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Why young Koreans are meeting strangers to eat French fries

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. A new meetup trend is spreading among young Koreans and it revolves around one thing: French fries. The gatherings have emerged as the latest social fad, following the brief popularity of “cops and robbers” meetups inspired by the childhood playground game. This time, people of all ages and backgrounds are coming together for a shared love of French fries. In online communities, invitation posts for meetups centered on eating fries are on the rise. On Karrot, a local marketplace and community app, 99 French fry meetup groups have been created, including 11 in Seoul alone. A “fry club” in Mapo District attracted 731 members within just two weeks of its launch, while a Gangnam-based group dedicated to McDonald's fries drew 491 members. While the trend is largely benign, health experts urge moderation. Potatoes are rich in vitamin C, potassium and dietary fiber, but that nutritional value diminishes once they are deep-fried, heavily salted and paired with ketchup. High-heat frying and chemical risks When carbohydrate-rich, low-protein plant

Jan 30, 2026By Kormedi.com
Why young Koreans are meeting strangers to eat French fries

Lee floats idea of imposing sugar levy to support regional, public health care

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday proposed the idea of imposing a "sugar levy" to help curb sugar intake and bolster public health care funding, citing a similar levy on tobacco. Lee made the remark on X, formerly Twitter, as he posted a news article citing a survey that showed around eight in 10 Koreans supported a sugar tax that would impose a levy on companies that use excessive amounts of sugar in their products. "Just like cigarettes, we could curb the use of sugar through a levy on sugar and reinvest this revenue to strengthen regional and public health care ... what do you think?" Lee wrote. According to the report, more than 120 countries are implementing sugar taxes or similar measures based on World Health Organization recommendations. Under the National Health Promotion Act, the National Health Promotion Fund is primarily funded by tax on tobacco consumption, and is used for various anti-smoking and health care programs.

Jan 28, 2026By Yonhap
Lee floats idea of imposing sugar levy to support regional, public health care

Korea reports 4th African swine fever case as virus spreads nationwide

Korea on Tuesday confirmed its fourth case of African swine fever (ASF) this year, prompting authorities to step up containment measures nationwide. The latest case was detected at a pig farm in the county of Yeonggwang, South Jeolla Province, which raises some 21,000 pigs, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The government is taking necessary steps to prevent the spread of the virus, including the culling of affected pigs. It has also issued a 48-hour standstill order for all pig farms and related facilities nationwide, effective through Wednesday. The country confirmed its first ASF case of the year earlier this month in the eastern city of Gangneung after a two-month hiatus, followed by two additional cases last week in Anseong and Pocheon, both in Gyeonggi Province. "As African swine fever is spreading to areas previously considered safe, the current situation is more serious than ever," the ministry said in a statement. It urged local governments, livestock-related organizations and pig farmers to implement intensive disinfection and quarantine measures.

Jan 27, 2026By Yonhap
Korea reports 4th African swine fever case as virus spreads nationwide

Koreans say money matters most for health, surpassing genes and habits: report

More Koreans now see money and social status as the strongest determinants of their health, overtaking previously dominant factors such as genetics and lifestyle habits, a new survey showed Sunday. According to the 2025 Health Perception Report released by the Korea Health Promotion Institute, 33.3 percent of respondents said income and social status most influenced their health. That figure exceeded all answers, including access to workout facilities and parks at 14.8 percent, genetic factors at 12.8 percent, and personal lifestyle or coping skills at 11.5 percent. The poll, conducted from Oct. 31 to Nov. 14 last year, surveyed 2,000 men and women aged 20 to 69 across the country. It marks a notable shift in Koreans' perceptions, as genetics had previously topped the list in 2023 and 2024. The perception that wealth matters most for health was consistent across generations. The portion of respondents choosing income and social status as the top factor was highest among those in their 40s and 50s at 36.4 percent, followed by seniors in their 60s at 32.6 percent and those in their 20s an

Jan 25, 2026By Lee Hae-rin
Koreans say money matters most for health, surpassing genes and habits: report

Koreans' teeth at risk amid Dubai-style dessert ‘Dujjonku’ craze

Dental experts have warned that sweet and sticky foods such as the viral “Dubai jjondeuk cookie,” or Dujjonku, can be harmful to oral health. According to the medical community Jan. 23, cavities occur when bacteria in the mouth break down sugar in food and release acid, which erodes the surface of teeth. The higher a food’s sugar content, the more acid the bacteria produce, and the stickier the food, the longer residues cling to teeth, increasing the time teeth are exposed to acid. Food debris left on teeth continuously supplies nutrients to cavity-causing bacteria, accelerating tooth decay and contributing to tartar buildup. Lim Hyun-chang, a professor of periodontology at Kyung Hee University Dental Hospital, said some ingredients in the “Dubai jjondeuk cookie” can remain for long periods in narrow gaps between teeth or along the gum line, adding that this can lead to gum inflammation. For those unwilling to give up the popular treat, proper brushing is essential. Brushing is generally recommended within two to three minutes after eating. In particular, after consuming foods

Jan 24, 2026By Hankookilbo
Koreans' teeth at risk amid Dubai-style dessert ‘Dujjonku’ craze

Korea's rice consumption falls to record low in 2025: data

Koreans' rice consumption fell to a record low in 2025 as changing diets and eating habits continued to reduce demand, government data showed Thursday. Per capita rice consumption stood at 62.5 kilograms last year, down 3 percent, or 1.9 kg, from the previous year, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Data and Statistics. The figure marked the lowest level since the government began collecting related data in 1962. Although rice has traditionally been a staple grain for Koreans, its consumption has steadily declined, largely due to dietary changes and the growing preference for other grains, such as wheat flour. The 2025 figure is half the amount reported 30 years ago, when consumption was 117.9 kg in 1995, the data showed. Despite the overall decline, the use of rice by food and beverage manufacturers increased by 6.7 percent on-year, reaching 931,201 tons in 2025.

Jan 22, 2026By Yonhap
Korea's rice consumption falls to record low in 2025: data

Korean researchers identify brain differences linked to suicide risk

A Korean research team has identified distinct differences in brain networks among people with depression who have attempted to take their own lives, suggesting that altered neural wiring, not simply more severe symptoms, may increase the risk of suicidal behavior. Researchers at Korea University Anam Hospital said on Wednesday that patients with depression who had attempted suicide showed weaker connectivity between the brain’s visual cortex, which processes what people see, and the frontal lobe, which governs judgment and emotion. The findings were based on a study of 123 patients diagnosed with depression, compared to 81 participants in a control group, the team said. The team, led by psychiatry professors Han Kyu-man and Ham Byung-joo, analyzed brain activity using MRI scans taken while patients were at rest, along with clinical data and standard questionnaires on childhood trauma. The researchers focused on how different regions of the brain communicate with one another when a person is not performing any specific task, a method often used to detect underlying network difference

Jan 22, 2026By Lee Hae-rin
Korean researchers identify brain differences linked to suicide risk

For Koreans, ‘good death’ means comfort, easing burden on family, study shows

A growing number of Koreans now see a “good death” less as a family-centered moment and more as one free of pain and financial strain, a shift highlighted in a study by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA). The report, published in the latest issue of the institute’s journal, Health and Social Welfare Review, analyzed responses from 1,021 adults aged 19 and older who took part in an online survey conducted between April 23 and May 7, 2024. Led by Oh Jong-min of Ewha Womans University’s School of Medicine, the research examined public attitudes toward death and preparations for one’s final years. Results showed that an overwhelming 97 percent of respondents considered minimizing physical pain essential to a good death, followed by easing families’ financial burden at 96.2 percent and sparing them from prolonged caregiving at 95.3 percent. These figures show that growing openness to hospice care here is driven less by acceptance of palliative medicine than by harsh financial realities. The data is also supported by a rise in so-called “caregiving traged

Jan 19, 2026By Lee Hae-rin
For Koreans, ‘good death’ means comfort, easing burden on family, study shows

EXPLAINER Korea’s push for ‘regional doctors’: Reform or gamble?

Korea’s long-running debate over a shortage of doctors outside the Seoul metropolitan area is now centering on a new policy idea: a so-called "regional doctor system" that would require qualified physicians to serve for several years in underserved areas and key specialties. Years of incentive payments, pilot projects and increases in medical school quotas have so far failed to ease the shortage of physicians in emergency rooms, maternity wards and key specialties in smaller cities and rural counties. Health authorities say a mandatory system is now needed to maintain — or at least stabilize — medical services outside the capital region. The regional doctor system has become a key part of President Lee Jae Myung’s health care plan. Last month, lawmakers passed a law that makes the system official and gives the government the power to require doctors to work in hospitals and clinics outside the capital. At its core, the scheme reserves a set share of medical school seats for “regional tracks,” in which students receive government financial support for tuition, dormitory fees

Jan 16, 2026By Jung Min-ho
[EXPLAINER] Korea’s push for ‘regional doctors’: Reform or gamble?

PM vows measures to tighten safety rules on chemical products

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Thursday the government will implement thorough measures to bolster safety rules on chemical goods, citing a long-running consumer goods disaster over toxic humidifier disinfectant. Kim made the remark during a policy coordination meeting with related ministers to discuss key state affairs, saying ensuring the safety and health of the people is the government's "top policy priority." "As we learned from the tragedy of humidifier disinfectant, there must be no blind spots in not only preventing incidents involving chemical products but also in responding after the incident," Kim said. In 2011, consumers started to report deaths and illnesses allegedly tied to humidifier disinfectants, widely used by households in the dry winters. A government-led investigation later confirmed the link between the two, with over 5,000 people formally recognized as victims. He also discussed the outlook of Korean industries, stressing the importance of promoting artificial intelligence, biotech, cultural content, defense and energy. Kim noted that Korea achieved $700 billion

Jan 15, 2026By Yonhap
PM vows measures to tighten safety rules on chemical products
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