South Korea - The Korea Times

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?

Doctor shortage projections ignite fresh tensions with medical groups

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

Aekyung Industrial recalls China-made toothpaste over use of banned chemical

Public concern is growing after triclosan, a preservative banned from oral care products, was detected in six types of toothpaste sold by Aekyung Industrial, the manufacturer of Korea’s widely used “2080” toothpaste brand. The company stated that it confirmed the presence of trace amounts of triclosan in toothpaste products manufactured by its Chinese supplier, Domy, which were sold domestically. It has suspended imports and distribution of the affected products and begun a voluntary recall. Triclosan was once widely used in cosmetics and hygiene products but has since been restricted from oral care products in Korea due to concerns about endocrine disruption and potential links to cancer. According to Aekyung Industrial, the products containing triclosan were manufactured from April 2023 and had been sold for approximately two and a half years. The company added that the remaining 127 toothpaste products under the 2080 brand are all domestically produced and unaffected. The six recalled products include: 2080 Basic Toothpaste, 2080 Daily Care Toothpaste, 2080 Smart Care Plus Tooth

Jan 13, 2026By Ahn Seo-hyeon

Aekyung Industrial recalls China-made toothpaste over use of banned chemical

ADHD ‘study drug’ prescriptions surge among children, teens

Prescriptions for methylphenidate, a central nervous system stimulant primarily used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), are rising sharply among children and teenagers in Korea, raising concerns that the drug is being misused as a “study drug.” According to the latest report on medical narcotics use released by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the number of young patients prescribed the drug in the first nine months of 2025 has already surpassed the total for 2024. The report shows that 113,263 boys aged 19 or younger received at least one prescription for methylphenidate between January and September 2025 — surpassing the 107,267 boys prescribed the drug in all of 2024. Among girls in the same age group, the pattern is similar: 49,209 were prescribed methylphenidate during the same period, compared with 45,764 for all of 2024. The growth is even steeper over a longer time frame. In 2023, 90,851 boys and 34,888 girls under 20 received methylphenidate prescriptions. In other words, over two years, the number of male teenage patients increased by roughly

Jan 11, 2026By Jung Min-ho

ADHD ‘study drug’ prescriptions surge among children, teens

BTS’ Jung Kook shares diet routine, but is it healthy?

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. BTS member Jung Kook has revealed that he is currently on a diet and strictly follows a one-meal-a-day routine. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone UK, Jung Kook said, “These days, I’m on a diet and only eat one meal a day.” He said, “So I really look forward to that one meal.” He said that along with dieting, he is also exercising every morning and evening. Jung Kook said his lifestyle attitude changed after military service, adding, “I used to drink alcohol, but now I’m trying to refrain from it.” Here is what experts say about this approach to health management. One meal a day, what effect does it have? The one-meal-a-day diet that Jung Kook is practicing is considered a type of intermittent fasting in which fasting hours are extended. The method became widely known in Korea after Japanese plastic surgeon Yoshinori Nagumo promoted the idea in books arguing that fasting benefits health. Nagumo said eating one meal a day not only helps control weight but also activates longevity genes that may help prevent diabetes, dement

Jan 8, 2026By Kormedi.com

BTS’ Jung Kook shares diet routine, but is it healthy?

Korea reports new bird flu case in central region

South Korea has confirmed an additional case of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a poultry farm, bringing the total number of cases this season to 33, authorities said Tuesday. The latest case was detected at a quail farm in Okcheon, North Chungcheong Province, which was raising 500,000 birds, according to the authorities. South Korea issued a 24-hour standstill order for all chicken and quail farms, facilities and vehicles in North Chungcheong Province and neighboring areas to prevent the spread of the disease. It marked the first highly pathogenic avian influenza case reported in Okcheon since December 2016.

Jan 6, 2026By Yonhap

Korea reports new bird flu case in central region

New ‘next-generation noodles’ gain popularity among dieters

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. A growing number of people on weight-control diets are turning to so-called “next-generation noodles,” which replace wheat flour with alternative ingredients to lower calories while maintaining a feeling of fullness. Options now range from konjac noodles that minimize calories, to protein-fortified soybean and tofu noodles and seaweed-based noodles rich in dietary fiber. However, experts say the diet effects differ widely depending on the type and how it is used, making informed selection important for effective weight management. Konjac noodles are considered the most calorie-reducing alternative. Their key component, glucomannan, absorbs water and expands in volume while remaining extremely low in calories, helping create a quick sense of fullness. They are particularly useful in the early stages of dieting or as a substitute for late-night meals, and they place relatively little burden on blood sugar. But because they contain almost no protein or fat, relying on them alone can quickly lead to hunger. Dietitians say they should always b

Jan 6, 2026By Kormedi.com

New ‘next-generation noodles’ gain popularity among dieters

Majority of Korean workers flagged for health risks, new data shows

Nearly 6 in 10 Korean workers who underwent mandatory workplace health screenings in 2024 were found to have abnormal results, government data showed Sunday, raising concerns about worsening health conditions among employees exposed to hazardous work environments. According to a report by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, 1.62 million workers — or 58.7 percent of the 2.75 million examined — were classified as having abnormal findings. The figure rose by about 90,800 workers, or 5.9 percent, from a year earlier, outpacing the 3.1 percent increase in the total number of examinees. Unlike routine health screenings for the general population, the examinations are mandatory for workers exposed to hazardous or dangerous conditions, including those in manufacturing and construction, employees exposed to high noise levels at power plants and airports, nurses, and commercial drivers such as truck, bus and taxi operators. The data showed a sharp rise in workers with clear signs of disease, a category indicating a high likelihood of illness requiring further testing or treatment. In 2024,

Jan 4, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin

Majority of Korean workers flagged for health risks, new data shows

Choosing the right winter tea for your symptoms: How to warm up from the inside out

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Some people feel cold all winter long — their fingertips sting from the chill, and even thick layers of clothing do little to restore warmth. Experts say this may not simply be a matter of being sensitive to cold, but in some cases a sign of reduced body-heat retention or weakened peripheral blood flow. Because the causes of cold sensitivity vary from person to person, health specialists recommend habits that warm the body from the inside. The right cup of winter tea, matched to an individual's symptoms, can help the body feel noticeably warmer. For people whose hands and feet feel icy, ginger tea is a good match. The gingerol and shogaol compounds in ginger help improve peripheral circulation and warm the body. Adding a small amount of honey can make it easier to drink while still providing warmth. It may also help relax tense muscles, which is useful when the body stiffens in cold weather. However, people with a sensitive stomach or acid reflux should be careful how much they drink. Cinnamon tea is recommended for people with cold feet, e

Jan 3, 2026By Kormedi.com

Choosing the right winter tea for your symptoms: How to warm up from the inside out

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

Health