The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has developed separate "COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines" from the previous "Respiratory Infection Prevention Guidelines" in response to the continued rise in COVID-19 cases during the summer, following discussions with public-private consultative bodies. ◆ Please Follow These in Daily Life! ① Wash your hands with soap under running water for at least 30 seconds. ② Ventilate indoor spaces for 10 minutes every two hours. ③ Cover your mouth and nose with your sleeve or tissue when coughing. ④ Wear a mask when visiting healthcare facilities or
The National Investigation Headquarters of the Korean National Police Agency has issued a warning about a new voice phishing tactic where scammers pose as postal delivery workers or couriers, saying, "A card has been requested in your name," or "You ordered a kimchi refrigerator; where should I deliver it?" to trick people. Below is a summary of the recent voice phishing scam scenario: <Impersonation of a Post Office Delivery Person> A scammer calls the victim from 010-0000-0000 and says, "This is a post office delivery person. Did you request a [XX Card]? Where should I deliver it?" If
Recently, there has been a nearly sixfold increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations nationwide. The health authorities are increasing the supply of COVID-19 treatments and closely monitoring the supply of self-test kits. They also urge the public to adhere to preventive measures such as proper coughing etiquette and hand washing. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced that they had shared the COVID-19 outbreak trends and reviewed response measures in a joint meeting with related ministries, including the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
Mold spreads easily in hot and humid weather, especially on carbohydrate-rich foods such as grains, beans, and nuts. Mold toxins are heat-resistant and are not destroyed during cooking. Even if the moldy part is removed, invisible spores or toxins may still be present, so it is safest to discard the entire item. Mold toxins are produced by molds and typically occur when grains, beans, nuts, and other foods are stored improperly in hot and humid environments. Ingesting these toxins can lead to various diseases, so special care is needed. If you ingest mold toxins, you may experience symptoms su
Going forward, with the new birth notification system, all children born in medical institutions will be reported to local governments to ensure their protection within the public system. Additionally, the protected birth system allows expectant mothers in crisis to receive prenatal care, give birth, and have the birth reported using an alias at medical institutions. Expectant mothers who find it difficult to disclose their identity despite receiving sufficient guidance on various support measures to help raise the child and emotional counseling can apply for protected birth. This allows them
Over the past five years, there have been a total of 612 fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, with more than half attributed to overcharging. Therefore, it is crucial to unplug the battery from the power source once charging is complete to reduce the risk of fire. On the 22nd, the National Fire Agency introduced the third topic in its series on creating safe habits in daily life, focusing on the 'Proper Use of Lithium-Ion Batteries' in response to recent fire incidents involving these batteries. Common household items using lithium-ion batteries include smartphones, laptops, electric scooter
Imagine you noticed a hole filled with rainwater, while walking along a road. It is a pothole, often referred to as a road mine. Rainwater-filled potholes can disrupt safe driving and pose a secondary accident risk, endangering pedestrians' safety as well. Especially during the rainy season in July and August, more potholes appear as rainwater seeps into the asphalt. So, where should you report these issues? The easiest method is through the Safety Report system. The Safety Report system allows anyone to easily report safety hazards they encounter in their daily life, anytime and anywhere. Rep
Amid reports of residents being scammed by fake applications mimicking 'The Gyeonggi Pass,' Gyeonggi Province has announced that there is no official 'The Gyeonggi Pass' app and is taking active measures to address the issue. According to Gyeonggi Province, there is no app named 'The Gyeonggi Pass.' To utilize 'The Gyeonggi Pass,' residents need to use the K-Pass app. Those who wish to benefit from 'The Gyeonggi Pass' policy must obtain a K-Pass card through the bank/card company's website or app. After that, they need to register the card and sign up for membership on the K-Pass website. Upon
The government is taking steps to simplify entry procedures and extend stay durations to encourage the increasing trend of inbound tourism to South Korea. Efforts will focus on addressing the inconveniences faced by foreign tourists, such as expanding visa review personnel and visa application centers, to reduce the processing time for tourist visas from countries with growing numbers of visitors to South Korea. To promote high-value tourism, entry procedures will be simplified. For instance, a pilot operation of the 'K-Culture Training Visa' will begin this year, targeting foreigners wishing
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is an acute respiratory disease caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria. It is characterized by prolonged coughing fits lasting more than 14 days, often accompanied by a 'whooping' sound, vomiting, and other severe symptoms. While the disease has a higher mortality rate among younger children, it can be effectively prevented through vaccination. Q1. What are the symptoms of pertussis? A. The incubation period for pertussis is typically 7 to 10 days (ranging from a minimum of 4 to a maximum of 21 days). Symptoms progress through three distinct stages
In celebration of Oral Health Day on June 9th, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has provided information on the safe and effective use of over-the-counter oral products, including toothpaste and teeth whiteners. This includes guidance on proper selection, usage, and precautions. The Ministry has also produced and distributed videos titled “Proper Use of Toothpaste” and “The Story of Over-the-Counter Teeth Whiteners,” which can be viewed on the Ministry's official social media channels. Toothpaste Toothpaste is used to keep teeth white and strong, maintain oral hygiene, and prevent diseases
Blocking marketing calls from financial companies is about to become easier and more convenient. The Financial Services Commission announced on the 3rd that they have collaborated with the financial industry to expand and improve the financial sector's Do Not Call system (www.donotcall.or.kr), allowing consumers to block marketing calls from financial companies with just one click. Seventy large corporate insurance agencies (GAs) will newly participate in the 'Financial Sector Do Not Call System.' Additionally, a new feature will be introduced to report instances where marketing calls are rece
From May 20th, you must bring your ID when visiting hospitals and pharmacies. If you do not bring your ID, you will not be eligible for health insurance coverage and will have to bear the full cost of medical treatment. Acceptable forms of ID include a resident registration card, driver's license, health insurance card, passport, national veterans registration card, disability registration card, foreigner registration card, or permanent residence card. Any certificate issued by an administrative or public institution with a photo and either a resident registration number or a foreigner registr
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety aims to help the public understand the '1342 Brave Step Center', currently operated by the Korea Anti-Drug Campaign Headquarters. By providing information in a Q&A format, they encourage anyone struggling with drug-related issues to take a courageous step and make a call. What does the phone number '1342' mean? The number '1342' is the hotline for the 'Brave Step Center', which offers 24-hour telephone counseling for drug-related issues without any time or space constraints. It signifies, "We will be with you every moment of your daily life (13: 일상) 24
Starting from May 15, you can find information about various family services such as family counseling, pregnancy and childbirth, and childcare provided by 244 family centers nationwide on the Government24 website. Family centers offer psychological and emotional counseling, education, pregnancy and childbirth support, and childcare services tailored to various types of families, including single-parent, multicultural families, and single-person households. There are 244 centers operating across the country. To improve accessibility to family services, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Famil