Articles by Lee Hyun-jeong
Lee Hyun-jeong
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‘Seoul subways vulnerable to earthquakes’
More than one third of the tracks of Seoul’s four oldest subway lines are not earthquake-safe, escalating concerns over public safety following a recent subway crash, a report showed Tuesday. According to a report released by ruling Saenuri Party Rep. Lee No-keun, 36 percent of Seoul’s Subway lines 1 to 4 are not built with an earthquake-resistant design. The combined distance of the tracks amounts to 147 kilometers. The rest can endure possible earthquakes, he added. About 87 percent of the tra
Social Affairs May 13, 2014
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Popsicle stick brings Seoul subway to halt
A door of a Seoul subway train temporarily went out of order, apparently because of a piece of trash, causing inconvenience for passengers during rush hour on Tuesday, officials said. One of the doors of a southbound train at Gireum Station on Line 4 failed to close at around 8:20 a.m., forcing more than 500 passengers to get off and take the next train. The exact cause is unknown but a piece of trash stuck in the door is suspected to have prevented it from closing, officials said. Subway operat
Social Affairs May 13, 2014
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Korea recognizes three Sewol heroes
The South Korean government legally recognized Monday three ferry victims who risked their lives to save others in the Sewol ferry that sank off the southern coast of the country on April 16.The legal recognition is granted to those who go beyond the call of duty in saving others, the Health and Welfare Ministry said. Once recognized, the bodies of the victims are allowed to be buried in the national cemetery. The bereaved families become eligible for compensation and additional health and educa
Social Affairs May 12, 2014
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IVI hosts vaccinology course
Participants of the 14th Advanced Vaccinology Course in the Asia-Pacific Region listen to International Vaccine Institute CFO John Morahan at IVI headquarters in Seoul, Monday. (International Vaccine Institute)The International Vaccine Institute kicked off its annual Advanced Vaccinology Course in the Asia-Pacific Region at its headquarters in Seoul on Monday as part of efforts to support vaccine research and immunization capacities in developing countries, officials said. The IVI, established i
Social Affairs May 12, 2014
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Ex-official indicted for sending money to N.K.
A former Seoul official who was cleared of charges of spying in a high profile espionage case last month was indicted again on charges of sending money to North Korea with other defectors.Yoo Woo-seong, 34, was booked without detention for violating the currency exchange law and obstruction of justice, prosecutors said on Sunday.The Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office indicted him for allegations that he illegally sent about 2.7 billion won ($2.6 million) to North Korea between 2005 and 2
Social Affairs May 11, 2014
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More dual citizens denied basic pension
The government said on Sunday it will exclude dual citizenship holders who live abroad for more than 60 days a year from the basic pension program that starts in July.The Health and Welfare Ministry is set to provide a monthly allowance of between 100,000 won and 200,000 won ($97 to $195) to the poorest 70 percent of Koreans aged 65 or older. In its previous plan, the ministry said it would not give the welfare benefits to seniors who hold dual citizenships and live less than six months per year
Social Affairs May 11, 2014
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Seoul City vows more support for foreign residents
Seoul City released Thursday a five-year support plan for foreign residents as part of efforts to better protect their human rights and boost their quality of life here. As of this year, some 395,000 foreigners reside in the capital, accounting for 3.9 percent of the city’s population. To secure human rights more effectively, the city established a special human rights team specifically for foreign residents in February, which is the first started by the municipal government in the country. The
Social Affairs May 8, 2014
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Traffic signal managers summoned in crash probe
South Korean authorities said Wednesday that they would summon two subway officials as part of the investigation into the train crash in Seoul that left hundreds injured last week. An eastbound train rear-ended another at Sangwangsimni Station on Line 2 on Friday allegedly due to a traffic signal error, injuring more than 240 passengers, with seven in serious condition. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will question two Seoul Metro traffic signal managers over whether they accurately reporte
Social Affairs May 7, 2014
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Support program puts welfare recipients in a bind
A 55-year-old surnamed Choi, who lives in Jinan-gun, North Jeolla Province, depends on state welfare benefits to makes ends meet. In 2010, he was given the chance to secure some extra money through a government-led program called Hope Building Accounts. Under the program, he saved 100,000 won ($97) in a special bank account every month. The government adds to this amount, so that the final sum he would get at the end of the three-year program would be 20 million won.But there is a catch: Those w
Social Affairs May 6, 2014
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Majority of spinal stenosis patients are women: report
Most spinal stenosis patients were found to be older women, with the prevalence increasing in recent years, a report showed Thursday. According to 2012 data released by the state-run National Health Insurance Service, 60 percent of spinal stenosis cases ― 615,000 ― occurred in women over age 50. Spinal stenosis is an abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal, which causes severe pain by compressing the nerves.Normally, there is enough space in the spinal canal to accommodate the nerve fibers branch
Technology May 6, 2014
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Diseases associated with yellow dust
Yellow dust is of particular concern for children who are active outdoors and have weaker immune systems than adults, and those who suffer from allergies or respiratory conditions. Yellow dust travels from the Gobi Desert in Mongolia and China, so we cannot escape it. Therefore, people need to take appropriate action to combat the harmful effects of yellow dust. Yellow dust causes various conditions and can worsen preexisting ones. The main diseases include respiratory, eye and skin conditions.R
Technology May 6, 2014
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Concerns grow over loss of ferry victims’ bodies
Concerns are growing that the bodies of missing passengers may have drifted away from the ferry that sank off the country’s southwestern coast last month, after several were found a few kilometers from the accident site.A body of a female teenager was recovered Friday 4 kilometers from the ferry, which capsized near Jindo Island, South Jeolla Province. Earlier this week, another body was spotted 2 km from the accident site by fishermen. As of Friday afternoon, divers had retrieved a total of 228
Social Affairs May 2, 2014
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Korea to reduce extra fees for patient choice
The South Korean government said it would reduce the medical fees for choice-based treatment starting from August as part of efforts to reduce the financial burden on patients, officials said Thursday. Under the choice-based treatment system, patients can opt for certain experienced doctors, with more than 10 years of experience. In return, patients seeking higher quality treatment pay 20 to 100 percent more in additional charges, which are not covered by the national health insurance. Under the
Social Affairs May 1, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] Koreans stream to altar for victims of ferry
Thousands of mourners headed to the memorial altar in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday to express their condolences to the victims of the ferry that sank off the south coast two weeks ago. As of Wednesday noon, more than 200,000 Koreans had visited the memorial altar since it opened on April 23. Mourners in other regions also visited altars in their cities to pay their respects to the ferry victims. Local governments opened altars earlier this week after more people demanded places to express
Social Affairs April 30, 2014
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[Ferry Disaster] ‘Overwork doubles risks of brain hemorrhage’
Working over 13 hours a day may double the risk of having a brain hemorrhage, a research paper published in the International Journal of Stroke showed Wednesday. According to a study conducted by neurology professor Kim Beom-joon at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, those who worked for more than 13 hours a day had a 94 percent higher chance of having a cerebral hemorrhage than those working for four hours a day.Kim analyzed the occupational types, workin
Social Affairs April 30, 2014
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