To test the health benefits of oxygenation, the researchers gave subjects 19.5 percent alcohol uncarbonated drinks and 19.5 percent alcohol oxygenated drinks at doses of 240 ml and 360 ml (about as much alcohol as would be in 2.5 and 4 80-proof shots, respectively).  
Intriguingly, the patients indulging in the oxygenated beverages sobered up 20 to 30 minutes faster.  The more oxygen, the faster the return to sobriety; patients drinking 360 ml of 20 ppm oxygen spirits returned to sobriety 23.3 minutes faster than those drinking non-oxygenated spirits, and when the oxygen levels were bumped to 25 ppm, the participants sobered 27 minutes faster.
The study also found that those drinking the oxygenated liquors had a lower incidence of hangovers than those consuming standard alcohol.  Those who did experience hangovers found them to be less severe.

DailyTech – Korean Researchers Develop Safer Alcohol Which Lessens Hangovers

You may know that ATEK can’t legally fund-raise above a certain limit; however, they can get word out when people need help.

Teachers in need

In this weeks issue we would like to present a special case for your consideration.

Kenneth Hash is an American from Bloomington, Indiana. He is 46 years old and has been in Korea for almost 12 years now. Ken is currently a middle school teacher in Namdae.

I first came to know Ken in August/September of this year while he was hospitalized for a massive leg infection. Ken was unfortunate enough to get an insect bite in August. Within days Ken was in the hospital with a massive leg infection that required several surgeries and still to this day requires weekly treatments. Ken’s hospitalization lasted for almost a month. It should have been longer.

While Ken was hospitalized his school informed him that he: 1) Would be fired if he did not return to work no later than September 11th, 2009; and 2) That he would not be paid for part or all of the time he was hospitalized. The doctors wanted Ken to remain in the hospital until September 18th, 2009 at the earliest. His school then convinced the doctors to release him early so they could put him back to work. Due to this early release Ken’s illness and treatment are still ongoing and he has endured several complications due to not receiving proper levels of care and treatment.

Because of the seriousness of his illness and the treatment methods required Ken’s out of pocket (after insurance) medical bills have surpassed 3,000,000KRW. This has placed a huge burden on him both mentally and financially, which has only been exacerbated by the actions of his school. To pay the expenses for his treatment Ken has been forced to sell everything he owns and to borrow money from his co-teachers just to be allowed to leave the hospital.

Since first becoming acquainted with Ken I have reflected many times on how easily this could have been me, my wife, or one of our friends. It could just as easily have happened to any one of you.
I am asking our membership to reflect on this story and to consider if it were you. I personally think it is incumbent upon us in the foreigner community to support each other when needed. Who else is there! With this in mind I am asking the members of our province to consider donating some funds to assist Ken. Small contributions of 25,000w-50,000w-75,000w-100,000w would go a long way to alleviating this situation for him. Contributions are very easy to do and can be made directly to Ken via direct deposit to his bank account at NongHyup Bank. The account number is 23508952006259. To contribute simply take this information (the name and bank account number) to your bank and ask them to transfer whatever amount you wish to contribute. I did.

I think we all realize that if you expect to receive help in life you must be willing to also give it. I thank you in advance for your consideration. Any inquiries on this matter may be made directly to John Wurth, Gyeonggido Council Chair, at wurthjt. I would like to personally handle any contacts to Ken to avoid unnecessary stress and burden during this time. Thank you for your understanding.

It is a very small sample – though not restricted to E2 Visa holders it equates to about 1% of the 20000 Language teachers in Korea. Neither should it be taken as an impartial poll – the questions were not checked for bias before the survey started (and indeed some changed during the survey as well), and of course the subjects were self-selecting.

So as an instrument for data gathering it is flawed.

I think it does however give us an interesting snapshot about who we as a population group are, where we come from, what we do, and where we might be heading.

The data collected is thus presented here with out too much clarification or interpretation. You may use it / reproduce it if you wish under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence.

First the more objective statistical type things:

Gender Breakdown

Age

Nationality

Length of Stay in Korea

Visa Status

Place of Work

So we might extrapolate that your average foreigner teacher in Korea is Male and aged between 26 and 30, hails from The United States, has been here 2 years, holds an E2 visa and Works at a Hakwon. (I think I skewed the results in terms of workplace by emailing all my fellow elementary school teachers and getting them to fill in the survey).

The second part of the survey asked less scientific questions. Nevertheless they provide some interesting results. The first Question asked:

Why did you come to Korea?

Where do you get most of your information on happenings in Korea?

(People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.)

It is no real surprise that K-Blogland features greatly in how people get their info about what’s going on in Korea such as events, festivals and news etc.

Which, if any, of these blogs / sites have you visited in the last month?

(People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.)

List any Korean related magazines you read.

Along with the usual sources the survey also looked at other media – in particular Magazines that are based in and are about Korea. It pretty much confirmed what I already thought – in that GROOVE and the more recent 10 Magazine are popular sources of information, and there is a niche being filled in Daegu and Busan with Daegu Pockets and Busan Haps respectively, there are obviously a number of other – probably smaller print run magazines out there that people are reading.

Two questions asked survey participants to rank the sense of “community” the feel as an expat in Korea.

(1 – no community, 5 – a super connected community.)

And also to rank the adequacy of services available to them as expats in Korea:

(1 – inadequate, 5 – more than adequate)

When it comes to potential activities that Expats would like to get involved in with other Expats it seems there is an untapped market in Korean movies with English subtitles (despite the best efforts of Paul at Hub of Sparkle.)

Finally survey participants were asked for suggestions on what services they missed, weren’t available to them or could be improved. A number stand out including:

An English version of Naver.com, and related to that the extension of the Korean Real Name System to Expats. (i.e. getting your Alien Number to work when registering for Korean sites).

A centralised “clearing house” for government information, forms and procedures in English. While these things are available, in English, they are often wide spread across The Internet. And in a similar vein:

“Clear legal advice, particularly related to visas, assistance setting up basic accounts and financial transactions, greater compliance with international standards for internet and telecom”

Which is a running theme among all the comments left along with better access to Korean Language classes. But apparently things are better than they have been:

Things are SOOO much better than when I first came here, but still don’t compare to the services Koreans could enjoy if they traveled to Western countries…

and

Other than being an ugly white guy who can now f**k model-quality Korean chicks, not too much.

There’s always one isn’t there.

Suicide booths

Ok – there’s always one, or two, isn’t there.

Another theme seems to be better access to legal advice in English. Predictably about labour related issues, but also things like trusts, investments and wills

So there you have it. An interesting snapshot of our “Community” at one point in time. Like I say it is not the most perfect instrument of data collection, but in lieu of a Government Census, which foreigners seemed to be left out of anyway, it’s a start.

Now for those in the know to put some of this data to work….

The paper notes that the government continues to encourage increased personal hygiene practices. (Who woulda thought you’d need to tell people to wash their hands? But then 1 minute in a mens room in Korea and the number of people who leave without washing their hands might change your mind.)

In addition the mighty Chosun notes that these just aren’t enough and comes to the seemingly obvious conclusion that if you have a healthy diet you less likely to get sick. (Who woulda thought you’d need to tell people to…never mind!)

Once the virus invades the body, strengthening the immune system is the best way to fight back. People with strong immune systems are less likely to develop serious symptoms when they are infected.

It then lists five different foods and the reasons that they fight H1N1 and will improve you’re diet:

1) Kiwifruit.

The sometime neglected Antipodean fruit is a rich source of Vitamin C, and indeed one Kiwifruit contains a day’s recommended vitamin C intake. Good for fighting off not just H1N1 but the common Cold too.

2) Ginger

Another personal favourite – Ginger and it’s active ingredient Gingerol is both an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.

3) Oysters and Beef. (And Beans and Squid)

There have apparently been studies that show zinc, if taken within 24 hours of flu onset, will alleviate symptoms. Oysters, beef, beans and squid are all rich sources of the compound.

4) Red Snow Crab

Chitosan [Abundant in Red Snow Crab] is recognized by the Korea Food and Drug Administration as a healthy substance which strengthens the immune system

Who knew the Korean FDA was on the “Eat this – it will increase your ‘Stamina’” crowd?!

5) Mackerel (Omega-3 Fatty Acid)

Fish! Fish! The family dish!

A good anti-inflammatory The Chosun recommends 2-4g/day. (That’s a lot of Mackerel!)

I would note that these are some pretty pricey ingredients. I don’t think I will be holding an H1N1 buffet any time soon.

At least not without a sneeze guard.

South Korea plans to vaccinate 10 million people against influenza A by the end of this year to stem the rapid spread of the disease that has so far claimed three lives in the country.

Health and Welfare Minister Jeon Jae-hee said of the 13.3 million people, including young children and pregnant women, who are most at risk, about 75 percent will be vaccinated by December.

She said Seoul has contacted Britain’s GlaxoSmithKline and secured an order for 10 million doses of an anti-viral vaccine, with more to be bought next year.

Jeon said full-scale vaccinations will begin in November with 27 percent of the country’s 48 million population to receive protection by February 2010.

Authorities said that medical and quarantine personnel, people suffering from various diseases that inhibit the body’s immune systems, young children, pregnant women, students and soldiers are most exposed to the new strain of the flu that have affected most countries in the world.

Jeon also said that South Korea plans to stockpile its Tamiflu reserve so it can treat 10 million people at any given time.

Um, right, sure. I love the idea of a ‘full-scale’ vaccination program including exactly 27 percent of the population. Oh yes, and let’s get young children and students, but not the teachers. Nah – let’s keep them on a one-week home quarantine just in case the foreigners are dirty.

Crossposted on Chris in South Korea

As police crackdowns on brothels in traditional red light zones have been intensifying after the special anti-prostitution law was passed in 2004, desperate owners have found creative ways to fly below the police radar. Brothel owners have swiftly changed the faces of their businesses, which masquerade as massage parlors or telephone chat rooms, but authorities have also clamped down on these new sex shops. Amid this game of cat and mouse, a new kind of business has appeared — “Kiss Bang” or kissing rooms, where men pay to kiss female workers.

In Gangnam – one area where ads for office ‘massages’ often number in the dozens or hundreds in a couple blocks – I recently saw the first flyer for a 키스 방 (kiss room). On it are directions, prices, and a phone number. How much more do you need to send an agent in and see what kind of ‘offers’ you get? It’s not entrapment if they offer it first without asking… right? One can’t just show up at the door with a uniform and badge and ask to see what’s going on.

According to a triennial study conducted by the Ministry of Gender Equality in 2007, the number of brothels in Korea decreased 41 percent, from 1,679 shops in 2004 to 992 in 2007. Also, the number of women working in the sex industry decreased from 5,567 in 2004 to 2,523, dropping 55 percent. However, the number of massage parlors and other businesses suspected of engaging in the sex trade nearly doubled to 9,451 in 2007 from 5,481 in 2005. The number of kissing rooms in operation, however, remains a mystery. “We don’t know how many of these kissing rooms there are across the country, but they are proliferating quickly,” said Shin Hei-soo, co-representative of the NMBP and associate professor at Ewha Woman’s University’s Graduate School of International Studies.

Somehow I doubt they register for business licenses.

Although one Web site says kissing rooms offer no sexual services beyond kissing, anti-prostitution civic groups are worried that additional arrangements can easily be provided by kissing rooms that could lead to prostitution. “We are worried that it is highly likely that after kissing, additional, actual sex might be arranged,” added Shin. But it is difficult for authorities to crack down on this new type of business because there are no laws against kissing for money.

Well… Not convinced there needs to be a law for it, especially when so many unintended consequences come to mind (Nine-year-old Johnny pays eight-year-old Jenny a dollar for a peck on the cheek; a fundraiser event ala Revenge of the Nerds style, and the like).

Police who participate in crackdowns say it is not easy to find these clandestine businesses. Kissing rooms receive clients only through online reservations, and surveillance cameras are installed in front of their buildings, making raids difficult. “It is hard to find where these shops are located. Besides, even if we can find the shops at all, they have strict entrance rules. We don’t have enough manpower, and there are not enough reports from citizens,” said a policeman, who asked not to be named.

Are these the same police that line the street by the thousands whenever a protest might happen?!? On more than one occasion the police have outnumbered the protesters. If you think there’s 30 people in the building, send 300 police officers storming up every staircase, elevator, and surround the entire frikkin’ building. Take everyone in for questioning, DNA tests, etc. etc. – the shoe will fit some of them. Harassment? Maybe. It’s a slippery slope, and one that would need to approached carefully to avoid a civil rights lawsuit.

Strict entrance rules? Um, right – seriously? You might need to dust off that officer’s manual and review the section about where a police officer is allowed to break the rules in an emergency? Anybody seen a police car screaming through a red light? Blocking entrance to civilians to an otherwise open area during a fire or other emergency for safety purposes? I’m not surprised to hear the excuses, and I’m not surprised to see the ineffectiveness of the Korean police force. Except in large groups during a protest or riot (oh my gosh, there’s more than five people in a group! Send over 50 officers in full riot gear!) or doing Breathalyzer tests late at night (smart thing to do), I have seen very very little routine police presence in my 1 1/2 years here.

It’s anecdotally known that the police have long been under the control of the ruling party – whichever party that may be. A timeline of Google News brings up many of the same stories again and again – police responses to protests or the threat (perceived or real) of the day. It’s true that there’s strength in numbers, but police officers should have the ability to react to things they see and deal with a situation instead of hoping it’ll go away so they can ignore it.

Personally, I’d try to enforce the laws already on the books – especially those relating to public health. We’ve got a swine flu epidemic and people swapping spit (and money) – these women might need to be quarantined at a hospital for at least a week or so. For the public health, of course. Hey, if you’re going to do it to (mostly upstanding) English teachers and other people entering your country, why not quarantine some people much more likely to be spreading it around?

Crossposted on Chris in South Korea

From the article:

These foreign English teachers [getting tested for HIV] should have been held up as examples of correct behavior and prudent action for responsible Korean citizens everywhere; instead they were vilified as depraved and dangerous.

…Rather than promoting the idea that everyone, Koreas and non-Koreans alike, should seek voluntary testing for HIV, this group’s leader is determined to manipulate the public’s fear in order to promote his own agenda, even if it means putting the Korean population at risk.

…And as long as there are groups that seek to increase that stigma, prejudice and discrimination by portraying AIDS as a “foreigners’ disease,” Koreans living with HIV/AIDS will remain undiagnosed and unknowingly spread the disease in society.

As the Seoul High Court explained in the landmark “Heo” decision, “the most dangerous thing for society is not persons who are infected with HIV and aware of their status, but persons who are infected with the disease and unaware of their status.”

Go read.

There is also a letter from Human Rights Watch to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea on Korea’s bullcrap HIV laws.

Holy crap. This is one of the stories so embarrassing that Korean Tourism should suspend operations and send all its people over to work in Korean mental health programs to improve them, before they continue promoting Korea in conventional ways.

Canada just awarded refugee status to a paranoid-schizophrenic Korean woman, not because her church was out to get her, as her original complaint went, but because Korean mental health care is so poor that it amounts to persecution.

Yep. You read that right. Korean health care is so poor that Canada awarded refugee status to a Korean woman. Vancouver Sun reports.

from the article:

South Koreans with mental illness are treated as an extreme underclass, with one hospital room sleeping 100 women with just 15 mats and no room for personal belongings, according to a letter submitted to the board and written by Daniel Fisher, executive director the National Empowerment Center in Lawrence, Mass.

However, before we get too high on Canada as the greatest country in the world…read some of the comments below the article. Sure, it’s no Korea Times comment board, and some of the people might be right about Canada’s ability to care for its own mental illness patients, but it’s still pretty bad.

Seeing as I’m a dude, I’m certainly not qualified to write a post about women’s safety in Korea; however, Hwarangi has both the experience and the sensitivity to do exactly that, and I hope a lot of people find her discussion of this sometimes difficult topic very useful.

Thanks, Hwarangi.

Now everybody, go read.

And if anybody else would like to add their two bits, you can send it to me and I’ll publish it here and credit you, you can post it on your own blog, let me know, and I’ll link you, or add your thoughts or ideas in the comments.  Let’s just make sure the comments remain respectful on this very serious issue, and we try to avoid flip “tips” like “don’t wear short skirts, durrr,” which (in case you didn’t notice) have embedded in them the assumption that if a woman hasn’t followed the “rules,” she’s brought it on herself, which is bull.

Mike McStay, another blogger from Daejeon, is also in a tight spot health-wise.  There’s something weird going on in his stomach, and the word “tumor” figures prominently.  You can read Mike’s own morphine-addled blog post about it here, but the long and short of it is that he needs help, too.  Don’t forget this cat, even though Matt had a head-start. There’s a fund-raising party for him here on Facebook, and Brian in JND has more info as well, including banking information.

And readers: make sure you have health insurance.  Make. Effing. Sure.  It won’t cover everything, but it’ll cover a lot, and you don’t want to be stuck up sick creek without a paddle far from home.