NHIS to tighten checks on foreign residents’ health insurance documents

South Korea’s National Health Insurance Service will launch a system Wednesday to track and share suspected cases of forged documents submitted by foreign nationals seeking health insurance coverage or dependent registration. The system will allow NHIS offices nationwide to share records of document checks and cases suspected of forgery, the agency said Tuesday. It will cover overseas-issued documents submitted for both health insurance enrollment and dependent registration. The move follows rec

2026-10-13 12:07:27:00

Gibbeum Hospital chief introduces military doctors to his mesh-free hernia repair

Seoul-based Gibbeum Hospital President Kang Yoon-sik introduced his mesh-free hernia repair technique to military medical professionals at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. Kang discussed the procedure, known as the Kang Repair, on Oct. 1 at the 76th Annual 38th Parallel Healthcare Training Symposium. The technique uses a patient’s own tissue to reinforce the weakened area instead of synthetic mesh. Kang said he developed the procedure in response to concerns about pain af

2026-10-08 13:41:14:00

AI fall-prevention startup wins Seoul’s foreign entrepreneur contest

A startup developing artificial intelligence technology to detect fall risks before an accident won the top prize at Seoul’s second startup competition for foreign entrepreneurs, earning cash and points toward a technology startup visa. NeuroDetectYO, led by a Ukrainian entrepreneur, took first place at “Jump Up, Start Up 2026,” held Wednesday at the Seoul Global Center, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Friday. The startup is developing AI-based fall-risk detection technology and wearable

2026-10-02 14:37:19:00

Korea’s centenarian population grows over 30% in 4 years

South Korea’s population aged 100 and older grew by nearly a third in four years, with women far outnumbering men. The country had 8,701 centenarians in 2025, up 32.6 percent from 6,563 in 2021, according to national statistics agency data released Friday by Rep. Nam In-soon of the Democratic Party of Korea to mark Senior Citizens’ Day. Nam, a member of the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee, called for stronger income security and care support as more people live into old age. “On

2026-10-02 11:02:14:00

1 dead, 4 injured in 3-vehicle crash in Pohang

A man in his 30s has died and four others were injured after a car rear-ended a truck and then struck another car in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, late Thursday. The crash occurred at around 10:20 p.m. on a three-lane road near the South Pohang Interchange in Ocheon-eup, according to police. Police said the car struck a moving truck from behind, then bounced off it and hit a nearby car. A man in his 30s riding in the front passenger seat was taken to a hospital in cardiac arrest but later d

2026-10-02 10:27:33:00

Seoul readies 1,500 shuttles, extra subway service for possible bus strike

Seoul will deploy as many as 1,500 free shuttle buses and add more than 200 subway services if city bus drivers go on strike Wednesday, as the capital prepares for what would be its second bus walkout this year. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday that the emergency transport measures would take effect if the union proceeds with the strike from the first service Wednesday. Up to 1,300 chartered buses will operate as free shuttles linking residential areas and major transport hubs with

2026-09-14 13:26:24:00

International student gets 18 months for creating 1,100 deepfakes of colleagues

A Chinese international student in South Korea was sentenced to 18 months in prison Wednesday for creating more than 1,100 sexually explicit deepfakes using images of seven people, including colleagues in his university research lab. The Seoul Northern District Court convicted the 30-year-old of charges including habitually producing manipulated sexual images and videos in violation of the Sexual Violence Punishment Act. The court also ordered him to complete 40 hours of a sex offender treatment

2026-09-10 11:23:57:00

The loophole that led to Korea’s foreigner pension controversy

For Koreans already worried about the future solvency of the National Pension, reports that foreigners could pay into the system for only a few months, make years of retroactive contributions and qualify for a lifelong pension were bound to be provocative. One case can be enough to prove a failure. It is not always enough to prove a pattern, especially when it touches a mandatory pension system that millions are required to pay into and whose long-term viability is already under question. Presid

2026-09-04 17:39:45:00

Fireworks, marathon set to snarl Seoul traffic this weekend

Drivers in Seoul may want to steer clear of Yeouido on Saturday and the city center Sunday morning, when a fireworks festival and marathon will trigger rolling road closures across some of the capital’s busiest routes. The biggest disruption will come Saturday around Yeouido, where the 2026 Seoul International Fireworks Festival is expected to draw heavy crowds along the Han River. Yeouidong-ro between the southern end of Mapo Bridge and the 63 Building will be completely closed to traffic from

2026-09-04 12:43:23:00

Seoul bus union threatens Sept. 16 strike over wage dispute

Seoul’s city bus union has threatened to launch a full strike from the first buses on Sept. 16 if mediation with operators fails, reviving a wage dispute that led to a brief walkout earlier this year. The Seoul Bus Labor Union said it had asked the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission to mediate after wage talks with the Seoul Bus Transport Business Association broke down. If the 15-day mediation period ends without agreement, the union will be legally able to strike. The dispute centers on

2026-09-04 11:39:27:00