Reports of adverse events following growth hormone injections in children approached 2,000 in Korea last year as use of the drugs continued to increase, government data cited by a lawmaker showed Monday. The number of reports rose from 1,189 in 2021 to 1,910 in 2025, according to Ministry of Food and Drug Safety data obtained by Rep. Heo Jong-sik of the Democratic Party of Korea. The figures do not establish that growth hormone injections caused the reported conditions. An adverse event report r

People who need medical care during the Chuseok holiday should check opening hours before heading out, as hospitals, clinics and pharmacies will operate on limited schedules from Thursday through Sunday. The easiest way to find a nearby facility is through E-Gen, the national emergency medical information website. Users can search for facilities by location, type, medical specialty and treatment date. Because holiday hours may change, visitors should call the hospital, clinic or pharmacy before

Reports of adverse events following the use of Wegovy and Mounjaro have reached 1,780 in Korea as prescriptions for the weight-loss drugs have surged, government data showed Friday. The data, submitted to ruling Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Kwon Chil-seung, showed 944 reports involving Wegovy from its Korean launch in October 2024 through March this year. The annual breakdown was 49 in 2024, 672 in 2025 and 223 in the first three months of 2026. “Adverse-event reports alone cannot establish a

Influenza is spreading across the country earlier than last year, prompting public health authorities to revise their vaccination schedule. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said Monday it is considering moving the vaccination start date for high-risk patients, such as children and seniors, up from Sept. 21. "We are working to finalize the revised vaccination schedule by gathering opinions from local governments and the medical sector," the agency said during a press briefing. The

The South Korean government will double access to daytime services for adults with developmental disabilities by 2030 and expand round-the-clock care for those with the highest support needs, seeking to ease a burden long shouldered by their families. The measures are part of a comprehensive plan unveiled Thursday to establish a continuum of support from infancy through adulthood, minimizing gaps in care as the number of people with developmental disabilities continues to rise. That population h

Foreign card spending on medical services in South Korea jumped 66.5 percent in July from a year earlier, extending a rapid expansion in the country’s medical tourism industry. Foreign nationals spent 213 billion won ($145 million) on medical services and related products during the month, according to credit card-based data from the Korea Tourism Organization. The increase follows annual growth of 65 percent in 2025 and 78.6 percent in 2024, suggesting the field is becoming a larger part of Kor

A new study suggests that a combination of cognitive performance and educational background may help identify older drivers at a higher risk of serious crashes, according to researchers at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. In an analysis of police data involving 876 male drivers aged 60 and older, a team led by Kim Ki-woong and Han Ji-won, professors in the hospital’s department of neuropsychiatry, found significant differences in crash risk based on years of education and performance

Sometimes, food or drink can accidentally go down the wrong pipe, triggering sudden coughing that can leave the person embarrassed and those around them concerned. Some people, however, are more prone to such episodes than others. Seoul National University Bundang Hospital said Thursday that it has developed a method to identify people at risk of aspiration by having them say "Ah" for two seconds after eating. A research team led by Ryu Ju-seok, a professor of rehabilitation medicine at the hosp

Although extreme heat has reduced South Korea's mosquito numbers this summer, health authorities caution that it is too soon to relax precautions as temperatures moderate. “As mosquito populations may increase again after the heat wave, local governments in high-risk areas should strengthen comprehensive control measures to reduce mosquito numbers,” KDCA chief Lim Seung-kwan said in a statement on Thursday. Lim urged those in high-risk areas to avoid outdoor activities at night, wear loose-fitti

After weeks of what felt like a nationwide sauna, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in parts of Korea, the country is finally getting some relief from the heat, at least overnight. Busan broke a 23-day streak of tropical nights — when temperatures remain at or above 25 degrees from 6 p.m. until 9 a.m. the following day — while Seoul entered its third consecutive night without tropical-night conditions Tuesday. Seoul ended a 17-day run of tropical nights after its overnight low fell t

As South Korea battles a record-breaking heat wave, Incheon International Airport is emerging as an informal cooling refuge for people with nowhere more convenient to escape the heat. Media reports over the past week have highlighted seniors spending hours inside the terminals playing games, sharing packed lunches and resting on benches. The appeal of the airports appears to be practical: the terminals offer air conditioning, seating, free wi-fi, charging facilities and restrooms, while South K

The relentless heat, which shattered South Korea’s all-time temperature record on Sunday, showed no signs of easing Monday as it spread to western and central parts of the country. As of 4 p.m. Monday, severe heat wave warnings — the highest alert level, calling for an immediate halt to outdoor work — were issued for parts of Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, joining areas in the southern regions that were already under the alert. The warnings will take effect from 11 a.m. Tuesday, according to the K

Women in South Korea are using contraception more consistently, while a growing share say they have the primary say in deciding whether to use it, according to a study released by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. The findings, published in the institute’s July journal, were drawn from a nationwide survey of 6,174 women aged 13 and older conducted in 2025 and compared with a similar survey from 2022. The contraceptive-use figures were based on respondents who had had sexual inte

Sweltering heat will continue across the country Saturday, with heat wave advisories and warnings in effect in most regions, the Korea Meteorological Administration said. Daytime highs were forecast at 29 to 37 degrees Celsius. Temperatures will stay near or slightly above seasonal averages for the time being, with lows of 21 to 24 degrees Celsius and highs of 28 to 32 degrees Celsius. Southern regions will run warmer than usual. A severe heat warning was in effect along the southeastern coast o

Sightings of giant Nomura’s jellyfish in Korean waters have increased fivefold from a year earlier and spread across a wider area, the National Institute of Fisheries Science said Thursday. The institute said it has not yet determined the exact cause of the surge. Nomura’s jellyfish can grow up to 2 meters in diameter and deliver painful stings that may cause swelling, fever and numbness, or even shock in severe cases. The species typically drifts into Korean waters from the East China Sea durin