Kim Bok-dong, a victim of sexual slavery for soldiers during Japanese colonial rule, speaks during a special ceremony celebrating the completion of a peace-themed mural featuring the experience of the victims in front of the Museum of War and Women’s Human Rights in Seoul, Monday. The mural was created by some 400 volunteers in commemoration of Memorial Day for the victims, which falls on Aug. 14. (Yonhap)

Social Affairs Aug. 11, 2014

Seoul announced Sunday that it may import a Japanese antiviral drug for Ebola, which is still being tested on animals, as a preventive measure against the entry of the deadly disease to the country.There is currently no vaccine or the U.S.-based FDA approved treatment for the Ebola infection, which has claimed nearly 1,000 lives in West Africa since March. The World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak an international public emergency on Friday.Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safet

Social Affairs Aug. 10, 2014

Forcing Korean pregnancy and postpartum practices on immigrant wives by their Korean in-laws and spouses can be a serious risk factor for both the women’s and the babies’ health, according to research organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.Many immigrant wives are forced to follow Korean practices such as eating heavily scented local dishes including kimchi while struggling with morning sickness, which may lead to malnutrition during and after pregnancy, the city government said in a rep

Social Affairs Aug. 7, 2014

While it is well known that breast milk protects babies from illness, the benefits of breast-feeding for mothers should be better promoted, according to a Seoul-based hospital specializing in women’s diseases.Breast-feeding reduces the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer, according to researchers at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital in Seoul. Particularly, those who breast-feed are 5 percent less likely to develop breast cancer than women who do not, the hospital said.On top of reduci

Social Affairs Aug. 6, 2014

Following the tragic case of an abused solider who died after being beaten by his comrades, public criticism is rising against the military for its poor management of the troops as well as its violent culture and practices. The Army conscript, surnamed Yoon, died on April 7 after six colleagues allegedly hit him in the chest while eating dumplings at the 28th Division in Yeoncheon, just south of the inter-Korean border. The case, which only became known to the public last week upon disclosure by

Social Affairs Aug. 5, 2014

South Korea plans to toughen quarantines and expand travel alerts to citizens who plan to visit West Africa as a preventive measure against the entry of the deadly Ebola virus, which has claimed more than 850 lives in the region since March.The Health Ministry held an emergency meeting with the Prime Minister’s Office and the Foreign Ministry on Monday to discuss ways to prevent the disease from entering Korea.There is no vaccine or specific treatment for the Ebola infection, which has a fatalit

Social Affairs Aug. 4, 2014

On the busy streets of Korea’s biggest Chinatown in Incheon stands Gonghwachun, one of the most popular Chinese restaurants among tourists to the area. “We hold pride in our 100-year history,” its sign reads.Not many are aware that the large, four-story restaurant ― inauthentically decorated with red panels and paintings of dragons ― is in fact owned by a Korean, and has no direct link to the original Gongwhachun (1912-1983), the legendary restaurant considered to be the first in Korea to offer

Social Affairs Aug. 1, 2014

Ptosis is a condition where the eye appears small and sleepy due to an abnormal drooping of the upper eyelid when looking straight. There is congenital ptosis where a drooping of the eyelid is present from birth; it can also be acquired with age as well as being a secondary effect of trauma or a disorder. It is treatable by surgery depending on the patient’s condition.CauseCongenital ptosis occurs when the levator palpebrae muscle that raises the eyelid is not strong enough due to abnormal devel

Technology July 31, 2014

Swimming pools and beaches mean summer fun for children, but not taking the proper precautions could be serious or life-threatening.The Health Ministry last week issued water safety guidelines to the public, as more than half of drowning cases in the country occur during the summer. It is the third leading cause of accidental death for Koreans aged 20 and under.The number of drowning cases has risen in Korea since 2009, according to Statistics Korea. Some 4,000 water-related accidents occurred a

Social Affairs July 31, 2014

Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital is offering free cervical cancer vaccines for young women from less fortunate households starting in August.One hundred teenagers from Seoul’s Yangcheon district will benefit from the service, organized jointly by the hospital, the Yangcheon-gu office and British multinational health care company GlaxoSmithKline.GSK manufactures Cervarix, a vaccine that protects against two human papillomavirus types (HPV-16 and HPV-18) that cause 70 percent of cervical ca

Technology July 31, 2014