SEOUL, August 1 (Korea Bizwire) — Amid rising temperatures and summer body pressures, South Korean health authorities are sounding the alarm over a disturbing body image trend spreading across social media platforms. The Korea Health Promotion Institute (KHPI) on Thursday warned against the glamorization of extreme thinness—particularly the so-called “bone arm” ideal—highlighting its potential harm [...]
SEOUL, July 31 (Korea Bizwire) — Early access to palliative care—not limited to hospice or end-of-life stages—can significantly reduce emergency room visits among cancer patients, according to a new study from Seoul National University Hospital. Unlike hospice care, which is typically reserved for terminal patients with a prognosis of six months or less, palliative care [...]
SEOUL, July 31 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s Minister of Health and Welfare, Chung Eun-kyung, has called for stricter regulation of liquid-based e-cigarettes, equating their health risks to those of traditional combustible cigarettes, especially amid rising use among adolescents. In a written response submitted to the National Assembly following her confirmation hearing, Chung emphasized that [...]
SEOUL, July 30 (Korea Bizwire) — South Koreans are living longer than most of their global peers, but the country continues to grapple with the highest suicide rate among OECD nations, underscoring a stark contrast between physical longevity and mental well-being. According to the OECD Health Statistics 2025 report released Wednesday by South Korea’s Ministry [...]
SEOUL, July 30 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea has one of the lowest numbers of practicing physicians among developed nations, but its citizens visit the doctor more often than anywhere else in the OECD, highlighting a paradox of limited manpower and high demand in the nation’s healthcare system. According to the OECD Health Statistics 2025 [...]
SEOUL, July 29 (Korea Bizwire) — South Koreans are sleeping less, working and studying less, and spending more time consuming digital media than ever before, according to a new government survey tracking the nation’s evolving daily routines. The Statistics Korea report, released Monday, showed that for the first time since the time-use survey began in [...]
SEOUL, July 29 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean elementary school students are spending more time studying than ever, while their sleep and playtime continue to shrink, reflecting the intensifying pressure of early academic competition, according to new government data released Monday. The 2024 Time Use Survey by Statistics Korea found that elementary students now study [...]
SEOUL, July 29 (Korea Bizwire) — The estimated “cost of pain” per traffic fatality in South Korea has risen to nearly ₩1 billion ($700,000), reflecting a growing public valuation of human life and greater recognition of the suffering endured by victims’ families, according to a new report released Sunday. The Korea Transport Institute (KOTI) revealed [...]
SEOUL, July 28 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) has submitted over 1.5 million citizen signatures to an appeals court in support of its ongoing 50 billion won ($38 million) damages lawsuit against major tobacco companies, signaling strong public backing in a legal battle over smoking-related health costs. The NHIS announced [...]
SEOUL, July 25 (Korea Bizwire) — Sales of multigrain instant rice are surging in South Korea, especially among younger consumers, as part of a broader shift toward health-conscious eating, NH NongHyup Bank reported Friday. Analyzing 4.2 billion transaction records from its NH Members loyalty program between January 2022 and June 2025, the bank found that [...]