With South Korea's total fertility rate dropping to 0.778, the government is intensifying its efforts to combat the declining birthrate. Among various population policies aimed at overcoming low birth rates, one particularly noteworthy initiative is the "First Encounter Voucher." The First Encounter Voucher is provided by the national or local government in accordance with the revised "Framework Act on Low Birth Rate in An Aging Society" since April of last year. It is designed to alleviate the financial burden of child-rearing and targets children born on or after January 1, 2022, who have be
Increased Risk of Foodborne Bacteria Growth Due to High Temperature Variations in Autumn. When cleaning various food items, prioritize washing vegetables, meat, and seafood in that order. Over the past five years, it has been revealed that autumn is the season with the highest occurrence of food poisoning cases following summer. The reason for this is the significant temperature fluctuations in autumn, with cooler mornings and evenings and higher daytime temperatures, which make it easier for foodborne bacteria to proliferate. When preparing a packed meal for outdoor activities on a brisk day,
The change of seasons brings about significant temperature fluctuations, making our bodies vulnerable to respiratory illnesses like colds and flu due to weakened immunity. At the change of seasons in autumn, it is essential to strengthen immunity through proper diet and exercise to maintain good health. Particularly, consuming foods to boost immune strength is a fundamental and safe approach that does not strain the body. Foods rich in vitamin C, such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, can aid in enhancing immunity. Additionally, ginger, garlic, onions, sweet potatoes, and more contribute to
In South Korea, there are various types of visas and issuance methods for foreign nationals. The required documents for each type of visa may vary based on the type of residence and the specific immigration office or branch. Except for the cases of foreign workers, diplomacy, overseas Korean, marriage migrant, working holiday (H-2), and official business, foreigners can work in Korea under two main types of visas: E-7 visa and D-10 visa. The D-10 visa includes D-10-1 which is specifically for job seekers and allows graduates to engage in job search activities. Upon successful job search, they
Starting from October 19, free COVID-19 preventive vaccinations will be conducted nationwide at medical institutions and public health centers. Young-mi Ji, the director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, announced the '2023-2024 Seasonal COVID-19 Vaccination Plan' on the 26th, stating that the goal of this vaccination is to prevent severe illness and death from COVID-19 among those aged 65 and above and immunocompromised individuals, minimizing health damage. Director Ji emphasized, "We have introduced newly developed vaccines tailored to the current prevalent XBB lineage var
The government announced that it will implement the 2023-2024 seasonal influenza national vaccination from September 20th to April 30th of the following year. This year, as influenza continues to spread, it is important for individuals aged 65 and above, pregnant women, and children to actively receive preventive vaccinations. Let's address questions regarding preventive vaccinations through Q&A. Q1. Who are the beneficiaries of this year's national influenza vaccination? A. Children aged 6 months and above up to 13 years old, pregnant women, and individuals aged 65 and above are eligible
The Gaya Tumuli of the Republic of Korea has been successfully inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The 45th session of the World Heritage Committee, which has been held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from September 10 to 25, 2023, made the final decision to inscribe the Gaya Tumuli on the World Heritage List on September 17. The Gaya Tumuli, newly inscribed on the World Heritage List, is a serial property consisting of seven tumuli sites which represent the ancient civilization of ‘Gaya’ that existed on the Korean Peninsula. The seven tumuli are as follows: ▲ Yugok-ri and Durak-ri Tumuli in
The National Investigation Headquarters of the Korean National Police Agency has issued a special warning, stating that "recently, there have been some changes in the tactics used in phone-based financial fraud schemes." While the fundamental structure of crimes involving deceiving individuals by promising loans at lower interest rates than their current loans by impersonating investigative agencies or threatening them with involvement in criminal cases by impersonating the police remains largely unchanged, there have been specific changes in the methods employed. Firstly, there has been a cha
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has urged strict adherence to food poisoning prevention guidelines, emphasizing personal hygiene management and compliance with food storage temperatures as there is concern about the risk of food poisoning during the day when temperatures rise, despite the coolness of autumn mornings and evenings. In the recent 5 years, a total of 341 cases of food poisoning occurred during the fall season (September to November), with 9,236 patients. Analysis shows that among these cases, pathogenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella accounted for 26% of the total occ
Explore over 500 professions; counseling available for anyone with career concerns. Whether you are a teenager, college student, parent, or adult, if you have career concerns, you can share and receive counseling through "CareerNet". It offers not only one-time counseling but also continuous support for ongoing guidance. You can find counseling cases similar to your own concerns while checking others' counseling experiences. By accessing CareerNet and using the "Career Counseling" section, you can explore the "View Counseling" feature. If you wish to receive counseling, you can apply for caree
Tips for preventing damage from natural disasters for myself and my family's safety. With heavy rainfall causing nationwide damage this summer, it is important to prioritize the safety of ourselves and our families by understanding weather forecast terms and disaster prevention measures. Heavy rainfall, known as "hoou" in Korean, can lead to accidents such as landslides, flooding, and power outages, making it potentially dangerous. Therefore, the Korea Meteorological Administration provides information in advance through different levels of warnings based on specific criteria to prepare for sa
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) stated on the 23rd that "regardless of the current situation, plans to continue the import restrictions on Japanese food are in place." The MFDS has prohibited imports of seafood from 8 prefectures, including Fukushima, and 27 agricultural products from 15 prefectures since September 2013, following the release of hundreds of tons of contaminated water daily after the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011. According to the MFDS, the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled in favor of South Korea in the WTO dispute with Japan in April 2019, confirming the i
On the 24th, during the 4th Regulatory Innovation Strategy Meeting, the Ministry of Justice unveiled the "Visa Killer Regulation Reform Plan" that aims to foster economic growth by expanding the skilled foreign workforce (E-7-4), strengthening post-graduate link employment for international students, and supporting settlements for outstanding talents in advanced fields. First and foremost, the quota for skilled foreign workers (E-7-4) transitioning has been drastically expanded from the existing 2,000 to 35,000, marking a 17.5-fold increase. The policy emphasizes the selection of exceptional c
A typhoon refers to a tropical low-pressure system that originates in the western North Pacific and is characterized by a maximum wind speed of over 17 m/s near its center, accompanied by intense storms. Typhoons result from the need to eliminate thermal imbalances caused by the fact that equatorial regions receive more solar heat than polar regions. In order to mitigate this, warm air from low-latitude areas absorbs moisture from the sea, leading to strong winds and heavy rainfall. This meteorological phenomenon moves towards higher latitudes. Once the seed of a typhoon forms, the ascending a
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has announced that from August 7th to September 30th, a "voluntary pet dog registration declaration period" will be in operation in order to promote pet dog registration and update registration information. Even if a pet dog subject to registration requirements has not been registered, no fines will be imposed if the registration is voluntarily declared during this period. However, it is important to note that after the period ends, local governments plan to conduct intensive inspections for one month starting in October. Pet dogs aged two mo