Kim & Chang, Debevoise & Plimpton to host seminar on private equity disputes

South Korean law firm Kim & Chang and US law firm Debevoise & Plimpton will jointly host a seminar on private equity disputes on Oct. 28, according to the Seoul-based company on Monday. The event will be held as part of the Seoul ADR Festival, which will take place from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1. The SAF is one of the most well-known alternative dispute resolution events hosted by the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board and co-organized by the Justice Ministry, the International Chamber of Comme

Oct. 14, 2024

Minister ensures med school quality despite quota hike

Amid uncertainties in the landscape of medical education in South Korea following the government's plan to hike the admissions quota, Education Minister Lee Ju-ho on Sunday vowed to ensure the quality of medical education while pleading with medical students now in their ninth month of a strike against the plan to return. In a Korean-language interview with Yonhap News Agency, Lee said he "emphasizes as the education minister" that the level of medical education will remain high,

Oct. 13, 2024

Side effects of growth hormone injections surge

The side effects of growth hormone injections, which are being used to increase the height of children, are on the rise, according to government data Thursday, in line with the increase in the number of adolescents receiving the injections. A total of 124,997 individuals aged 19 and under received growth hormone shots in the first half of this year, following 247,541 in the full year of 2023 and 190,001 in 2022, reflecting parents' passion for making their children grow taller. The figures

Oct. 10, 2024

Shortening med school courses not a must: Minister

Amid the debate around shortening the medical school curriculum from six to five years, the education minister stated Tuesday that the proposal is an emergency measure and that universities will not be forced to comply. Education Minister Lee Ju-ho said during a parliamentary audit at the National Assembly that the proposal was a measure to ensure there are enough medical professionals in the future to meet the country's health care needs. "(We) will not force medical schools. If unive

Oct. 8, 2024

S. Korea sees surge in foreign patients for beauty care, plastic surgery

South Korean hospitals and clinics have seen a surge in patients from overseas since the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly for plastic surgery and skin care, according to government data on Tuesday. A total of 239,060 and 114,074 international patients received dermatological treatments and plastic surgery, respectively, accounting for nearly 52 percent of the 678,799 foreign nationals in South Korea who received medical services at hospitals and clinics in 2023. The figures are from the Health Ministry

Oct. 8, 2024

Diverse fitness offerings at Wellness Seoul 2024

Laughter and cheers from parents filled the air during the Balance Bike Race With Yamaha Motor, part of the inaugural Wellness Seoul 2024 held at Sebitseom Banpo along the Han River in southern Seoul on Sunday. The event, designed for children aged 3 to 5, allowed them to race on pedal-less bicycles, helping them develop balance and enjoy the thrill of riding on two wheels before transitioning to traditional bikes. On the other side, teenagers had the opportunity of minibike riding. Big smiles

Oct. 7, 2024

Mutts strut alongside dog-loving Seoulites

Finding a moment of respite from their busy lives in the bustling city, some 2,500 pet owners and their 500 canine companions flocked to Sebitseom Banpo Han River in southern Seoul on Sunday to participate in the Slow Marathon with Pets. The marathon -- held under the inaugural Wellness Seoul 2024 event hosted by Herald Media Group, the publisher of The Korea Herald and Herald Business -- invited participants and their dogs to walk or jog leisurely side by side along the Han River. The event,

Oct. 7, 2024

Medical standoff heats up as SNU approves leaves for striking students

The monthslong medical standoff entered a new phase this week after Seoul National University became the first institution to approve leave of absence requests from striking students who have been boycotting classes to protest the government's plan to increase the medical school admissions quota. Despite government warnings of severe repercussions, SNU's decision on Monday prompted a swift response from the Ministry of Education, further escalating tensions between the medical communit

Oct. 3, 2024

Stricter monitoring urged for physicians with mental illness

More than 6,000 physicians each year are diagnosed with mental illness, but the absence of oversight verifying whether the doctors are able to adequately provide treatment is stoking concerns. An average of 6,228 doctors per year were diagnosed with mental illnesses between 2019 and 2023 and performed an average of 27.99 million treatments and surgeries, the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service's data on medical professionals diagnosed with mental illness, submitted to Rep. Choo

Sept. 30, 2024

KMA chief under pressure after surveyed doctors refuse to back him

The leader of South Korea's largest doctors association is under pressure after the majority of a group of members surveyed expressed no confidence in him. In a survey of Korean Medical Association members run from Aug. 28 to Sept. 27 by several high ranking KMA officials, more than 77 percent of the participants expressed no confidence in the group's president, Lim Hyun-taek, according to the medical community on Sunday. Figures on the number of members surveyed were not made public

Sept. 29, 2024