- 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