Of the 2,000 new seats for medical schools being floated by the South Korean government, universities in provincial areas are to get 80 percent, with the rest for schools in Seoul and the vicinity, officials said Thursday, reaffirming the policy decision that has been facing fierce opposition from doctors since last month. According to the government, the plan is to develop competitiveness in regional universities by increasing the number of medical students at those schools with relatively few

Social Affairs March 14, 2024

South Korea's universities are witnessing a transformative shift in their cultural landscape, brought by a surge in the number of international students. Though the trend was stagnant during the pandemic era, the number of international students in Korea has steadily increased over the decades, amounting to 181,842 as of 2023. That is more than double the number 10 years ago (85,923), and 10 times more than in 2004 (16,832), when the Education Ministry began compiling related statistics. Th

Social Affairs March 13, 2024

The doctors' protest against the South Korean government's planned medical enrollment quota hike is taking a toll on medical school campuses as students are boycotting classes en masse. All 40 medical schools in the country have either postponed the opening of classes or are unable to hold lectures, as students refuse to attend classes, according to the Education Ministry. "Ten medical schools have been confirmed to be boycotting classes," the Ministry of Education remarked.

Social Affairs March 11, 2024

Amidst the South Korean government's move to boost the medical enrollment quota, a growing number of Koreans in their 20s to 50s are flocking to private academies in a determined bid to prepare for medical school applications, or what they are calling their "second chance" in life. Due to rising demands, private academies that help students prepare for the Korean college entrance exam, or Suneung, have recently opened late-night classes targeting those who already have careers but

Social Affairs March 10, 2024

Prosecutors have sought a five-year sentence for a man in his 20s who was arrested for attacking a woman he perceived to be a feminist "because she had short hair." In November last year, the man kicked and punched a female convenience store worker, saying, "Since you have short hair, you must be a feminist. I'm a male chauvinist, and I think feminists should be punished," according to police. He also assaulted another customer, in his 50s, who tried to intervene. At t

Social Affairs March 6, 2024

By Choi Jeong-yoon, Hwang Sung-chul In order to tackle the existing challenges of regional areas, the Ministry of Education, South Jeolla Province, Jeollanamdo and Gyeongsangbukdo Office of Education will host the first Korea Glocal Education Fair, hoping to present a new paradigm for sustainable, region-centered future education in the era of digital transformation. The event, which kicks off on May 29 and runs for five days at the Yeosu EXPO Center, aims to present a blueprint of "glocal

Social Affairs March 6, 2024

Several hospitals in South Korea made their way into a list of "best hospitals" around the world, all but one of which were located in the Greater Seoul region, drawing a contrast to several prestigious hospitals in Japan which were located in non-central areas. According to the list compiled by Newsweek, a global media organization, in partnership with Statista, 17 Korean hospitals were ranked in the top 250 hospitals worldwide. Among them, only one hospital came from outside the capi

Social Affairs March 5, 2024

진행자: 최정윤, Ali Abbot Death & denial: Why Koreans refuse to contemplate the end 기사 요약: '죽음'에 대해 이야기 하기를 꺼려하고 죽음에 대해 슬퍼하고 부정적인 인식이 유독 큰 한국인, 그 이유는? [1] A few years ago, Kim Sun-yong (not her real name) stumbled upon a Facebook post written by an acquaintance from work. The author, an American who was battling late-stage cancer with no prospects of recovery, asked his Facebook friends for suggestions on what to include on his bucket list as he braced for the inevitable. *stumble upon:

Podcast March 4, 2024

As the Thursday deadline the government set for striking doctors to return to work passed, most residents stayed off work Friday, leading the government to introduce stronger measures. Police raided the offices of the Korean Medical Association in Seoul and Gangwon Province the same day, as doctors affiliated with the organization were accused of violating medical laws regarding the ongoing mass walkout by trainee doctors. The police reportedly seized mobile phones and computers from the homes o

Social Affairs March 1, 2024

진행자: 최정윤, Ali Abbot Government sets deadline for doctors to return by Thursday 기사 요약: 의대 정원 확대 발표에 반발하고 나선 전공의들이 병원 이탈하고 의료 공백 커지자, 정부는 "목요일까지 돌아오면 책임 물지 않을 것"이라고 말해 [1] Amid lingering tensions between doctors and the government over the latter's plan to increase the medical school enrollment quota, the government has upped the pressure, issuing doctors with an ultimatum to return to work by Thursday. *latter: 후자, 마지막 (〈-〉former 전자) *ultimatum: 최후통첩 (final notice, warning, etc.)

Podcast Feb. 29, 2024

The government has designated six metropolitan cities and 43 local areas as trial special education zones where local governments and education offices will work with local universities and industries to autonomously create education policies, the education minister said Wednesday. As one of the four special projects promoted by the Yoon Suk Yeol administration to foster regional growth, the project aims to bridge the education gap and create conditions so that young people will want to stay i

Social Affairs Feb. 28, 2024

Korea International School's elementary division is opening its doors to the community for an open house on March 14, from 10 a.m. to midday. Prospective parents and curious visitors are invited to explore the purpose-built facilities that cater to a holistic approach to education. At KIS Elementary, the focus is on educating children through an inquiry-based learning foundation within a responsive environment. The early childhood education program emphasizes play-based and conceptual learn

Social Affairs Feb. 28, 2024

As South Korea grapples with a medical service vacuum in hospitals over a week after residents walked out in protest against the government's plan to increase the annual medical enrollment quota, nurses started filling the void Tuesday despite the lingering uncertainties over legality issues. The government launched a pilot project for physician assistant nurses working in general hospitals and training hospitals nationwide. Starting Tuesday, heads of each health care organization can deter

Social Affairs Feb. 27, 2024

Amid intensifying tensions between doctors and the government over its plan to increase the medical school enrollment quota, the government has upped the pressure, issuing doctors with an ultimatum to return to work by Thursday. The government will not hold medical residents accountable for walking out if they return to work by the deadline, according to Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min, who spoke at a briefing Monday. Previously, the government has warned of a possible suspension or

Social Affairs Feb. 26, 2024

South Korea's health crisis deepened Sunday as recent medical graduates began to join doctors' collective action against medical school expansion by refusing to take up internships, dashing what hopes there were that they might fill the health care vacuum left by striking trainee doctors. Doctors took to the streets in the afternoon. They claimed the government plan was "unscientific" and asserted that they are "not criminals," in response to threats of legal action

Social Affairs Feb. 25, 2024