South Korea Withdraws Plan for Mixed-Gender Hospital Wards Following Public Backlash

South Korean health officials confirmed to AFP on the 2nd that the government has canceled a proposal to end mandatory gender segregation in hospital wards following strong public backlash regarding safety. While South Korea is a global leader in technology and culture, its social atmosphere remains conservative. The Ministry of Health and Welfare had announced the plan last month as part of broader regulatory reforms. However, a ministry official stated today that the current system of gender segregation will be maintained. Exceptions will be made for intensive care units (ICUs) and two-person rooms for family members. The decision followed over 4,000 comments on the government's legislative notice website, with critics citing risks of sexual crime and privacy concerns.