India marks Yoga Day in Seoul
The United Nations General Assembly designated June 21 as the International Day of Yoga in 2014, with the support of 175 member states.
This year's theme, 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health,' emphasized the interconnectedness between personal well-being and the health of the planet.
According to the embassy, yoga's origins trace back approximately 3,000 years, with its principles codified in the "Yoga Sutras" by Hindu sage Patanjali around 200 BC.
Patanjali, known as the father of modern yoga, wrote the "Yoga Sutras," a collection of Sanskrit aphorisms on the theory and practices of ancient yoga.
Speaking at the event, Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar said that Yoga teaches us that we are not isolated individuals but integral parts of nature.
The health of every entity on Earth is interconnected. Yoga transitions us from "Me to We," Kumar said, echoing the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Sharing a press release with The Korea Herald after the event, the embassy highlighted partnerships with Wonkwang Digital University and Busan University of Foreign Studies, which offer advanced academic programs in yoga and wellness, and degrees up to doctoral level.
The event was attended by more than 700 yoga enthusiasts, comprising Koreans, embassy officials and members of the Indian community and diplomatic corps.
sanjaykumar@heraldcorp.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
08-07-2025
- Korea Herald
India marks Yoga Day in Seoul
The Indian Embassy in Seoul celebrated the 11th International Day of Yoga on June 21. The United Nations General Assembly designated June 21 as the International Day of Yoga in 2014, with the support of 175 member states. This year's theme, 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health,' emphasized the interconnectedness between personal well-being and the health of the planet. According to the embassy, yoga's origins trace back approximately 3,000 years, with its principles codified in the "Yoga Sutras" by Hindu sage Patanjali around 200 BC. Patanjali, known as the father of modern yoga, wrote the "Yoga Sutras," a collection of Sanskrit aphorisms on the theory and practices of ancient yoga. Speaking at the event, Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar said that Yoga teaches us that we are not isolated individuals but integral parts of nature. The health of every entity on Earth is interconnected. Yoga transitions us from "Me to We," Kumar said, echoing the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sharing a press release with The Korea Herald after the event, the embassy highlighted partnerships with Wonkwang Digital University and Busan University of Foreign Studies, which offer advanced academic programs in yoga and wellness, and degrees up to doctoral level. The event was attended by more than 700 yoga enthusiasts, comprising Koreans, embassy officials and members of the Indian community and diplomatic corps. sanjaykumar@
Korea Herald
08-07-2025
- Korea Herald
Korean researchers unlock genetic clues to lupus
High-resolution genetic analysis opens door to personalized treatments In a major leap forward for autoimmune disease research, South Korean researchers have developed a high-resolution genetic analysis tool that can precisely decode the complex immune-related gene cluster linked to lupus. This discovery not only deepens understanding of how lupus begins but also could lead to customized treatments tailored to individual genetic profiles, they say. 'There are two major breakthroughs here,' said Professor Bae Sang-cheol of Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, who led the study, in a phone interview with The Korea Herald. 'First, the immune-related genes located in the MHC region on chromosome 6 are extremely complex, making them difficult to analyze. With this new tool, we can now accurately and easily analyze this region. This creates a foundational infrastructure that could be used to uncover genetic causes of not only lupus, but also other autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.' The study, conducted in collaboration with Professor Kim Kwangwoo at Kyung Hee University and the National Institute of Health's genome research department, focused on a section of our DNA called the MHC region, short for Major Histocompatibility Complex. This part of our genetic code plays a key role in controlling the immune system. It includes important genes like HLA and C4, both of which have been suspected of having links to autoimmune diseases, Bae explained. Lupus, also known as systemic lupus erythematosus, is a disease where the body's immune system starts attacking healthy cells and organs. It can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, brain and more. Scientists have long believed that certain genes may increase the likelihood of developing lupus in some individuals, but determining which genes are involved has been a major challenge, as there are as many as 200 genes discovered to have an impact — until now. The MHC imputation reference panel developed by the research will enable the analysis of a tricky part of the genome in more detail, which is an important step toward understanding lupus on a genetic level. This will give a clearer picture of why some people develop lupus and how their immune system breaks down. The second major advancement, Bae explained, is in precision medicine. "Unlike other genetic disorders caused by one or two mutations, lupus is driven by a combination of many genetic factors and influenced by environmental triggers, which makes identifying the cause extremely difficult,' he said. 'But now, by understanding these complex combinations, we can move toward personalized treatment. For example, if we identify that a patient's disease is linked to the C4 gene — one of the strongest known genetic risk factors — we can choose a drug that specifically targets that mechanism. This opens the door not just to more effective therapies but also to developing new drugs.' What sets this tool apart is not only its precision but also its cultural relevance. 'Until now, most panels like this were built using data from people in the US,' Bae said. 'That meant they didn't include East Asian-specific genetic variations, which reduced accuracy for Koreans and other Asians. Now, this tool dramatically improves precision for our population. It's meaningful that Korea and other East Asian countries are now leading this field.' The new panel will be made publicly available through Korea's national CODA system, allowing researchers worldwide to access it for studies on lupus, other autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases and chronic inflammatory illnesses. 'This is just the beginning,' Bae said. 'Autoimmune diseases are even more complex than cancer because the genetic combinations vary so much from person to person. But if we can sort people by their genetic profile and match them with the right drugs, it could open doors to more precise treatments for everyone." The study was published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, one of the most prestigious international journals in the field.
Korea Herald
25-06-2025
- Korea Herald
Concerns rise as some Korean teens seem to take suicide lightly
Teen suicide rate rises to 7.9 deaths per 100,000 teens in 2023; experts call for stronger mental health support Mental health professionals are calling for stronger support systems and suicide prevention education as concerns over teenagers taking suicide lightly circulate here after three high school students in Busan took their own lives. On June 21, three high school students were found dead after falling from the rooftop of an apartment building. According to notes written by two of the three students recovered by investigators, the students cited academic stress and pressure as primary factors behind their deaths. Gangnam-gu Office in Seoul had also reported taking suicide prevention actions of its own in recent weeks, following reports of a growing number of Korean teenagers flocking to high-rise buildings near Gangnam Station. Some were allegedly drawn to certain buildings out of cuirosity from rumors that labeled certain buildings 'suicide landmarks.' 'We're not sure where the rumor first circulated, but some students allegedly visit the buildings based on rumors claiming that dying in high-rise buildings around Gangnam Station guarantees passage to the afterlife in heaven,' a Gangnam-gu Office official told The Korea Herald. 'Many building managers reported to us that they see several teenagers visiting buildings rooftop spaces at least once every month,' the official added. 'Ever since a teenager livestreamed her suicide ... in Gangnam in 2023, the building managers told us that it seems like any high-rise building in the district is deemed a suicide hotspot.' According to the district office official, the reason teenagers cite most for visiting such buildings is curiosity: 'to see what it would feel like before jumping off such a high building.' Observing such trends, mental health professionals stated that suicide is increasingly being portrayed as something akin to 'easy exit out of a problem.' 'With suicide rates among teenagers increasing steadily in recent years, it seems like suicide is being increasingly portrayed not as an act of despair, but as a legitimate solution to problems,' professor Hong Hyun-joo from Hallym University's Department of Neurology told The Korea Herald. According to Statistics Korea, suicide rates among teenagers have risen to 7.9 suicides per 100,000 teenagers in 2023 from 5.5 suicides in 2011, while other age groups have shown declining rates. 'Instead of focusing on the events of suicide itself, we need to focus on those who are left behind. We need systems that help the teenagers recognize when they're struggling and encourage them to seek help,' psychiatrist Baek Jong-woo of Kyung Hee University Hospital told The Korea Herald. 'More schools need to offer more programs to build emotional resilience in students, such as on-campus mental health counseling centers for students at risk, or mental health training sessions that help students manage their academic stress.'
