Articles by Park Jun-hee
Park Jun-hee
junheee@heraldcorp.com-
Mosquitoes increase due to climate change
South Korea is expected to see more mosquitoes this summer as the acceleration in climate change is amplifying mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria across the nation. "The weather agency predicts this year's summer to be hotter than usual. ... Extremely hot weather leads to a surge in mosquito activity. This means that people will notice more mosquito bites this summer, and thus be more uncomfortable," Lee Hee-il, the head of the division of vectors and parasitic diseases at th
Social Affairs May 28, 2024
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Concerns raised over S. Korea’s plan to hire foreign-licensed doctors
The Korean government’s recent announcement that it would make it easier for doctors licensed overseas to practice medicine in the country has stoked concern, with doctors claiming that they will not meet local medical standards. They argue that bringing in more doctors who are trained overseas will cause medical errors and accidents, severely undermining the country’s well-regarded medical system. The government announcement, made earlier this month, appeared to be an effort to pres
Newsmaker May 28, 2024
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S. Koreans' average TOEIC score ranks 16th
South Koreans scored 677 points on average in the Test of English for International Communication last year, ranking 16th out of 44 countries around the globe and fifth among its Asian peers, the Korea TOEIC Committee said Monday. The latest figure is up two points from an average of 675 points in 2022. The TOEIC exam assesses non-native speakers' English-language listening and reading proficiency, and test takers can get up to 990 points. It's widely used in Korea to gauge the English
Social Affairs May 27, 2024
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[Weekender] 'Blood doesn't make family, love does'
When Jeon Sung-shin, 45, was looking to expand her family without going through childbirth again, she met her then 50-day-old daughter at an orphan care center 11 years ago. Jeon fell in love with her at first sight and knew adoption would be a beautiful way to build her family. Growing up with the family, Jeon's youngest daughter is now in the sixth grade and is a promising tennis player. But Jeon said rearing her hadn't always been easy, mainly because adoption still carries so much
Social Affairs May 25, 2024
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Arrest warrant sought for trot singer for DUI, hit-and-run
Police said Wednesday that they had sought an arrest warrant for trot and popera singer Kim Ho-joong over suspicions of drunk driving and a hit-and-run, a day after he appeared for questioning. The Seoul Gangnam Police Station said they applied for arrest warrants at around 11:15 a.m. for Kim on charges of reckless driving resulting in injuries under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and fleeing the scene. Police have also sought warrants to arrest Lee Gwang-deuk, the head
Social Affairs May 22, 2024
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SNU alums nabbed for digital sex crimes
Two alums of Seoul National University, the country’s top-ranked university, have been arrested for digital sex crimes in a Telegram group chat, reigniting public outrage following the notorious “Nth Room” scandal disclosed in 2019. The Cybercrime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced Tuesday that they had arrested a 40-something man, identified only by his surname, Park, and a 31-year-old man surnamed Kang, for illegally producing and distributin
Social Affairs May 21, 2024
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What's next for the government's push in quota hike?
The Seoul High Court's critical ruling Thursday dismissing doctors groups' request for an injunction to halt the nationwide medical school expansion, has cleared the path for the first increase in medical student admissions in 27 years. With the hurdle removed, the government vowed Friday to expedite the remaining procedures for the 2025 school year college admissions, such as reflecting the changes in each university's college admissions and gaining approval for the plans by the
Social Affairs May 17, 2024
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Court refuses injunction on medical school expansion
A South Korean appellate court on Thursday rejected an injunction sought by the medical community to halt the implementation of a planned student quota increase at medical schools nationwide. With the obstacles now cleared, the Seoul High Court's ruling allows the government to proceed with its contentious plan to add 2,000 more admission seats at medical schools nationwide, despite facing vehement opposition from doctors and students. This marks the first medical school quota hike in 27 years s
Social Affairs May 16, 2024
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Seoul weighs establishing first military medical school
South Korea’s Defense Ministry said Thursday it is mulling the establishment of an inaugural military medical school to secure doctors who would serve in the military for at least 10 years in an effort to improve the military medical system and enhance treatment capabilities. "The Defense Ministry has been actively promoting and reviewing measures aimed at enhancing military medical capabilities, including the recruitment of long-term service military surgeons and the specialization o
Defense May 16, 2024
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Do Korean doctors make too much money?
Recent government data revealing that South Korean doctors -- except junior doctors -- now rake in an annual salary of 301 million won ($220,029), nearly five times higher than the country’s average annual salary of 42.14 million won, has rekindled the debate on whether doctors are making too much. Some critics believe high income is the reason why doctors refuse to agree to the government’s plan to increase the student quota for medical schools here, out of fear that the value and p
Social Affairs May 15, 2024
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Ministry, doctors clash over decision process of expansion plan
The government and doctors continued their fight Monday over whether the expansion plan to have 2,000 more students starting next year has been determined through appropriate procedures ahead of a court's ruling set for this week. The medical community lashed out at the document presented by the government, claiming it shows the decision was made "arbitrarily without logical justification." The document showed that Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong proposed having 2,000 more medical s
Social Affairs May 13, 2024
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Court's ruling set to shape path of medical school expansion
The Korean government's plan to increase the number of medical students starting next year will soon take shape as the Seoul High Court is expected to deliver its decision this week on the medical circle's request to suspend the implementation of the planned medical student quota hike. If the court rejects the appeal filed by medical professors, students and junior doctors against the government's hike in the medical school quota in 32 medical schools, the government will likely a
Social Affairs May 12, 2024
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Yoon apologizes for first lady Dior bag scandal, calls push for special probe ‘political’
President Yoon Suk Yeol apologized Thursday for first lady Kim Keon Hee’s alleged acceptance of a Dior bag as a gift, while dismissing the continued calls for a special probe into the controversy as a political attack by the opposition. In a press conference marking his two years in office, the president said he “offers a deep apology to the South Korean people for causing concern due to (his) wife’s unwise conduct.” In undercover camera footage released last year on a Yo
Politics May 9, 2024
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S. Korea to let doctors with foreign licenses practice
The Health Ministry said Wednesday that it would allow those holding foreign medical licenses to practice medicine in South Korea to help cope with a health care crisis exacerbated by a walkout by junior doctors. The ministry said it would make revisions to the enforcement regulation of the Medical Service Act, adding “medical support” to the list of tasks that foreign medical license holders can perform to address the shortage of medical personnel in the event of a medical disaster
Social Affairs May 8, 2024
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Young Korean doctors seek plan B: cosmetic dermatology or overseas
Amid an intensifying medical standoff between the government and the medical community over a plan to increase the medical student quota starting next year, some young Korean medical residents are contemplating switching their tracks to cosmetic dermatology or pursuing their careers overseas. A junior doctor majoring in the essential medical field, who wished to be unnamed, told The Korea Herald that he recently attended a conference on skin care and plastic surgery hosted by the Korean Academy
Social Affairs May 8, 2024
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