KIHASA Update
Window on Korean Society: October 12-18
- Date 2024-10-14
- Hits 45
Oct. 13
●Cases of heat-induced illness, deaths were second highest ever this summer: KDCA Korea JoongAng Daily
The number of heat-related illnesses and suspected deaths this year was the second highest since 2018 due to the severe heat wave, according to health authorities.●2 Filipinas who left pilot program cite overwork, excessive surveillance The Korea Herald
Two Filipinas from Seoul city's foreign caregivers pilot program who disappeared from their accommodations in Gangnam-gu on Sept. 15 after starting work in Seoul were later found in Busan after being reemployed as cleaners, according to the Philippine government's Department of Migrant Workers.●Mothers of 13 kids honored by government The Korea Herald
The Ministry of Health and Welfare recently gave awards to two Korean mothers who gave birth to 13 children, including the mother of actress Nam Bo-ra, who is well-known for being the youngest of her 13 siblings.●30% of young Koreans support abolition of national pension system The Korea Times
About 30 percent of Koreans, aged between 18 and 49, support the abolition of the national pension system amid waning public trust in the fund, a recent poll shows.
Oct. 14
●87% of adults willing to work after retirement: survey The Korea Herald
A survey showed Monday that nearly 90 percent of South Korean adults are willing to work after retirement, mostly due to financial reasons.●Teacher suicides averaging 20 per year: data The Korea Herald
An average of 20 teachers made the tragic decision to take their own lives each year from 2021 to 2023, data showed Monday, sparking concern over the mental health and well-being of teachers in South Korea.●No. of female earners surpasses 10 million The Korea Herald
The number of female workers receiving wages and salaries in South Korea has surpassed the 10 million mark this year, government data showed Monday.●Minister says to guarantee quality of medical school education despite admissions hike The Korea Times
Education Minister Lee Ju-ho has said the government will guarantee the quality of medical school education, addressing concerns the medical school admissions hike may compromise standards.
Oct. 15
●More Koreans want to get married, have children: report The Korea Times
More than 65 percent of single Koreans say they want to get married, according to a report suggesting that their views of marriage and having children are becoming more positive.●Gov't to cisclose child-related workplaces hiring sexual offenders on websites Korea JoongAng Daily
Information about whether sexual offenders are employed at child-related facilities will be available at the websites of local governments and regional education offices as part of efforts to ensure such offenders are not hired, the Gender Ministry said Tuesday.●Filipino nanny program could be expanded to include live-in arrangements, Seoul mayor says Korea JoongAng Daily
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on Tuesday said that the pilot program for Filipino domestic caregivers could be expanded and revised, potentially allowing foreign nannies to live in the households where they work or accepting applicants from additional countries.●Wait times for outpatients at nation's top university hospital double amid strike Korea JoongAng Daily
Waiting times for outpatient treatment at Seoul National University Hospital have doubled, resulting in an average wait of 62 days before seeing a doctor.●Primary health care workforce expansion needed for future challenges: WHO The Korea Herald
The World Health Organization, when asked about the monthslong medical standoff in South Korea, said Tuesday that expanding the primary health care workforce is needed to cope with future challenges.●Seoul's foreign caregiver project, river bus under fire at audit The Korea Herald
Various projects driven by the Seoul city government, such as the foreign caregiver scheme involving 100 Filipina workers and the Hangang River bus, came under fire during a parliamentary audit on Tuesday.●Why we're single: Korean women say high standards, men say no chances to date The Korea Herald
Finding the right person to marry is a tall order anywhere, but South Koreans in particular say that their high standards for potential partners or lack of opportunities to meet them are their main reasons for remaining single.●Marriage intentions surge among 30s women in S. Korea The Chosun Daily
A recent survey in South Korea revealed a significant rise in marriage and childbirth intentions, with marriage interest among women in their 30s surging by 12 percentage points.
Oct. 16
●Big data shows Korean workers clock out 19 minutes earlier than 5 years ago The Korea Herald
In a potential sign of improving work-life balance in Korea, big data reveals that commuters in five office districts in and around Seoul are leaving the workplace 19 minutes earlier than they did five years ago.●Soaring no. of patients dying on organ transplant waitlist The Korea Herald
The number of patients dying while waiting for an organ transplant has soared, and average wait times are also rising, data showed Tuesday.●1 in 4 seniors prefer using assets over leaving them to children The Korea Herald
One in four South Korean senior citizens wish to use their assets for themselves and their spouses rather than passing them on to their children, according to government data on Wednesday.●Korea's well-to-do live longer, healthier lives: report The Korea Herald
People with higher incomes are likely to live longer and healthier lives than those with lower incomes, government data showed Tuesday.●Top 0.1% of Koreans make 1.8b won a year; 126 pay no tax The Korea Herald
Government data showed Wednesday that the top 0.1 percent of earners in South Korea made an average of 1.8 billion won in 2022, and that 126 of them paid no tax due to various deductions and exemptions.●Seniors' income, education level on rise: data The Korea Times
Senior citizens' income and education levels have improved significantly in 2023 from three years earlier, a survey showed Wednesday.
Oct. 17
●Men account for over 84% of 'lonely deaths' The Korea Times
More than 84 percent of people who die alone in Korea are men, according to a new report on "kodoksa," or "lonely deaths," which refers to a phenomenon of individuals dying alone and remaining undiscovered for a long period.●Deficits mount at major hospitals as doctors' walkout drags on Korea JoongAng Daily
Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) recorded a deficit of 162.8 bllion won ($118 million) in the first six months of this year, indicating that the finances of large medical institutions have worsened significantly.●Man dies after being turned down by 10 hospitals; govt. to investigate The Korea Herald
The government said Thursday that a man in his 50s recently died due to delays in providing him with emergency medical care, in yet another case of an urgent care patient being turned down by multiple hospitals due to staff shortages from ongoing medical strikes.●Men in 50s, 60s account for 54% of 'lonely deaths': report The Korea Herald
South Korea saw a continuing rise in "godoksa," or lonely deaths, in 2022 and 2023, respectiely, with men in their 60s and 50s accounting for over half of them, according to a government report on Thursday.●Most 'avoidable' deaths in Army were suicides: report The Korea Herald
An overwhelming majority of what are deemed "avoidable deaths" in the South Korean Army last year were soldier sucides, Ministry of National Defence data showed Thursday.●More than 3,600 people died home alone in Korea last year: report The Korea Times
More than 3,600 people died alone in their homes in Korea last year, data showed Thursday, with middle-aged and elderly men accounting for more than half of such deaths.
Oct. 18
●Losing 3 fingers 'not a disability': report The Korea Herald
recent government data has indicated the threshold of diability registration in South Korea remains high, as local media reported Friday that over 110,000 applications for disability registration over the past four years were not accepted by the government.●Medical schools under fire for poor conditions ahead of 2025 student surge The Korea Herald
The poor condition of regional medical schools came under fire during Thursday's parliamentary audit at the National Assembly, just five months of the start of the 2025 school year which will see a sharp rise in medical students.●Court clears charges for welfare worker accused of abusing disabled child The Korea Herald
A 63-year-old welfare worker who applied a form of corporal punishment on a 11-year-old child with a brain disorder was cleared by the Supreme Court of criminal charges, after it ruled the actions were a form of discipline and not abuse.