Over the past five years, 56% of cold-related illness cases occurred among people aged 60 and older.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reported 1,914 cases, with 1,071 involving seniors and 12.2% linked to dementia.
During winter, it is crucial to limit outdoor activities and follow preventive measures to avoid cold-related illnesses.
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment is recruiting businesses for a regulatory sandbox on pyrolysis recycling of waste plastics from January 19 to February 27.
Key projects include demonstration of pyrolysis feedstock and residue recycling, e-labeling for household chemicals, and upcycling of agricultural by-products.
Selected participants will conduct demonstrations for up to two years, with government support of up to 120 million KRW and regulatory exemptions.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that doctor helicopters and Mobile Intensive Care Units (MICUs) transported 1,414 critical emergency patients in 2025.
Doctor helicopters with specialists improved survival rates for 1,075 patients, while MICU pilot operations safely transferred 339 patients, including newborns.
The government plans to further strengthen the emergency transport system by adding more helicopters and MICUs.
The Korea Fire Agency announced on the 16th a plan to implement ten strategic tasks using AI and advanced technologies.
Key initiatives include an integrated information network, unmanned firefighting equipment, and boosting K-Fire exports, with R&D funding increased by 65% to 50.3 billion KRW.
These advancements aim to enhance disaster response, improve firefighter safety, and accelerate entry into international markets.
On January 16, highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) was confirmed at a layer farm in Dangjin, Chungnam, prompting authorities to strengthen biosecurity.
This marks the 35th case of HPAI in the 2025/26 winter season, with 7 cases reported nationwide in January alone.
The government has issued movement restrictions, intensified disinfection, and extended one-on-one farm monitoring to prevent further spread.
In the second week of 2026, norovirus cases reached a five-year high of 548, with children aged 0-6 accounting for 39.6% of patients.
Main transmission routes include contaminated food and person-to-person contact, with group infections frequently occurring in childcare facilities.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency stresses proper handwashing, thorough cooking, and environmental disinfection, especially when cases arise.