International News South Korea: HIV Test Rules for Foreigners to Be EasedNovember 2, 2010 Ministry of Health and Welfare officials say they plan to submit a bill to the National Assembly that would scrap mandatory HIV testing for foreigners applying for certain visas. Those seeking non-professional work in South Korea on an E-9 visa would no longer have to submit HIV test results or be tested to renew their residency status. "Education is considered a very intimate relationship," said an official with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. "According to an unofficial survey by the Prime Minister's office, the majority of parents wanted solid evidence of their children's teachers' HIV status ... it is just intended to reassure parents." Last year, an English professor with Kyung Hee University filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission over the HIV testing requirement. Several other English teachers joined Benjamin Wagner's protest. Wagner claimed the visa requirement reflects unfounded perceptions about Westerners as being promiscuous and drug users. In July, a group of lawyers filed a petition against the requirements with the Constitutional Court. Korea Times (Seoul) 10.25.2010; Bae Ji-sook This article was provided by CDC National Prevention Information Network. It is a part of the publication CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update.
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