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.
Two Koreans released on bail from Myanmar prison
The entrance to Insein Prison in Yangon / Korea Times file
By Jung Min-ho
By Jung Min-ho
Two Korean men have arrived in Seoul after being released on bail from the notorious Insein Prison in Yangon over alleged theft ― an accusation their families claim was a “trap.”
“After spending 76 days in the prison, he was released and reunited with his family in Korea on May 1,” Ha Hee-bong, a lawyer and a son-in-law of one of the two, told The Korea Times. “It was a moment of big relief, but our fight in court has just begun.”
Ha's father-in-law, surnamed Choi, 59, a director-level official at a Korean builder (B), was a manager for a major construction project in Yangon, according to a contract between a Korean developer (A) and his company last year.
“It all started with a conflict between A and its Myanmar-based subcontractor Z, which asked for money in advance. After Z's repeated requests, the developer terminated a contract with it on Nov. 23,” Ha claimed.
Angered by the decision, Z deliberately did not take back its construction material from the site and, when B sold the material after repeated notifications, Z told police that B stole its property, he added.
Just two days after the report, police began an investigation and arrested B's safety manager (a Myanmar national) on Jan. 30 and the two Koreans on (Feb. 7).
Z claims the suspects were responsible for stealing and selling eight tons of its reinforcing bars without permission, but Ha argues that B, as contracted, told Z to take back all its material, if there was any, before selling four tons of leftover material to a junk dealer in the afternoon.
Ha claimed he had evidence showing that a truck belonging to Z dumped about four tons of construction material on the sold material at the junk dealer's yard at night.
“That's how they set him up for theft,” Ha said.
While Choi was in prison, his family had many sleepless nights. A Myanmar court rejected his application for bail three times and his family almost lost hope. When the court accepted his request on the fourth attempt, they were elated and grateful.
His story came into the spotlight after his daughter posted a petition on the Cheong Wa Dae website on April 15 calling on the presidential office for help. In just three weeks, the petition garnered more than 40,000 signatures.
After his return, his daughter wrote on her blog to thank everyone who paid attention to his story.
“My father will return to Myanmar for trial … It is expected to take more than a year, but he will continue to fight (for truth) and, for that, we need your support. Thank you very much,” she said.