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Seoul education office to conduct full safety check on school meals amid concerns over Fukushima water release

Officials conduct a radiation level test on seafood at a health and safety research center in Suwon, 30 kilometers south of Seoul, June 15. YonhapThe Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will conduct a full radiation test on school meals to check their safety amid concerns over Japan's plan to release contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, officials said Saturday.The education office initially planned to conduct sample tests on school meals but decided to conduct full tests when the release plan actually comes into action, to address the concerns of students and parents, according to the officials.Japan reportedly plans to discharge radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi plant, which was crippled by a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011, into the sea as early as this month.Since 2013, Korea has banned all seafood imports from eight Japanese prefectures near Fukushima.On Friday, the government said the current import ban will remain in place regardless of Japan's planned release of contaminated water. According to the education office, the Minis

Jun 17, 2023

Seoul education office to conduct full safety check on school meals amid concerns over Fukushima water release

Medical colleges in Hungary become popular among aspiring Korean doctors

gettyimagesbankBy Jun Ji-hyeAn increasing number of aspiring doctors in Korea have moved to Hungary to study and then returned home to acquire medical licenses here for the last 20 years, according to Rep. Shin Hyun-young of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, Friday.She said medical colleges in the Philippines were popular among aspiring doctors in Korea until the early 2000s, but the preference has shifted to schools in Hungary. According to documents the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute submitted to Rep. Shin, 409 people have taken national examinations for doctors in Korea after graduating from medical colleges overseas from 2001 to 2023. Among them, 247 passed the exams. Among the exam takers, the number of graduates of medical schools in Hungary was the highest at 119, followed by 106 from colleges in the Philippines, 38 from colleges in Uzbekistan, 23 from British colleges, 22 from German colleges, 18 from Australian colleges, 15 from U.S. colleges, 12 from Paraguayan colleges, 11 from Russian colleges, six from Japanese colleges and five from

Jun 16, 2023By Jun Ji-hye

Medical colleges in Hungary become popular among aspiring Korean doctors

Korea to provide $70 mil. for global anti-COVID-19 fight

In this undated file photo provided by Seoul's foreign ministry, Park Sang-hoon, Korean ambassador to Spain, speaks during the 2023 Gavi Mid-Term Review forum, held June 13-15. YonhapKorea plans to donate $70 million this year to an international health organization designed to facilitate the development and distribution of vaccines, the foreign ministry said Friday.Park Sang-hoon, Korean ambassador to Spain, made the announcement during a Mid-Term Review of Gavi, a vaccine alliance that helps run the global COVAX program aimed at delivering COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries.At the meeting, Park noted Gavi's important role in vaccine distribution and stressed the Korean government's strong commitment to improving the global health system, the ministry said.Last year, Seoul pledged to make an annual contribution of $100 million in 2023-2025 to the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator, an initiative launched by the World Health Organization and various partners to focus on vaccines, treatments and tests for COVID-19.The latest contribution is part of the $100 million fund Korea

Jun 16, 2023

Korea to provide $70 mil. for global anti-COVID-19 fight

Gov't accused of defending Japan in daily briefing on Fukushima wastewater

Environmental activists hold a press conference in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, Thursday, to protest Japan's planned release of radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. NewsisGov't downplays poll showing 84% of Koreans object to dischargeBy Park Jae-hyukOpposition parties and civic groups are criticizing the government's decision to present a media briefing every weekday on Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean.Although the government explains the briefing is intended to dispel groundless concerns among the public about the safety of seafood, critics claim that the Yoon Suk Yeol administration is defending the discharge on behalf of the Japanese government.During the first daily briefing, Thursday, Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Song Sang-keun addressed recent news reports about consumers in Korea hoarding sea salt ahead of the wastewater release, reiterating that seafood products in Korea have been managed safely.“With fewer days with rainfall and more am

Jun 15, 2023By Park Jae-hyuk

Gov't accused of defending Japan in daily briefing on Fukushima wastewater

Jindo County's 1st-ever pediatric clinic opens

Pediatrician Kim Hyun-tae sees a child patient at his clinic that opened on June 1 in Jindo County, South Jeolla Province. Courtesy of Jindo County office By Jun Ji-hyeThe first-ever pediatric clinic in Jindo County, South Jeolla Province, opened earlier this month, providing convenience to residents who had to drive at least an hour to take their sick children to a hospital.According to the county office, Thursday, pediatrician Kim Hyun-tae's clinic began offering medical services to patients under the age of 18 on June 1.The opening of the pediatric clinic in Jindo is drawing attention at a time when a deepening shortage of medical facilities for children and pediatric physicians in the country has become a major concern. The shortage is mainly attributed to a falling birthrate and a growing reluctance among medical students to specialize in pediatrics due to a heavy workload and low pay compared to other popular fields such as plastic surgery.The shortage of pedi

Jun 15, 2023By Jun Ji-hye

Jindo County's 1st-ever pediatric clinic opens

IMO reviewing measures to respond to Japan's Fukushima water release: agency chief

This photo, provided by Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, shows International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Lim Ki-taek speaking during a press interview in Seoul, June 14. YonhapThe U.N. maritime safety agency is reviewing measures to respond to Japan's planned release of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, though further discussions are needed to decide whether to deal with the issue within the London Convention and Protocol framework, the agency chief said Wednesday.Japan plans to discharge radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which was crippled by a massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami, into the sea as early as this month, according to foreign media reports.South Korea has called for discussions on the potential impacts of the planned release on the marine environment within the London Convention and Protocol framework under the International Maritime Organization (IMO).But Japan has refuted the call, claiming that such a discharge should not be seen as an act of marine dumping."Member nations differ on the inte

Jun 14, 2023

IMO reviewing measures to respond to Japan's Fukushima water release: agency chief

Health authorities warn against MERS ahead of Hajj season

Pilgrims on Jamaraat Bridge in Mina, Saudi Arabia, flock to Mecca in this Sept. 24, 2015, photo. AP-YonhapBy Ko Dong-hwanThe Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) is working to ensure the safety of a wave of travelers to Saudi Arabia ― to attend Hajj ― from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). Hajj, lasting this year from June 26 to July 1, is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to the Saudi Arabian holy city of Mecca.The health authority is concerned that those returning to Korea after visiting Mecca might carry the coronavirus causing MERS with them and transmit it locally.The KDCA said Wednesday it has begun cooperating with other agencies to warn people of the risk and educate the public about the contagious disease which is contracted mainly through contact with camels. The disease is known to be prevalent in the Middle East and northern Africa. The concern comes as Muslims worldwide are expected to make pilgrimages to Mecca in record numbers since before the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. The number of travelers to Saudi Arabia during Hajj was 1,000 in 2020. The fig

Jun 14, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan

Health authorities warn against MERS ahead of Hajj season

'Unpopular' medical departments face shortage of doctors

Gettyimagesbank By Lee Hae-rinSeoul National University Hospital (SNUH), one of Korea's most advanced medical centers, is seeing a doctor shortage in 'unpopular' medical departments like surgery and emergency medicine, according to data released Wednesday.Doctors are found to prefer medical specialties such as plastic surgery and dermatology which offer better pay and working conditions. According to SNUH's recruitment statistics for medical specialists by departments between 2021 and May 2023, submitted to Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Rep. Kang Min-jung, the hospital's surgery department went through 11 recruitment drives to hire 47 specialists last year.The surgery department was the only medical department at SNUH that went through more than 10 recruitment drives to hire enough specialists.In 2021, the same department hired only 24 surgeons in four recruitment drives, although it initially sought to hire 34.The hospital's other medical departments known to be

Jun 14, 2023By Lee Hae-rin

'Unpopular' medical departments face shortage of doctors

Taxpayers to shoulder bill for Fukushima wastewater concerns

Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Song Sang-keun speaks during a press conference at the Government Complex in Sejong, Monday. Yonhap By Park Jae-hyukKorean taxpayers will have to shoulder further costs as the government tries to ensure the safety of seafood, amid lingering concerns about Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Monday.On the day that Tokyo Electric Power began facility testing operations for the discharge, the Korean ministry unveiled plans to enhance communication with fishermen and consumers, to dispel concerns about the safety of seafood.Vice Minister Song Sang-keun reiterated that domestic seafood will be safe even after the release of the wastewater. But he also told reporters that the central and municipal governments will purchase additional equipment and hire additional personnel to conduct radioactivity inspections on seafood p

Jun 12, 2023By Park Jae-hyuk

Taxpayers to shoulder bill for Fukushima wastewater concerns

Move to exempt doctors from punishment for medical errors draws controversy

gettyimagesbankBy Jun Ji-hyeThe government's move to exempt doctors from criminal punishment in case of medical errors is stirring up arguments. Doctors say such a measure is necessary to make sure they can offer medical services to patients in a more stable environment. Objectors criticize this, saying doctors are only aiming to avoid responsibility. Last Thursday, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Medical Association (KMA) reached an agreement to “draw up a measure to reduce legal responsibilities that doctors should bear in case of medical errors.”Under the agreement, the ministry is expected to push for legislating a special law designed to exempt doctors from criminal punishment when medical errors occur while they engage in “normal” medical practice.The agreement came as the ministry accepted the request from the doctors' association, in return for the association's acceptance of the ministry's proposal to increase the medical college quota in 2025.In January, the ministry included the legislation of the aforementioned special law in its p

Jun 11, 2023By Jun Ji-hye

Health