Articles by Claire Lee
Claire Lee
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Men in 60s, women in 40s most vulnerable to alcohol-induced mental disorders
A state-run health research institute said it has found that Korean men in their 60s and women in their 40s were most vulnerable to alcohol-induced mental conditions including dementia and alcoholic hallucinosis among all Koreans.The number of Koreans who sought medical help for the condition has increased from 2008 to 2012, from 63,821 to 75,925. The total cost spent to treat the condition increased from 136.3 billion won ($124.5 million) in 2008 to 217.5 billion won in 2012.According to Dr. Le
Technology Jan. 8, 2015
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New rules to curb ‘epidemic’ of cesarean births in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― Brazil has unveiled new rules aimed at stemming the South American nation’s “epidemic of cesareans” and promoting natural births among private health care providers.Health Minister Arthur Chioro called Brazil’s obsession with cesareans, which account for more than eight out of 10 births handled by private health providers, a “public health problem.”Under the requirements announced on Tuesday, health insurance companies will have to provide users with information about the p
Social Affairs Jan. 8, 2015
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9 measles cases linked to Disney parks
SANTA ANA, California (AP) ― Nine Americans have confirmed cases of measles likely contracted on trips last month to Disney theme parks in California, state officials said Wednesday.Three more California residents are suspected of having measles. All patients with confirmed or suspected cases of the illness visited Disneyland or Disney California Adventure between Dec. 15 and Dec. 20, according to the state’s Department of Public Health.They likely got the airborne illness at one of the parks th
Technology Jan. 8, 2015
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Heart attack (acute myocardial infarction)
Heart attack has been the No. 1 killer in the world for the last decade and deaths from the disease are still on the rise. As the human heart works continuously during one’s lifetime, a healthy coronary artery, which supplies it with blood, is vital for a healthy heart. As people age, the arterial wall gradually thickens and hardens, which is called atherosclerosis. Enlarged atherosclerotic plaque can become unstable and rupture suddenly. A blood clot is formed in ruptured plaque within minutes
Technology Jan. 8, 2015
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Author to be deported for alleged pro-N.K. activities
Korean-American author Shin Eun-mi, who has been accused of violating the National Security Act for allegedly promoting pro-North Korean ideals, may be deported to the U.S. as early as Friday, prosecutors said.Under the current law, Shin cannot enter South Korea for five years after being deported.“I have no reason to be deported and I consider myself a victim,” Shin said Wednesday as she appeared at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office for questioning. “I can guarantee that I have done nothing that
Social Affairs Jan. 7, 2015
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Sexual harassment of teens rampant at workplaces
Korean teens often experience workplace harassment as well as overdue pay, according to a report released by the Gender Equality Ministry.As of last year, 240,000, or 7.2 percent of all teenagers aged 15 to 19 were employed part time. Among them, 79.2 percent said they worked without written contracts, while 10.5 percent said they experienced verbal and sexual harassment at work.While 15.6 percent said they were not paid for extra work, 12.6 percent said they were not paid at all.The ministry al
Social Affairs Jan. 7, 2015
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Korean-Chinese gain popularity as babysitters
Tens of thousands of foreign nationals were estimated to be working as domestic workers ― such as nannies and babysitters ― in Korean households as of last year, according to a report by Korea Institute of Child Care and Education. The majority of such domestic workers were ethnic Koreans from China ― many of whom speak fluent Korean ― according to the report. The research suggested that foreign-born nannies and housekeepers are more satisfied with their jobs than the Korean parents who hire the
Social Affairs Jan. 6, 2015
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Lotte given ultimatum over mall safety
Seoul City on Monday issued its final warning to Lotte Group for its “negligent countermeasures” in response to more than 10 safety accidents at its newly opened shopping complex in Jamsil, southern Seoul. Officials stressed the site could be forced to shut down should the conglomerate fail to cooperate with the city’s orders.“We ask Lotte to cooperate with three things,” said Jin Hee-son from the city’s housing and construction bureau. “We ask for a control tower that monitors the entire proper
Social Affairs Jan. 5, 2015
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Man gets 30 months for attempted rape, libel
A man in his early 20s has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison for attempted rape and insulting his victim on SNS.The 21-year-old, whose surname is Kim, attempted to rape his victim in their mutual friend’s house back in 2013, when they were both teenagers. The victim managed to resist him and escaped to the bathroom, where she called for help. When the victim filed a complaint against him shortly after, Kim posted an angry public entry on his Facebook page alleging that she was
Social Affairs Jan. 5, 2015
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Antismoking drive gains momentum
2015 may be a challenging one for Korean smokers, as not only will the price of cigarettes go up, but smoking will be banned in all restaurants nationwide starting Jan. 1.But many will benefit from the government’s increased budget for its welfare programs, including a monthly allowance for unwed mothers and free vaccinations for the elderly and children. Starting this month, those who smoke in any of some 600,000 registered restaurants across the country will be fined 100,000 won ($91). As the
Social Affairs Dec. 31, 2014
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Prices for uninsured patient rooms vary by hospitals
Prices for uninsured patient rooms vary by hospitals from 20,000 won a day to 449,000 won, according to Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service.In South Korea, the cost of hospital stays in single to three-person patients’ rooms -- which cost much more than multi-occupancy patient rooms for four or more -- are currently uninsured by the national insurance program. Many patients, however, are forced to stay in the uninsured rooms if no other rooms are available, and end up paying high hospit
Social Affairs Dec. 30, 2014
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Clinic faces probe over birthday party during surgery
South Korea’s health authorities are investigating a number of health care workers who allegedly had a birthday party in an operating room in the middle of a surgical procedure at a plastic surgery clinic in southern Seoul.The workers’ misconduct became known to the public after one of the nurse assistants shared photos of the party on her Instagram account.In the photos, the staff are eating cookies and hamburgers in the operating room, posing with breast implants used for mammoplasties, and ho
Social Affairs Dec. 29, 2014
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Korea struggles to enact hate speech laws
The sinking of the ferry Sewol, which left more than 300 dead or missing, was inarguably one of the most traumatic events for in South Korea this year.Despite the woeful tragedy, what some found even more disturbing was the infamous “binge-eating” strike. It was held by a group of young men back in September to insult Kim Young-oh, the grieving father of one of the ferry’s teenage victims, who had been fasting to demand an independent probe into the disaster and the government’s rescue efforts.T
Social Affairs Dec. 28, 2014
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1 in 3 women in Seoul experiences career disruption
Twice as many women in Seoul experience career disruption than men, while the wage gap between them is increasing, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. A total of 34.2 percent of all Seoul women experienced career disruption as of this year, accounting for 67 percent of all Seoul citizens whose careers were disrupted at least once in their lives.Meanwhile, the wage gap between men and women in Seoul has been increasing since 2008. A working man in Seoul on average made 920,000 won ($8
Social Affairs Dec. 26, 2014
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Pet reptiles pose health risk for infants: study
PARIS (AFP) ― Owning exotic reptiles such as snakes, chameleons, iguanas and geckos could place infants at risk of salmonella infection, according to a British study published on Monday.Researchers in the southwestern English county of Cornwall found that out of 175 cases of salmonella in children under 5 over a three-year period, 27 percent occurred in homes which had reptile pets.Salmonella is a germ that, in humans, can cause gastroenteritis, colitis, blood infections and meningitis. Reptile
Social Affairs Dec. 25, 2014
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