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Exercise for 150 Minutes a Week May Significantly Reduce Depression Risk

Exercise for 150 Minutes a Week May Significantly Reduce Depression Risk

SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Korea Bizwire) — Regular physical activity sustained over time can significantly reduce the risk of depressive symptoms, according to a large-scale Korean study that underscores the mental health benefits of even moderate exercise. Researchers at the National Institute of Health, under the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, analyzed data from 19,112 adults [...]

Younger Diabetes Patients in Korea Face High Rates of Abdominal Obesity

Younger Diabetes Patients in Korea Face High Rates of Abdominal Obesity

SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Korea Bizwire) — More than half of South Koreans with diabetes are obese, with abdominal obesity particularly prevalent among patients in their 30s and 40s, according to new findings released this week by the nation’s leading diabetes experts. The Korean Diabetes Association said its analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition [...]

Nearly 5% of South Koreans Identified as Socially Isolated, Study Finds

Nearly 5% of South Koreans Identified as Socially Isolated, Study Finds

SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — Nearly one in 20 South Koreans has limited monthly social interaction through mobile communications, highlighting a growing segment of the population at risk of social isolation, according to a government-backed data analysis released on Monday. The findings, published by the National Data Agency, mark the first nationwide statistical attempt to [...]

Yogurt Rises, Milk Slips as Demographic Shifts Reshape Korea’s Dairy Market

Yogurt Rises, Milk Slips as Demographic Shifts Reshape Korea’s Dairy Market

SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — As South Korea’s prolonged low birth rate reshapes consumer demand, yogurt has emerged as an unexpected sales driver at major retailers, while milk — once a staple — continues to lose ground. According to data released Sunday by the retail industry, Emart, the country’s largest discount chain, ranked milk ninth [...]

Active Play Program Helps Cut Childhood Obesity Rates

Active Play Program Helps Cut Childhood Obesity Rates

SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — Replacing screen time with traditional outdoor games has led to measurable improvements in weight and eating habits among South Korean elementary school students, according to government data released Tuesday. The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Promotion Institute said the “Healthy Care Playground” program, designed to promote [...]

CT Scans Surge in South Korea, but Many Patients Misunderstand Radiation Risks

CT Scans Surge in South Korea, but Many Patients Misunderstand Radiation Risks

SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — The use of computed tomography (CT) scans in South Korea has risen steadily in recent years, even as many patients remain poorly informed about medical radiation exposure and its potential health risks, according to a new survey released by the national health insurer. The National Health Insurance Service said an [...]

As Weight-Loss Drugs Surge in Popularity, South Korea’s Gyms Feel the Squeeze

As Weight-Loss Drugs Surge in Popularity, South Korea’s Gyms Feel the Squeeze

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — As weight-loss drugs gain popularity in South Korea, gyms that once thrived on New Year’s diet resolutions are beginning to feel the strain. Fitness centers across Seoul report a noticeable shift in consumer behavior as more people turn to prescription obesity treatments such as Wegovy and Mounjaro instead of exercise [...]

Twin Birth Rate Climbs to Global High, Raising Calls for Policy Shift

Twin Birth Rate Climbs to Global High, Raising Calls for Policy Shift

SEOUL, Dec. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s twin and multiple-birth rates have surged to among the highest in the world, prompting experts to warn that the trend carries heightened medical risks for mothers and infants and requires a shift in government policy. According to a new report released Thursday by Bae Hye-won, a senior researcher [...]

A 10-Year-Old in Busan Endured a 96-Minute ‘ER Ping-Pong’ as Hospitals Refused Pediatric Care

A 10-Year-Old in Busan Endured a 96-Minute ‘ER Ping-Pong’ as Hospitals Refused Pediatric Care

BUSAN, Dec. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — A 10-year-old girl in Busan was turned away by more than a dozen hospitals earlier this week as emergency responders struggled for over an hour to find a facility willing to treat her, according to ambulance logs released by opposition lawmakers on Wednesday. The incident, which unfolded on the morning [...]

Home-Based Care in High Demand, but Local Governments Seen as Unprepared

Home-Based Care in High Demand, but Local Governments Seen as Unprepared

SEOUL, Dec. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — Most South Koreans want to remain in their homes or local communities as they age or face illness, but many say the country’s local care systems are not prepared to support that preference, according to a new nationwide survey released Tuesday. The survey of 1,500 adults, conducted earlier this month [...]