SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea will begin subsidizing malpractice insurance premiums for doctors working in critical but increasingly underserved medical specialties, the government announced Monday, in an effort to ease legal burdens that have driven many physicians away from essential care. Under the new program, the state will cover 50 to 75 percent [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea plans to tighten oversight of blockbuster obesity treatments such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, responding to a surge in prescriptions for cosmetic weight loss among people without medical need, the government said Monday. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said it will work with the country’s drug regulator to [...]
CHUNCHEON, Oct. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — Visitors seeking the health benefits of South Korea’s forests may want to plan their outings carefully. A new study shows that the concentration of phytoncides — antimicrobial compounds emitted by trees and believed to promote wellness — peaks in June, particularly during afternoon hours. The Gangwon Province Institute of Health [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of young adults who grew up in state care seeking treatment for mental health problems has climbed sharply over the past five years, underscoring persistent challenges facing those transitioning to independent life, new government data shows. These young people, known in South Korea as “self-reliance preparation youths,” are [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s health insurance costs for advanced imaging are surging, as hospitals sharply increase MRI and CT scans after acquiring new equipment — a trend raising fresh concerns over unnecessary testing and long-term fiscal strain. According to data submitted to the National Assembly and released Thursday, hospitals that installed MRI [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — Roughly one in three South Korean parents have given their children nutritional supplements such as calcium, vitamin D, or height-enhancement products to promote physical growth, a new survey has found. The Korean Society of Pediatric Endocrinology (KSPE) released the findings Thursday in partnership with Gallup Korea, based on a survey [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — More than one in eight expectant mothers in South Korea now develop gestational diabetes, a ten-year study has found, prompting government efforts to track and prevent the long-term health risks that can follow both mothers and their children. The Korean Diabetes Association and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — In a bid to merge urban mobility with wellness culture, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has transformed parts of three subway stations into fitness and leisure spaces for runners, offering free access to facilities that blend convenience with community. The new “Runner’s Base” zones — located at Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5), [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — Beginning October 30, South Koreans will, for the first time, be able to convert death benefits from their life insurance policies into a steady stream of pension-style payments while still alive — a move regulators hope will reshape the country’s aging-era financial landscape. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) announced [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — More than six years after South Korea’s Constitutional Court struck down the nation’s longstanding abortion ban as unconstitutional, lawmakers have yet to pass replacement legislation—leaving women and medical professionals in a state of growing uncertainty. A new government-backed study released Tuesday by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and [...]