Movatterモバイル変換

[KMI Health Big Data Series] Hyperuricemia rising among young men, gout risk widens

The prevalence of hyperuricemia, the primary cause of gout, has risen sharply in South Korea over the past four years, with the steepest increases seen among younger men, according to a new analysis released Thursday by the Korea Medical Institute. The findings, the first in KMI’s newly launched “Health Big Data Series,” are based on 2 million medical check-up records from adults aged 19 and older who visited the institute’s eight centers nationwide between 2021 and 2024. Hyperuricemia occurs wh

Korea's antibiotic crisis: Why it's a problem and how we can prevent it

South Korea’s health care system is praised for its speed and accessibility, but the resulting ease at which patients receive antibiotics is leading to a rise in antibiotic-resistant “superbugs." According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, South Korea recorded 31.8 defined daily doses, or DID, of antibiotics per 1,000 people in 2023, placing it second among the 34 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, behind Turkey. This is its highest r

S. Korea reports another highly pathogenic bird flu case

South Korea reported a highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) case at a chicken farm in the country's northwest, authorities said Monday. The case was discovered at the farm in Hwaseong, just south of Seoul, prompting authorities to take quarantine measures, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The case marks the third AI case at a poultry farm this year. The ministry said it will launch a special quarantine check on poultry farms across the country to prevent the ou

Half of nurses in Korea report abuse, prompting urgent mental health response

In South Korean hospitals, nurses are being cursed at during surgeries, ordered to run doctors’ personal errands and physically assaulted by patients’ families. And more than half say no one does anything to stop it. A new national survey by the Korean Nurses Association has revealed that 1 in 2 nurses (50.8 percent) experienced human rights violations in their workplace in the past year. The most common abuses were verbal attacks (81 percent) and abuse of authority or workplace bullying (69.3 p

Korea's antibiotic use among highest in OECD

South Korea’s use of antibiotics has surged to one of the highest levels among OECD countries, raising alarm over the growing threat of drug-resistant "superbugs" and prompting urgent calls for stronger management measures. According to recent data compiled by the OECD, South Korea recorded 31.8 daily doses per 1,000 people in 2023, the second highest among the organization's members. Use has sharply increased from 25.7 doses in 2022, when Korea already ranked fourth, well above the OECD average

What you need to know to avoid falling ill this Chuseok

As millions of South Koreans prepare to reunite with loved ones for Chuseok, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency is urging the public to take precautions against the spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, foodborne illnesses and viruses contracted abroad. Although COVID-19 hospitalization numbers have slightly declined recently, reporting 428 cases during the third week of September, they remain higher than the same period last year, which stood at 213. As older adults an

KMI launches integrated research support system

The Korea Medical Institute said it has become the first medical check-up institution in the country to launch its own Integrated Research Support System, aimed at streamlining research from project proposals to performance tracking. The KMI Research Information System, or KRIS, combines multiple stages of the research process, including proposal submission, review and approval, administrative support and the management of results. Officials said the system is designed to improve efficiency and

Deadly Nipah virus classified as first-tier infectious disease in South Korea

South Korea has officially designated Nipah virus infection as a first-tier infectious disease, a classification for the most dangerous outbreaks with a high fatality rate that require immediate reporting and isolation. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced that the revision to the infectious disease classification guidelines will take effect Monday, marking the first time a new disease has been added to the top-tier category since the country introduced the four-tier system

Eradicating common stomach bacterium could protect bone health, study suggests

New research suggests that eradicating Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium best known for causing gastric ulcers and stomach cancer, may also help prevent osteoporosis, especially among older females. According to a research team at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, supported by the KDCA’s National Institute of Health, individuals who underwent H. pylori eradication therapy were found to have a substantially lower risk of developing osteoporosis over time compared to those who did not r

In the land of skin care, where are the skin doctors?

Im, an office worker in her 30s, said she recently stopped by a dermatology clinic in Myeongdong but was turned away. “I had a pimple that seemed more serious than usual. The area around it was swollen, and I wanted to get it checked,” she said. “But the clinic told me they don’t treat medical skin conditions. They only offer 'cosmetic' procedures.” Kim Ki-woong, 32, had a similar experience. “I had a bump on my forehead, so I went to a dermatologist in Dunchon-dong,” a neighborhood in Seoul, he

Lee, Bill Gates discuss cooperation in global health security efforts

Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates met with President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday to discuss global health security, highlighting South Korea’s technological and manufacturing capabilities and urging the country to play a larger role in the development and distribution of vaccines to developing nations. The meeting, held during Gates’ visit to South Korea, highlighted the country’s growing biotechnology sector and its potential to play a bigger role in reducing child mortality worl

Summer travel alert: How to stay safe from measles while abroad

As international travel surges this summer, so does the risk of measles infection. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 65 measles cases have been reported domestically as of July 5, a 40 percent increase from last year. A striking 70.8 percent of these cases were imported, most commonly from Vietnam, followed by Thailand, Italy, Uzbekistan and Mongolia. Another 19 cases were linked to domestic transmission from imported infections. Measles, an extremely contagious virus

South Korea’s health insurance crackdown reduces foreign dependents

A year after South Korea introduced stricter health insurance rules for foreign residents, misuse of the system has noticeably dropped, especially among Chinese nationals. According to the National Health Insurance Service, the number of Chinese dependents enrolled under Korea’s national health insurance fell from 111,059 in March 2024 to 106,243 in March 2025. That is a decrease of nearly 5,000 people within one year. The policy change was introduced amid growing concerns that foreign nationals

Is your summer safe? Cases of foodborne illness double in June

With South Korea entering the peak season for gastrointestinal illnesses, public health officials are urging heightened vigilance as cases linked to contaminated food and water nearly doubled in the past month. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Wednesday, sentinel surveillance at 210 hospitals with 200 or more beds showed a sharp rise in two of the most common bacterial culprits. Salmonella infections rose from 66 patients in the first week of June to 127 by the fou

Korean researchers unlock genetic clues to lupus

In a major leap forward for autoimmune disease research, South Korean researchers have developed a high-resolution genetic analysis tool that can precisely decode the complex immune-related gene cluster linked to lupus. This discovery not only deepens understanding of how lupus begins but also could lead to customized treatments tailored to individual genetic profiles, they say. “There are two major breakthroughs here,” said Professor Bae Sang-cheol of Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic D