as temperatures plunge, many people still reach for iced Americanos or chew on ice cubes. In South Korea, the phrase “iced coffee no matter how cold it gets” has become so common that it is often shortened to a popular slang term. But health experts warn that an intense preference for ice-cold drinks in winter may be less about taste and more about what the body lacks. If you find yourself craving ice even in the depths of winter or habitually chewing on it, iron deficiency may be the underlying cause. This behavior is especially common among people with anemia or those who consume iron-poor diets. Anemia occurs when the body lacks sufficient iron to produce red blood cells efficiently. According to a paper published in PubMed, a U.S. medical database, 88 percent of patients with iron-deficiency anemia experience pagophagia, a condition marked by compulsive ice chewing. Researchers say iron deficiency can cause symptoms such as tongue pain, dry mouth and mouth ulcers, and chewing ice may temporarily relieve these discomforts, reinfor

Dec 19, 2025By Kormedi.com
Iced Americano in winter? What Koreans’ habit may reveal about their health

Tax money for hair-loss drugs? President’s proposal sparks mixed reactions

A debate over public funding for hair-loss treatment has intensified after President Lee Jae Myung ordered officials to review a possible expansion of health insurance coverage for the condition, describing baldness as “a matter of survival.” Critics, however, argue that scarce health resources should first be directed to life‑threatening illnesses. Speaking at the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s policy briefing to the president earlier this week, Lee said that while hair loss was once seen as a cosmetic issue, “these days it seems to be viewed as a matter of survival,” asking why it should not be treated as a disease within the national insurance system. Currently, the National Health Insurance covers only “pathologic” forms of hair loss, such as alopecia areata, on a limited basis, while age‑related baldness is not eligible for reimbursement. For many patients, the president’s remarks validated a long‑held belief that hair loss is not a trivial concern. “If covered, it would certainly help my finances,” said a 40-year-old architect, surnamed Kim, who has taken

Dec 18, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Tax money for hair-loss drugs? President’s proposal sparks mixed reactions
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