The Korea Herald

Productive population to decline to 73% in 2015

South Korea’s productive population will decrease to 73 percent of the total next year as the nation quickly ages, according to Woori Investment and Securities.As the dependent population dramatically increases while the productive sector declines, the firm warned that many businesses, such as coffee shops and bakeries, may suffer as they would lose the majority of their customers ― those who are in the workforce in their 30s or 40s.Meanwhile, delivery services and medical supplies and pharmaceu

Social Affairs Nov. 19, 2014

Ewha hospital hosts annual gathering of doctors

The Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital held its annual gathering with representatives of other medical institutes in Seoul on Monday.Some 300 doctors, including many members of the Seoul Medical Association, attended the event held at Mayfield Hotel. Most of the featured guests, such as Ra Ki-hyuk who runs the Hongik Hospital and Jung Jong-il of ForMiz Hospital, had close ties with Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hostpial. “Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hostpial wouldn’t be where it is toda

Social Affairs Nov. 18, 2014

Ewha hospital hosts annual gathering of doctors

Lawmakers agree to expand welfare access

Lawmakers agreed on a revised bill on those eligible for a state welfare payment for the poor on Monday, after it remained stalled for about 18 months.Inspired by the tragic, collective suicide of an impoverished mother in her 60s and her two ill, grown-up daughters in Seoul last year, the revised bill expands the eligibility for the government welfare program for those who make less than the government-designated minimum cost of living of 603,403 won ($548) a month ― even if they have an immedi

Social Affairs Nov. 18, 2014

Seoul looks to educational innovation

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and Seoul education chief Cho Hee-yeon on Monday announced their joint plan to spruce up the city’s education sector, including renovating school bathrooms, launching free school bus services and establishing more day care centers. “Up until now, Seoul’s education system has been focusing on competition, and as a result, our children would spend most of their time doing school work and getting private education,” Mayor Park said in a press conference.“The system made it

Social Affairs Nov. 17, 2014

Debt behind Korea’s notorious suicide rate

Last month, a middle-aged couple and their teenage daughter in Incheon committed suicide by inhaling poisonous fumes, leaving behind a hand-written note in which the mother detailed the family’s hardships.The 12-year-old daughter also left behind a note. “It’s going to be OK because our family is going to be together forever,” it said.A week later, the reasons behind the family’s suicide emerged. According to the police, it was debt.The couple owned 15 apartments in Incheon, with mortgages total

Social Affairs Nov. 16, 2014

Debt behind Korea’s notorious suicide rate

Ministry under fire for sexist job interview guidelines

The Labor Ministry has come under fire for posting sexist job interview guidelines for women job seekers, including a suggestion that they tell potential employers they “do not mind casual jokes about sex,” on a recruitment information website run by the government. Facing criticism from many netizens including the members of women’s rights NGOs, the ministry deleted the post on Friday and said it will consider “educating all of its employees about gender equality.” In the controversial post tha

Social Affairs Nov. 16, 2014

[Weekender] When we are too connected

Young Seoulite Park Min-jun makes sure his phone battery is always fully charged. The last thing he wants is for his phone to die, cutting off his access to KakaoTalk ― the leading South Korean messenger app.“I always carry an extra battery with me,” the 30-year-old beauty industry worker said. “Also, whenever I see power outlets I charge my phone batteries. I feel really anxious when I don’t.”Park, who openly admits that he is a “smartphone addict,” is one of 40 million South Koreans who use th

Social Affairs Nov. 14, 2014

Stroke prevention and emergency management

Cerebrovascular disease and stroke (the most well-known type of cerebrovascular disease) is one of the main causes of death in Korea. Its incidence increases with sudden cold weather and in the winter. The incidence of stroke is increasing in Korea, whereas that of Western countries and Japan is decreasing significantly. The reason for this is that Koreans have many risk factors for stroke that are often left unaddressed.Risk factors To decrease the risk of stroke, prevention is more important t

Technology Nov. 13, 2014

Stroke prevention and emergency management

Smokers more vulnerable to Raynaud’s phenomenon

Smokers are more vulnerable to Raynaud’s phenomenon, a discoloration of one’s fingers and toes because of excessively reduced blood flow in response to cold weather or emotional stress, according to neurologist Park Gi-deok of the Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital.“The chemicals in tobacco smoke harm your blood vessels,” the doctor said. “Smoking can really worsen the condition if you have Raynaud’s phenomenon.”When one develops Raynaud’s phenomenon, the fingers at first go white and cool.

Social Affairs Nov. 13, 2014

Smokers more vulnerable to Raynaud’s phenomenon

Gene study boosts interest in heart drug

Scientists have discovered gene mutations that give people naturally lower cholesterol levels and cut their risk of heart disease in half.That discovery may have a big implication: A blockbuster drug that mimics these mutations has long been sold without evidence that it cuts the chance of heart disease. Results of a large study that looked for that evidence will be revealed on Monday.The drug is Merck & Co.’s Zetia, also sold in combination with another medicine as Vytorin.When Zetia was design

Technology Nov. 13, 2014

Gene study boosts interest in heart drug

SNU professor faces more sexual abuse claims

A high-profile mathematician and professor at Seoul National University has come under fire for more allegations of sexual harassment after prosecutors announced he is being investigated for allegedly molesting one of his former female interns in July.The professor, who served as one of the leading organizers of this year’s International Congress of Mathematicians ― a quadrennial conference for mathematicians worldwide ― had been working with the alleged victim, who helped him plan the event hel

Social Affairs Nov. 11, 2014

Seoul seeks 4.7% increase in budget

The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Monday submitted a budget proposal of 25.6 trillion won ($23.6 billion) for next year, up nearly 5 percent on-year, to the municipal assembly. The city has increased its budget for safety-related projects and welfare programs, including free school bus services for elementary school children and free lunch programs in collaboration with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. Reflecting the need to strengthen safety after the Sewol ferry sinking and frequ

Social Affairs Nov. 10, 2014

[Weekender] Seoul’s journey to forming its own cityscape identity

There is the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Statue of Liberty in New York and the Taj Mahal in Agra. But in Seoul? Many would still find it hard to think of such an iconic landmark.The South Korean capital has been struggling to come up with its own landscape identity since the late 2000s, after its dramatic shift into a major Asian city from the war-torn, poverty-stricken town. Its cityscape reflected just that ― the accelerated economic development that focused on profitmaking and industrializatio

Social Affairs Nov. 7, 2014

[Weekender] Seoul’s journey to forming its own cityscape identity

Over 1 in 3 low-income earners obese

More low-income earners in South Korea are suffering from obesity than those with higher incomes, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.A total of 34.7 percent of the poorest 25 percent of the population were obese last year, while 30.1 percent of the wealthiest 25 percent had the condition.While 0.49 percent of the country’s entire population suffered from severe obesity last year, 1.23 percent of low-income earners and 1.57 percent of low income-earning women had the condition. Also,

Social Affairs Nov. 7, 2014

Ministry issues sex crime media guidelines

South Korea’s Gender Equality Ministry on Thursday released a set of guidelines for the nation’s reporters to follow when covering sex crime cases, after a number of victims filed litigations against media outlets for their problematic coverage in recent years.Some of the rules include not revealing any information that is related to the victim’s identity, such as where they live, their face and their name. Reporters should also refrain from reporting about the victim’s private life not related

Social Affairs Nov. 6, 2014

Articles by Claire Lee