- Cases of syphilis in South Korea have jumped so far this year, as authorities enhanced testing of the disease, data showed Tuesday. A total of 1,881 syphilis cases were reported between January and August this year, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said in a report submitted to Rep. Seo Mi-hwa of the main opposition Democratic Party. Last year, the KDCA reported 416 cases of syphilis. Since early this year, the KDCA has stepped up testing of syphilis cases. Source: Yonhap News Agency