S. Korea to launch telemedicine pilot program next month

South Korea seeks to launch a telemedicine pilot program mainly for second-visit patients starting next month, as well as for those who cannot visit clinics due to physical illness or infectious disease, the health ministry said Wednesday. The country's telemedicine services have been temporarily allowed since 2020 through April this year amid the coronavirus pandemic. A total of 1,419 patients have received telemedicine services during the cited period, according to the ministry. Under the

May 17, 2023

[K-Wellness] Inclusive welfare and the world Rep. Kang Sun-woo dreams of

To know about Rep. Kang Sun-woo and what she has done so far as a member of the National Assembly, one need first to take a good look at her career before running for a seat at the Assembly. Kang previously worked as an anchor hosting “The Diplomat” on diplomacy and international relations on Arirang TV for 17 months. With her appearances on a number of TV shows, she was widely seen as a celebrity in entertainment, but not much was known about her stellar academic career. Until 2016,

Feb. 15, 2023

[K-Wellness] “Garden healing,” nature’s greatest gift

  The Korea National Arboretum is a national research institute under the Korea Forest Service, managing the Gwangneung forest which has been preserved since 1468, when it was designated as the tomb of King Sejo, the seventh king of the Joseon Dynasty. It is situated in the center of the Gwangneung forest, in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, surrounded by Sori Peak (536.8 meters in height) in the center, Cheonkyeomsan (392 meters) in the south, and Yongamsan (479.6 meters) in the west. The thema

Jan. 17, 2023

[K-Wellness] Making agriculture smart and rural communities attractive

The term “RICE” expresses the Rural Development Administration’s roles and responsibilities: research and development, information, change and extension. Administrator Cho Chae-ho launched the trustworthy RICE branding when he took office in May last year to get people to understand more about the agency, as the agency marked its 60th anniversary. He set a new vision and strategic goal to effectively carry out the RDA’s responsibilities for agriculture development by refl

Jan. 17, 2023

[K-Wellness] Society must respect people with disabilities

Korea Disabled People’s Development Institute, or KDDI, originated from the Korea Disabled People Welfare and Sports Foundation that was created in 1989, a year after the Summer Paralympics took place in Seoul. Upon amendments to the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, the foundation was renamed in 2008 to what it is today. Since then, it has undertaken projects and programs to meet the goal of “making society more inclusive for people with disabilities”. KDDI has fu

Jan. 17, 2023

[K-Wellness] Busan, a city to play, work and live in

Busan, Asia's top maritime cultural city, is busy getting ready to stand tall as a world-class tourist city in the post-COVID-19 era. The Busan Tourism Organization lies at the heart of this aspiration. The corporation has recently developed a new Busan tourism brand identity. The brand identity incorporates the image of Busan as a city where people love to play, work and live, based on market research and expert opinions targeting 30,000 tourists. This reflects part of its efforts to bolst

Jan. 17, 2023

[K-Wellness] Toward a new view of spa retreats and treatments

The Healthcare & Spa Industry Promotion Agency (HESPA) located in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, is reaching new heights for the rehabilitation health care industry using spas. In particular, it is the only spa-related institution in Korea paving the way for the bio-health industry as a future growth engine. Asan is a leading hot springs city in Korea, renowned for its long history and tradition. According to Statistics Korea, South Chungcheong Province ranked second in the nation in term

Jan. 17, 2023

[K-Wellness] Feel the breath of nature on a magnificent forest trail

The Korea Mountaineering Support Center (KOMOUNT), a specialized institution under the Korea Forest Service, manages the national forest trails. The center, which operates the National Mountain Museum and the National Mountaineering School, contributes to improving the quality of life by spreading healthy and safe mountaineering culture. The center builds an integrated management system for over 11,000 forest trails of about 40,000 kilometers nationwide. It also makes efforts to promote 14 n

Jan. 17, 2023

[K-Wellness] Cultivating the cradle of sophisticated policy design

Professor Han Ki-young, who holds a Ph.D. in political science and heads the Policy Design Center at Seokyeong University, said he will remain fully dedicated to developing various policies and conducting research activities oriented toward the public sector. In particular, he shared his aspirations to contribute to national development by building a research platform for welfare policies for each life cycle related to people's lives, politics and party innovation. “Through a range of

Dec. 19, 2022

[K-Wellness] Exploring and serving Korea’s 3,400 islands

The Korea Island Development Institute, under the Ministry of Interior and Safety, was established in October 2021 to conduct systematic research and develop sensible island policies. Specifically, the institute aims to promote the values of islands, improve the quality of life for islanders and create future growth engines. With approximately 3,400 islands, South Korea is an archipelago and one of the top 10 countries with the most islands. However, the country’s islands face serious cris

Dec. 19, 2022

[K-Wellness] Korea Health Promotion Institute promotes lifelong health

The Korea Health Promotion Institute (KHEPI) is the only government agency in the health care field that plans, implements, and evaluates policies and projects designed to promote healthy lives. KHEPI provides health management services tailored to each life cycle. The agency has built a finely meshed management system to help people quit smoking and abstain from drinking, prevent obesity, promote physical activities, ensure smart health care through new digital technologies and provide health c

Dec. 19, 2022

[K-Wellness] ‘Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has new stacks of work to do’

During the personnel hearing at the National Assembly in May, Kim Hyun-sook, who was nominated as the minister of gender equality and family under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, affirmed her agreement with the abolition of the ministry at which she was to take office. Gender Equality Minister Kim Hyun-sook said at the hearing “It is time to make a great transformation to adapt to the new environment,” and “abolishing the ministry does not mean undermining the functionality

Dec. 19, 2022

[K-Wellness] Mokpo mayor looks to create city of art, culture, with plentiful jobs

Park Hong-ryul, the mayor of Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, pointed to “revitalization of the local economy” as the most important aspect of the city’s operation. He says he will focus on overcoming the current economic situation and building a basis for stable growth. In particular, the mayor emphasized it is important to respond to current issues, including one concerning the city’s incineration plant, which have arisen from the city’s long history. To this end, he

Dec. 19, 2022

[K-Wellness] Rep. Shin Hyun-young takes on gaps in welfare services, infectious diseases

Shin Hyun-young, a member of the Health and Welfare Committee of the National Assembly, is a former medical doctor and a working mother in her early 40s. Her business card is unique and distinctive, as it features an illustration of herself holding her second child along with the phrase “I will make the country safe from infectious diseases for our children.” This business card encapsulates her legislative activities and parliamentary politics. Ever since she made it to the National

Dec. 19, 2022

[K-Wellness] Making Jeju Island the top tourist destination in the world

“I feel deeply sorry and pained by the failure of politicians to fulfill our obligations to protect the lives and safety of the people,” said Kim Hangyu, a first-term lawmaker of the Democratic Party of Korea who was elected to represent Jeju City during the by-elections held last June, recalling the recent Itaewon Halloween crowd crush. He argued that politicians should have put their utmost effort into predicting and preventing such negligence and they should have alerted and sup

Dec. 19, 2022

[K-Wellness] 'We will nurture Jeju into a sanctuary for wellness and workcations'

Oh Young-hun, Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, emphasized the concept of “workcation” as a way that Jeju Island can appeal to new travelers. It is a new type of working system that emerged as COVID-19 sped up the spread of remote work as well as the digital foundation enabling people to work from home. Working in a vacation spot allows you to serve two ends of working and taking a rest. Gov. Oh emphasized the need for the workation to drive young adults to pursue the

Dec. 19, 2022

[K-Wellness] Health Ministry provides customized policy from cradle to grave

The Ministry of Health and Welfare coordinates overall welfare policy throughout the entire life cycle of pregnancy, childbirth, childhood and so on, until one's twilight years. President Yoon Suk-yeol named Cho Kyoo-hong as the first vice minister to the head of ministry. Cho has already attended and completed a parliamentary inspection of his agency, and now he promises a fresh start for the ministry. In an interview with The Korea Herald, Choi Jong-kyun, deputy minister for population

Nov. 16, 2022

[K-Wellness] 'National Assembly will be at forefront of making society a happy place for all'

Cho Myung-hee, a representative from the People Power Party on the Health and Welfare Committee of the National Assembly, has worked to come up with assorted measures at the parliamentary level aiming to help improve public health. At this year’s National Assembly audits, she was an ardent supporter for quality health care and child care for undocumented immigrant children. Cho has also increasingly been vocal about helping improve public kindergarten enrollment, redressing mental health i

Nov. 16, 2022

[K-Wellness] 'Youth is our country’s bright future and hope'

The Korea Youth Counseling and Welfare Institute, a public institution under the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, opened in 1993 to help adolescents develop sound character and harmonious growth. The Korea Herald spoke to its President Yun Hyo-sik, who was inaugurated at the end of last year, about the institute’s key activities. Yun, a leading expert in this field, served as the deputy minister for planning and coordination as well as deputy minister for youth and family policy in

Nov. 16, 2022

[K-Wellness] Senior Employment Program brings priceless, intangible values

The Senior Employment Program has been proven to assist older job seekers in staying healthy, to enhance emotional stability and to improve social connections, as well as to bring older people economic benefits. In addition, the program has also helped bring its participants priceless, intangible values that boost their satisfaction with life and alleviate depression. It is estimated that the program can help each of the participants save around 70,000 won ($51) in monthly medical expenses, whic

Nov. 16, 2022