• 2023 VisitSeoul TV Seoul Trip Shorts Contest Is Now Open

  The 2023 VisitSeoul TV Seoul Trip Shorts Contest entry submission period has begun. The yearly contest is run by Seoul tourism's official YouTube channel operated by the Seoul Tourism Organization, VisitSeoul TV, and asks participants to submit original short-form video content that promotes Seoul tourism.The contest is solely focused on the submission of short-form video content, also referred to as “shorts”, which has seen an exponential increase in popularity over the last few years on social media. The anticipation for this year's submitted content is high following the resuming of international travel across the globe.With “Seoul Lifestyle” working as the designated theme of the contest, the goal of each participant is to boast their own interpretation of what it means to enjoy traveling in Seoul. The entry submission period began this past Monday, May 8, and is scheduled to run for approximately one month until Sunday, June 4. The contest is open to everyone and requires participants to create original short-form video content and post it on their personal YouTube channel with the following required hashtags: #VisitSeoulTV & #2023VisitSeoulTVShortsContest. Once content is posted, participants are then asked to complete and submit their entries using the contest Google Form link located on the official contest homepage on the Visit Seoul website. The grand prize will receive KRW 3 million in cash, with prize winnings totaling as much as KRW 10 million allotted to nine selected entries. For more information, please visit the official contest homepage.A representative from the Seoul Tourism Organization stated, “With the contest being opened to the international community this year, we look forward to a variety of original works from those who have visited Seoul at least once and will proactively utilize the content to help promote the alluring side of Seoul as a global tourist destination.”

• Siemens Korea Conducts Volunteer Activities for Local Senior Citizens in Celebration of Family Month

  A global powerhouse in electrical engineering and electronics, Siemens Korea (Siemens Ltd. Seoul·SLS) announced that the company served meals to the elderly in celebration of Family Month, on May 19.About 40 employees from Siemens Korea as part of ‘The NANUM’ volunteer corps visited the Seoul Senior Welfare Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, presented a donation of KRW 10 million, and conducted a meal serving activity to approximately 1,000 seniors. As the first face-to-face volunteer service since the outbreak of the pandemic, employees delivered their warmest wishes for the health of the elderly who visited the center by preparing and serving ‘Samgye-tang’, Korean ginseng chicken soup, an immunity-boosting dish enjoyed in between seasonal changes. Prior to serving the meals, gifts were delivered to the elderly who visited the center to commemorate Parents’ Day on May 8.Mr. HaJoong Chung, President and CEO of Siemens Korea said, “After having been through such difficult times caused by the pandemic, we are extremely gratified to be able to resume our face-to-face volunteer activities once again. Based on the firm foundation of our ESG management principles, we are committed to acting as responsible corporate citizens for creating a more sustainable future for our local community.”The NANUM was launched in January 2013 to encourage SLS employees to participate in volunteer activities throughout the year. Volunteer activities performed during the past 10 years include distributing charcoal briquettes, environmental cleaning, delivering daily necessities, and serving meals to the needy. In 2022, The NANUM continued to support needy neighborhoods despite the pandemic in non-face-to-face ways.

• Korea-U.S. High-Tech Alliance to Set Global Standards

  On the occasion of the state visit of President Yoon Suk Yeol, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of the Republic of Korea (Minister Oh Yu-Kyoung) met with Dr. Robert M. Califf, Commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to discuss cooperation between the two organizations in the field of digital health and signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC*) on April 27 (local time) to strengthen cooperation on medical products using artificial intelligence (AI). The signing of the MOC is part of the strengthening of cooperation in the Korea-U.S. high-tech alliance and supports the core and emerging technology cooperation agreed upon by the two leaders. It was also promoted as a follow-up to the meeting between Minister Oh Yu-Kyoung and Commissioner Robert Califf in March. Specifically, it was designed to ▲ share experiences in using AI for medical product development ▲ discuss ways to promote the use of innovative technologies to develop effective and safe medical products ▲ and promote the harmonization of medical product regulations using AI, which is jointly led by the MFDS and the US FDA. AI technology, which has been rapidly developing in recent years, is increasingly being utilized in the field of medical product development. In particular, with the advent of the borderless digital era based on the cloud, regulatory agencies in each country agree on the need for international harmonization of the regulatory system to promote the development of medical products using AI technology and support their rapid use on site. Against this backdrop, the signing of the MOC is significant as both organizations have recognized the importance of international harmonization in the digital health sector and have taken the first step for considering and discussing together to activate the development of medical products using AI technology. Building on the signing of this MOC, the two organizations will hold joint workshops to share experiences in using AI for medical product development with regulators from around the world and discuss how regulators can help advance the use of innovative technologies to deliver safe and effective medical products. MFDS will continue and develop in-depth discussions with the US FDA based on the joint workshop so that the results of the joint workshop can be used as a global standard. Based on this, we will strengthen regulatory support to revitalize the development and export of medical products using AI, such as refining the system more rationally and taking initiative in setting guidelines. Prior to this, on April 26 (local time), Minister Oh visited WellDoc, a US-based company that received approval for its digital therapeutics for the first time in the world. She shared her views on recent global market trends and future development directions in the digital health sector. In addition, on April 26 (local time), the Minister attended the '2023 APEC Medical Product Supply Chain Dialogue' event at the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), where she shared Korea's best policy practices for the pharmaceutical supply chain. She also discussed with USP representative Dr. Ronald Piervincenzi ways to actively cooperate with each other, including ways to promote joint research on innovative medicines and human resource exchange. The visit laid the groundwork for concrete and practical cooperation with the US FDA and USP in the field of medical products. MFDS will continue to expand cooperation on issues of common interest, such as clinical trials and food safety management. The Korea Medical Devices Industry Association and the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association commented on the bilateral cooperation that they welcome the MFDS’ advanced regulatory science activities and international harmonization efforts to support Korean companies' initiatives in overseas markets. MFDS will spare no efforts to expand our role on the global stage through multifaceted cooperation with food and drug regulatory agencies around the world. The Ministry will proactively prepare regulations for medical products applied with innovative future technologies so that Korea's regulations can soon become a global regulatory standard.

• 2023 VisitSeoul TV Seoul Trip Shorts Contest Is Now Open

  The 2023 VisitSeoul TV Seoul Trip Shorts Contest entry submission period has begun. The yearly contest is run by Seoul tourism's official YouTube channel operated by the Seoul Tourism Organization, VisitSeoul TV, and asks participants to submit original short-form video content that promotes Seoul tourism.The contest is solely focused on the submission of short-form video content, also referred to as “shorts”, which has seen an exponential increase in popularity over the last few years on social media. The anticipation for this year's submitted content is high following the resuming of international travel across the globe.With “Seoul Lifestyle” working as the designated theme of the contest, the goal of each participant is to boast their own interpretation of what it means to enjoy traveling in Seoul. The entry submission period began this past Monday, May 8, and is scheduled to run for approximately one month until Sunday, June 4. The contest is open to everyone and requires participants to create original short-form video content and post it on their personal YouTube channel with the following required hashtags: #VisitSeoulTV & #2023VisitSeoulTVShortsContest. Once content is posted, participants are then asked to complete and submit their entries using the contest Google Form link located on the official contest homepage on the Visit Seoul website. The grand prize will receive KRW 3 million in cash, with prize winnings totaling as much as KRW 10 million allotted to nine selected entries. For more information, please visit the official contest homepage.A representative from the Seoul Tourism Organization stated, “With the contest being opened to the international community this year, we look forward to a variety of original works from those who have visited Seoul at least once and will proactively utilize the content to help promote the alluring side of Seoul as a global tourist destination.”

  • In English
  • Korea Today

  2023-05-24

• Siemens Korea Conducts Volunteer Activities for Local Senior Citizens in Celebration of Family Month

  A global powerhouse in electrical engineering and electronics, Siemens Korea (Siemens Ltd. Seoul·SLS) announced that the company served meals to the elderly in celebration of Family Month, on May 19.About 40 employees from Siemens Korea as part of ‘The NANUM’ volunteer corps visited the Seoul Senior Welfare Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, presented a donation of KRW 10 million, and conducted a meal serving activity to approximately 1,000 seniors. As the first face-to-face volunteer service since the outbreak of the pandemic, employees delivered their warmest wishes for the health of the elderly who visited the center by preparing and serving ‘Samgye-tang’, Korean ginseng chicken soup, an immunity-boosting dish enjoyed in between seasonal changes. Prior to serving the meals, gifts were delivered to the elderly who visited the center to commemorate Parents’ Day on May 8.Mr. HaJoong Chung, President and CEO of Siemens Korea said, “After having been through such difficult times caused by the pandemic, we are extremely gratified to be able to resume our face-to-face volunteer activities once again. Based on the firm foundation of our ESG management principles, we are committed to acting as responsible corporate citizens for creating a more sustainable future for our local community.”The NANUM was launched in January 2013 to encourage SLS employees to participate in volunteer activities throughout the year. Volunteer activities performed during the past 10 years include distributing charcoal briquettes, environmental cleaning, delivering daily necessities, and serving meals to the needy. In 2022, The NANUM continued to support needy neighborhoods despite the pandemic in non-face-to-face ways.

  • In English
  • Korea Today

  2023-05-19

• Korea-U.S. High-Tech Alliance to Set Global Standards

  On the occasion of the state visit of President Yoon Suk Yeol, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of the Republic of Korea (Minister Oh Yu-Kyoung) met with Dr. Robert M. Califf, Commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to discuss cooperation between the two organizations in the field of digital health and signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC*) on April 27 (local time) to strengthen cooperation on medical products using artificial intelligence (AI). The signing of the MOC is part of the strengthening of cooperation in the Korea-U.S. high-tech alliance and supports the core and emerging technology cooperation agreed upon by the two leaders. It was also promoted as a follow-up to the meeting between Minister Oh Yu-Kyoung and Commissioner Robert Califf in March. Specifically, it was designed to ▲ share experiences in using AI for medical product development ▲ discuss ways to promote the use of innovative technologies to develop effective and safe medical products ▲ and promote the harmonization of medical product regulations using AI, which is jointly led by the MFDS and the US FDA. AI technology, which has been rapidly developing in recent years, is increasingly being utilized in the field of medical product development. In particular, with the advent of the borderless digital era based on the cloud, regulatory agencies in each country agree on the need for international harmonization of the regulatory system to promote the development of medical products using AI technology and support their rapid use on site. Against this backdrop, the signing of the MOC is significant as both organizations have recognized the importance of international harmonization in the digital health sector and have taken the first step for considering and discussing together to activate the development of medical products using AI technology. Building on the signing of this MOC, the two organizations will hold joint workshops to share experiences in using AI for medical product development with regulators from around the world and discuss how regulators can help advance the use of innovative technologies to deliver safe and effective medical products. MFDS will continue and develop in-depth discussions with the US FDA based on the joint workshop so that the results of the joint workshop can be used as a global standard. Based on this, we will strengthen regulatory support to revitalize the development and export of medical products using AI, such as refining the system more rationally and taking initiative in setting guidelines. Prior to this, on April 26 (local time), Minister Oh visited WellDoc, a US-based company that received approval for its digital therapeutics for the first time in the world. She shared her views on recent global market trends and future development directions in the digital health sector. In addition, on April 26 (local time), the Minister attended the '2023 APEC Medical Product Supply Chain Dialogue' event at the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), where she shared Korea's best policy practices for the pharmaceutical supply chain. She also discussed with USP representative Dr. Ronald Piervincenzi ways to actively cooperate with each other, including ways to promote joint research on innovative medicines and human resource exchange. The visit laid the groundwork for concrete and practical cooperation with the US FDA and USP in the field of medical products. MFDS will continue to expand cooperation on issues of common interest, such as clinical trials and food safety management. The Korea Medical Devices Industry Association and the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association commented on the bilateral cooperation that they welcome the MFDS’ advanced regulatory science activities and international harmonization efforts to support Korean companies' initiatives in overseas markets. MFDS will spare no efforts to expand our role on the global stage through multifaceted cooperation with food and drug regulatory agencies around the world. The Ministry will proactively prepare regulations for medical products applied with innovative future technologies so that Korea's regulations can soon become a global regulatory standard.

  • In English
  • Korea Today

  2023-05-05

• CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center Promotes Awareness for Mental Health

  May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center, a Dubai-based wellness center marks the campaign by introducing a new method to promote overall mental well-being, combining Hypnotherapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) in the therapy session. “These two powerful tools can be combined to enhance the effectiveness of therapy. The combination of hypnotherapy and NLP can be particularly effective for addressing a variety of mental health concerns, including self-limiting beliefs, addiction, feeling stuck, phobias, feeling overwhelmed, lifestyle management, and self-esteem to name a few,” according to Silvina Joseph, a Canadian Certified Hypnotherapist and NLP Practitioner and Founder of CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center. A testimonial from one of CHARGE’s clients Patricia K in Dubai says: quote "I had an excellent session with Silvina who helped me better understand, manage & release my stress. I find her approach to be compassionate, insightful, and effective. She showed me a clear plan to move forward.” She added: “I have learned to identify my old ways of reacting to situations and through interrupting my old patterns I was able to engage with situations with new behaviors which results in creating effective solutions. This new way of dealing with life situations has had a significant positive impact on my life. I gained clarity and insight into the underlying causes of my stress through Silvina's thoughtful questioning and active listening. I always leave our sessions feeling empowered and better equipped to cope with life's challenges using the tools I learned during our sessions.” Hypnotherapy is a proven method for treating a variety of issues, including weight loss, feeling worried or overwhelmed, lack of joy and interest in daily activities that were once enjoyable, sadness, feeling emptiness or feeling down, smoking cessation, self-empowerment, and much more. Neuro-Linguistic Programming or NLP is a type of therapy that focuses on the language and communication patterns that individuals use to create their perception of the world. By identifying and changing these patterns, individuals can improve their emotional and mental well-being. A hypnotherapist using NLP techniques guides an individual through a hypnosis session to identify negative thought patterns and positively reframe them. This can lead to improvements in mood, self-esteem, and overall well-being. “By accessing the subconscious mind and changing negative thought patterns, individuals can develop more positive and adaptive coping strategies, leading to improved mental and emotional health,” explains Joseph. Mental health is becoming a growing priority in society. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), funding for mental health research and treatment has increased, and more companies are implementing mental health support programs for their employees. CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center is revolutionizing corporate wellness programs with their innovative therapy approach in a group setting, aimed at promoting employee well-being, productivity, and work-life balance. The workshops are tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual, with a focus on enhancing confidence, eliminating self-limiting beliefs, overcoming procrastination, and maintaining motivation. Utilizing conversational hypnosis and NLP techniques, the group sessions and exercises are conducted in an experiential style, providing employees with practical tools and strategies to achieve the desired outcomes. Through this unique approach, CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center has helped employees achieve tangible results that positively impact both their professional and personal lives, as well as the work environment. With increased confidence and productivity, employees are better equipped to meet the demands of their jobs and maintain a healthy work-life balance. The result is a happier, more engaged workforce, contributing to a positive and thriving workplace culture. CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center is proud to be at the forefront of this revolution in corporate wellness, delivering real results and transforming the lives of employees. With the growing awareness and recognition of the importance of mental health in individuals and society as a whole, CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center hopes to support and assist those who are looking to achieve, maintain and improve health, happiness, and paths to success. “With this approach to therapy individuals can achieve greater emotional resilience and positive change in their lives that reflect positively in all aspects of their social, personal, and work life,” concludes Joseph. To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, Charge Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center is offering a 30-minute FREE consultation throughout May. During the consultation, individuals will have the opportunity to discuss their specific needs and learn more about how hypnotherapy and NLP can help. Sessions are conducted in the clinics in Jumeirah and Barsha Heights.

  • In English
  • Global News

  2023-04-27

• Hong Kong to Host Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023

  Asia’s very best bartenders and drinks industry talent will gather in Hong Kong this July as the city hosts Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards ceremony, one of the region’s most authoritative and prestigious surveys of cocktail tastes and trends. For its 2023 edition, the annual awards have partnered with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to bring the event to the city for the very first time on 18 July 2023.“We are delighted to host this year’s edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars in July, one of the region’s most significant celebrations of hospitality, which further affirms Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s foremost hub for cocktail experiences. We look forward to inspiring the region’s best bar talent with what Hong Kong has to offer,” Dr Pang Yiu-kai, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, says.Mark Sansom, Director of Content for Asia’s 50 Best Bars, says, “We are very excited to host the awards in Hong Kong this year. The city has one of the most dynamic and diverse bar scenes in Asia, and despite tight border controls in the last three years, it continues to lead with amazingly innovative bar experiences. By bringing the biggest event on Asia’s bar calendar to Hong Kong, we hope to shine the spotlight back on the city’s vibrant nightlife and contribute to driving travel and tourism.”Hong Kong is a breeding ground for cocktail-making talent and an ideal location for exchange of ideas among industry leaders. Eight Hong Kong bars are featured on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022. In the top three, two of which are bars proudly born and bred in Hong Kong, including Mexican-inspired bar COA in the No.1 spot, and Argo, at No.3, which serves creative cocktails using Asian-sourced ingredients.

  • In English
  • Global News

  2023-04-14

• International Digital Wellness Day to be Celebrated Globally on May 5, 2023

  The Digital Wellness Institute is pleased to bring you the fourth inaugural Digital Wellness Day on May 5, 2023. Last year, Digital Wellness Day reached 7 million people in 36 countries worldwide and this year, over 15 million are expected to participate in virtual and in-person gatherings across the globe. The mission of Digital Wellness Day is to provide free, research-based resources to support wellbeing in the digital era. This global movement and international holiday represents a time to “practice a pause” and optimize our relationship with technology in different areas ranging from mental health to productivity, workplace wellbeing, and beyond. On Digital Wellness Day, a growing network of 400+ Digital Wellness Educators, impact partners, and sponsors will host activations. A year-round educational toolkit is publicly available for diverse audiences to engage in mobilizing their own educational posts and events. Access the toolkit at www.digitalwellnessday.com. The day highlights the connective power of social media and digital devices, allowing participants to connect across countries. To this end, the toolkit features an approach of Digital Flourishing®: a positive psychology-based, mindful approach to technology usage that empowers individuals to take advantage of the benefits of technology while avoiding associated harms like zoom fatigue, negative social comparison, and more. On this day of celebration and reflection, the Digital Wellness Institute will also announce the first Certified Digitally Well University™ and first Certified Digitally Well Company™ in the world, setting a precedent for others to follow. These two entities will receive recognition for their dedication to and leadership in bringing positive digital practices to their communities through evidence-based interventions, assessment, and education. Additional information on how digital wellness principles have been integrated at these entities and how others may do the same will be available at www.digitalwellnessinstitute.com. Nina Hersher, Executive Director of Digital Wellness Day, shares her excitement for this celebration, “The purpose of this day is to inspire and empower individuals to take control of their relationship with technology. By stepping back to reflect on when, where, why and how we are engaging with devices, we can harness their power in a way that fuels versus fatigues us. This knowledge is integral to the Digital Wellness movement – where each of us can become an embodied change agent toward a culture of digital flourishing.” For anyone interested in hosting a virtual event celebrating Digital Wellness Day, partnering as a global sponsor, or learning more about keynotes, trainings and certifications through the Digital Wellness Institute, please contact info@digitalwellnessday.com.

  • In English
  • Global News

  2023-04-13

실시간 In English 기사

• 2023 VisitSeoul TV Seoul Trip Shorts Contest Is Now Open

  The 2023 VisitSeoul TV Seoul Trip Shorts Contest entry submission period has begun. The yearly contest is run by Seoul tourism's official YouTube channel operated by the Seoul Tourism Organization, VisitSeoul TV, and asks participants to submit original short-form video content that promotes Seoul tourism.The contest is solely focused on the submission of short-form video content, also referred to as “shorts”, which has seen an exponential increase in popularity over the last few years on social media. The anticipation for this year's submitted content is high following the resuming of international travel across the globe.With “Seoul Lifestyle” working as the designated theme of the contest, the goal of each participant is to boast their own interpretation of what it means to enjoy traveling in Seoul. The entry submission period began this past Monday, May 8, and is scheduled to run for approximately one month until Sunday, June 4. The contest is open to everyone and requires participants to create original short-form video content and post it on their personal YouTube channel with the following required hashtags: #VisitSeoulTV & #2023VisitSeoulTVShortsContest. Once content is posted, participants are then asked to complete and submit their entries using the contest Google Form link located on the official contest homepage on the Visit Seoul website. The grand prize will receive KRW 3 million in cash, with prize winnings totaling as much as KRW 10 million allotted to nine selected entries. For more information, please visit the official contest homepage.A representative from the Seoul Tourism Organization stated, “With the contest being opened to the international community this year, we look forward to a variety of original works from those who have visited Seoul at least once and will proactively utilize the content to help promote the alluring side of Seoul as a global tourist destination.”

  • In English
  • Korea Today

  2023-05-24

• Siemens Korea Conducts Volunteer Activities for Local Senior Citizens in Celebration of Family Month

  A global powerhouse in electrical engineering and electronics, Siemens Korea (Siemens Ltd. Seoul·SLS) announced that the company served meals to the elderly in celebration of Family Month, on May 19.About 40 employees from Siemens Korea as part of ‘The NANUM’ volunteer corps visited the Seoul Senior Welfare Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, presented a donation of KRW 10 million, and conducted a meal serving activity to approximately 1,000 seniors. As the first face-to-face volunteer service since the outbreak of the pandemic, employees delivered their warmest wishes for the health of the elderly who visited the center by preparing and serving ‘Samgye-tang’, Korean ginseng chicken soup, an immunity-boosting dish enjoyed in between seasonal changes. Prior to serving the meals, gifts were delivered to the elderly who visited the center to commemorate Parents’ Day on May 8.Mr. HaJoong Chung, President and CEO of Siemens Korea said, “After having been through such difficult times caused by the pandemic, we are extremely gratified to be able to resume our face-to-face volunteer activities once again. Based on the firm foundation of our ESG management principles, we are committed to acting as responsible corporate citizens for creating a more sustainable future for our local community.”The NANUM was launched in January 2013 to encourage SLS employees to participate in volunteer activities throughout the year. Volunteer activities performed during the past 10 years include distributing charcoal briquettes, environmental cleaning, delivering daily necessities, and serving meals to the needy. In 2022, The NANUM continued to support needy neighborhoods despite the pandemic in non-face-to-face ways.

  • In English
  • Korea Today

  2023-05-19

• KDCA Lowers COVID-19 Alert Level

  The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced today that the COVID-19 alert level will be lowered from the current ‘critical’ (level 4) to ‘alert’ (level 3) from 1st June. Major response measures With the downgrade of the alert level, the KDCA has also announced the mitigation of the COVID-19 prevention and control measures such as mandatory isolation and indoor-mask wearing requirement. The 7-day isolation period for a confirmed case will be reduced to 5 days, and isolation will be recommended for a confirmed case but no longer be mandatory. However, isolation measures in medical institutions and infection-vulnerable facilities need to be maintained to protect vulnerable populations. Indoor-mask wearing will be switched to a recommendation in medical clinics and drug stores. However, mask wearing will remain mandatory in hospital-level medical institutions and infection-vulnerable facilities offering admission. The mandatory preemptive diagnostic testing imposed once a week upon people working at infection-vulnerable facilities will be mitigated in a way to be applied when necessary: for instance, when those in such facilities show suspected symptoms or many of them are close contacts. People admitted to such facilities will be allowed to have a meal with their families on a face-to-face visit, as long as infection prevention rules are complied with. PCR testing for arrivals at the border, recommended to take within three days after arrival, will be lifted. Mitigating all the response measures mentioned above earlier than 1st June will be reviewed if relevant administrative processes have been completed fast. Medical response and government support The medical response system and government support (e.g. treatment fees, etc.) will be implemented as in the initial plan of the ‘roadmap for COVID-19 alert level adjustment,’ even though major COVID-19 response measures will be mitigated earlier. This is to reduce burdens on people and minimize their health damage. Also, publication of statistics on confirmed cases, currently made on a daily basis, will be done once a week. COVID-19 surveillance Importantly, the KDCA will adopt a COVID-19 positive case surveillance system when the class of COVID-19 is lowered from the current Class 2 to Class 4 infectious disease. The system, which will be in operation temporarily until the end of this year, collects clinical data (e.g. gender, age, symptoms, etc.) from COVID-19 positive cases, thus enabling identifying the levels and trends of infections. The system also collects and analyzes pathogenic information, thus making it possible to closely monitor the infection spread.

  • In English
  • Korea Today

  2023-05-11

• Korea-U.S. High-Tech Alliance to Set Global Standards

  On the occasion of the state visit of President Yoon Suk Yeol, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of the Republic of Korea (Minister Oh Yu-Kyoung) met with Dr. Robert M. Califf, Commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to discuss cooperation between the two organizations in the field of digital health and signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC*) on April 27 (local time) to strengthen cooperation on medical products using artificial intelligence (AI). The signing of the MOC is part of the strengthening of cooperation in the Korea-U.S. high-tech alliance and supports the core and emerging technology cooperation agreed upon by the two leaders. It was also promoted as a follow-up to the meeting between Minister Oh Yu-Kyoung and Commissioner Robert Califf in March. Specifically, it was designed to ▲ share experiences in using AI for medical product development ▲ discuss ways to promote the use of innovative technologies to develop effective and safe medical products ▲ and promote the harmonization of medical product regulations using AI, which is jointly led by the MFDS and the US FDA. AI technology, which has been rapidly developing in recent years, is increasingly being utilized in the field of medical product development. In particular, with the advent of the borderless digital era based on the cloud, regulatory agencies in each country agree on the need for international harmonization of the regulatory system to promote the development of medical products using AI technology and support their rapid use on site. Against this backdrop, the signing of the MOC is significant as both organizations have recognized the importance of international harmonization in the digital health sector and have taken the first step for considering and discussing together to activate the development of medical products using AI technology. Building on the signing of this MOC, the two organizations will hold joint workshops to share experiences in using AI for medical product development with regulators from around the world and discuss how regulators can help advance the use of innovative technologies to deliver safe and effective medical products. MFDS will continue and develop in-depth discussions with the US FDA based on the joint workshop so that the results of the joint workshop can be used as a global standard. Based on this, we will strengthen regulatory support to revitalize the development and export of medical products using AI, such as refining the system more rationally and taking initiative in setting guidelines. Prior to this, on April 26 (local time), Minister Oh visited WellDoc, a US-based company that received approval for its digital therapeutics for the first time in the world. She shared her views on recent global market trends and future development directions in the digital health sector. In addition, on April 26 (local time), the Minister attended the '2023 APEC Medical Product Supply Chain Dialogue' event at the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), where she shared Korea's best policy practices for the pharmaceutical supply chain. She also discussed with USP representative Dr. Ronald Piervincenzi ways to actively cooperate with each other, including ways to promote joint research on innovative medicines and human resource exchange. The visit laid the groundwork for concrete and practical cooperation with the US FDA and USP in the field of medical products. MFDS will continue to expand cooperation on issues of common interest, such as clinical trials and food safety management. The Korea Medical Devices Industry Association and the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association commented on the bilateral cooperation that they welcome the MFDS’ advanced regulatory science activities and international harmonization efforts to support Korean companies' initiatives in overseas markets. MFDS will spare no efforts to expand our role on the global stage through multifaceted cooperation with food and drug regulatory agencies around the world. The Ministry will proactively prepare regulations for medical products applied with innovative future technologies so that Korea's regulations can soon become a global regulatory standard.

  • In English
  • Korea Today

  2023-05-05

• Korea, Wonderland?

  Handing out hand-sewn masks, reducing rent, making donations, sending lunchboxes and volunteering at medical facilities… How have Koreans been responding to the COVID-19 outbreak? Watch the video to find out.

  • In English
  • Korea Today

  2023-05-02