LifeStyle

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  Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine wins state approval in S. Korea SEOUL -- South Korean state regulators have approved the use of a COVID-19 vaccine produced by U.S. biotech company Moderna, saying there was no major safety problem as a result of reviewing safety and effectiveness. Moderna has agreed to ship vaccine doses for 20 million people. Moderna became the fourth company to sell COVID-19 vaccines in South Korea after AstraZeneca PLC, Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. 2021-05-21
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  Researchers use electrostatic spray technology to remove viruses and fine dust floating in the air SEOUL -- A state research institute has successfully demonstrated the performance of air purifiers using electrostatic spray technology and high voltage to generate hydrogen peroxide and ozone water that can remove germs and viruses floating in the air. Unlike conventional air purifiers, filters were not used in a method that can dramatically lower maintenance costs. Electrostatic spray technology is a new way to apply clean 2021-05-04
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  SK Telecom teams up with major hospital to develop AI video diagnostic assistance solution SEOUL -- A major hospital in South Korea will work with SK Telecom to develop a video diagnostic assistance solution using artificial intelligence that would reduce the burden on medical staff by diagnosing disease conditions more quickly and accurately and allow patients to receive faster treatment. The Catholic Medical Center (CMC) with 6,300 beds in eight hospitals will provide high-quality medical big data and verify the solution to improve completeness 2021-04-30
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  Genome information of some 10,000 people decoded in UNIST-led project SEOUL -- A five-year project led by a research institute in the southern city of Ulsan to collect and decrypt genome information of some 10,000 people has been completed for precise genetic disease analysis. The project is aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of South Korea's bio-industry by building decoded genome information as key public data. The project involving hospitals and university research teams began in 2016, led by the Ulsan National Institu 2021-04-26
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  Two COVID-19 self-testing kits win conditional approval for domestic use SEOUL -- Two homemade diagnostic kits for self-testing secured conditional government approval for domestic use, marking a major shift in the policy of South Korea's anti-epidemic control center which has maintained a conservative attitude in introducing convenient rapid test kits in its fight against COVID-19. The two devices have already been used abroad. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said it has approved two antigen self-testing kits devel 2021-04-23
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  5G-based quarantine robot makes commercial debut at university hospital SEOUL -- A 5G-based robot featuring guidance and quarantine functions made its commercial debut at a university hospital by combining a real-time location tracking system and abilities to analyze the density of visitors for social distancing. The robot allows citizens to visit the hospital without any anxiety about COVID-19 infection SK Telecom (SKT) said it has established a quarantine robot solution at Yongin Severance Hospital operated by Yonsei Universi 2021-04-19
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  Huons consortium to produce Russian vaccine Sputnik in S. Korea SEOUL -- A consortium led by Huons Global, a pharmaceutical company based in South Korea, has signed a technology transfer contract to produce Sputnik V, a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Russia's state research center. Pilot production is set to begin in August, and the consortium will build facilities capable of producing more than 100 million doses a month. Huons is the second South Korean company to seal a contract with Russia's sovereign wealt 2021-04-16
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  Namyang apologizes for causing misunderstanding about Bulgaris' anti-virus effect SEOUL -- Namyang Dairy Products, a major dairy food producer in South Korea, apologized for causing public misunderstanding about the anti-virus effect of its fermented milk brand Bulgaris after a government body called for legal action to punish the company for deceiving consumers with "hyped" publicity. Bulgaris contains complex strains such as lactobacillus, acidophilus and bulgaricus, more than regular fermented milk products. The effect of probiot 2021-04-16
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  Bulgaris fermented milk causes debate over anti-virus effect SEOUL -- Bulgaris, a fermented milk brand produced by South Korea's major dairy food producer Namyang Dairy Products, was at the center of talk among stock market investors, scientists and health officials after sponsored researchers claimed to have verified the effect of inhibiting the proliferation of influenza and COVID-19 viruses in laboratory experiments. Bulgaris has maintained its top position in the domestic fermented milk market since Namyang released it i 2021-04-14
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  Donepezil dementia patch awaits state approval for commercialization in S. Korea SEOUL -- Donepezil is a generic medication widely used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. It is commonly taken by mouth. A Donepezil patch awaits state approval for commercialization in South Korea. Compared to an oral medication taken once a day, the patch featuring improved drug compliance and convenience can be attached twice a week. Celltrion, a leading biotech company in South Korea, signed a domestic joint copyright contract with Icure Pharm 2021-04-13
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  Hanmi's short bowel syndrome drug wins FDA fast track designation SEOUL -- Hanmi Pharmaceutical's rare drug for the treatment of short bowel syndrome has won "fast track" designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Fast track is a process designed to facilitate development and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. Hanmi Pharmaceutical, a major drug maker in South Korea, said it would start second-phase clinical trials abroad soon 2021-04-07
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  EDGC aims to develop community platform based on genomic data SEOUL -- Eone Diagnomics Genome Center, an international joint venture which develops technology for genome analysis, tied up with a cloud-based genomics healthcare web portal to develop a community platform based on genomic data that would allow users to share solutions through communication on the results of genetic analysis. Eone Diagnomics Genome Center (EDGC) and Mygenomebox (MGB) would establish a genetic network service (GNS) and secure competitiveness in 2021-04-07
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  Macrogen wins state approval to go ahead with direct-to-consumer genetic testing SEOUL -- Macrogen, a biotech company and expert in genomic analysis in South Korea, has secured state approval to go ahead with direct-to-consumer genetic testing that provides people access to their genetic information without necessarily involving healthcare providers or health insurance companies. Genetic testing is done through healthcare providers who collect and send DNA samples and share test results with patients. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic test 2021-04-06
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  Naver's webtoon gains popularity in Europe with German service SEOUL -- The web cartoon wing of Naver, a top web portal service operator and IT company in South Korea, has launched a paid German service. It is the third European language after Spain and France. With its service in Germany, which is considered the largest cartoon market in Europe, Naver would accelerate efforts to gain a bigger share in the global webtoon market. Web cartoons, widely known as webtoons or webcomics, are digital comic books created to fit into web o 2021-04-01
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  EOFlow's smartphone app for wearable insulin delivery wins medical device approval SEOUL -- A smartphone application for wearable insulin delivery, which was developed by EOFlow, a provider of wearable drug delivery solutions, has obtained medical device approval in South Korea. The app can monitor and control the insulin injection of a tubeless, wearable pump. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has approved Narsha, which is known to be the world's first app that can control insulin injection from a wearable pump, EOFlow said in a state 2021-03-26
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  Dongkook Pharmaceutical to test Teicoplanin antibiotic as COVID-19 treatment SEOUL -- A South Korean pharmaceutical company will apply for state approval to carry out clinical trials and prove that Teicoplanin is effective in treating COVID-19 patients. Researchers believe the antibiotic used for the treatment of pneumonia can be administered with existing drugs to enhance the effect of treatment. Teicoplanin is an antibiotic used in the prophylaxis and treatment of serious infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, inc 2021-03-18
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  SK Bioscience gets CEPI's additional fund for research into COVID-19 virus variants SEOUL -- To secure COVID-19 vaccines capable of preventing mutant viruses, SK Bioscience will receive an additional research fund of up to $14.2 million from an international foundation that finances vaccine research projects, by utilizing the development platform of its vaccine candidate code-named GBP510 which is at the stage of clinical trials. As a result, SK Bioscience, a partner for South Korea's state project to develop COVID-19 vaccines, can receive a t 2021-03-11
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  Kakao Mobility jumps into pet taxi business thru acquisition of domestic startup SEOUL -- The mobility service wing of South Korea's internet service giant Kakao jumped into a pet taxi business through the acquisition of a domestic startup that has gained popularity since its debut in 2016. South Korea has seen rapid growth in food and service markets for cats and dogs, with pet hotels emerging as a lucrative business. South Korea's first pet taxi startup, Pet Me Up, said in a public notice posted on its website on March 9 that its ser 2021-03-09
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  Scuba diving in Cebu cited as most viewed content in LG Uplus VR platform SEOUL -- A scuba diving series showing sea creatures in the open waters of the Philippine island province of Cebu was chosen as the content watched the most viewed content in 2020 through a virtual reality content application launched by LG Uplus, a mobile carrier in South Korea. More and more people want vicarious satisfaction with virtual reality because traveling abroad is virtually impossible due to COVID-19. Cebu, one of the top tourist destinations in t 2021-03-02
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  State hospital succeeds in inserting wireless pacemakers into hearts of bradyarrhythmia patients SEOUL -- A medical team at Seoul National University Hospital has succeeded in inserting small wireless pacemakers into the hearts of two patients with bradyarrhythmia in the first operation of its kind in South Korea where artificial pacemakers are used for thousands of people every year. The wireless pacemaker eliminates potential medical complications arising from a chest incision and from wires running from a conventional pacemake 2021-02-26