Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Koreans in France warned of Saturday protest
Protesters wearing yellow vests (gilets jaunes) wave flares and French flags near the Arc de Triomphe during a demonstration over high fuel prices on the Champs-Elysee in Paris on Dec. 1. EPA
By Jung Min-ho
A container burns in Marseille, France, after a demonstration by the “yellow vest” protest group against higher diesel prices, Dec. 1. Reuters
By Jung Min-ho
With France's yellow vests (gilets jaunes) vowing to continue their anti-government protests across the country Saturday, Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a safety warning to Koreans living or visiting there.
“Try to avoid visiting tourist attractions such as the Champs-Elysees avenue, Tuileries Garden and Place du Trocadero as protesters and police are expected to clash in such places,” the ministry wrote on Facebook Tuesday. “Please refrain from going out at night and pay more attention to your safety.”
This came after about 36,000 French people took to the streets on Dec. 1 in protest against rising fuel taxes and the high cost of living. Many violently clashed with police, torching cars, vandalizing stores and burning barricades.
The unrest forced the French government into a U-turn on the controversial rise in fuel tax. But protesters demand more concessions from President Emmanuel Macron and say they would not take just “crumbs.”
The movement, which was sparked by fuel tax increases, is now transforming into a broader demonstration against the government's policies on the redistribution of wealth.