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.
Korea's opposition party openly backs Hong Kong's 'democracy movement'
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Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration demanding Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam step down and withdraw the extradition bill in Hong Kong, June 16. Reuters
By Jung Min-ho
Protesters dressed in black take part in a rally against a controversial extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 16. AFP
A man holds up a yellow umbrella as protesters dressed in blacktake part in a rally against a controversial extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 16. AFP
By Jung Min-ho
Bareunmirae Party spokesman Lee Jong-cheol
The minor opposition Bareunmirae Party has become Korea's first political party to officially support Hong Kong residents' anti-extradition protests.
“We hear the strong echo of the cry of a Hong Kong headed toward freedom and democracy,” party spokesman Lee Jong-cheol said Friday. “Authorities in Hong Kong should not suppress their righteous demands.”
As many as a million Hong Kong residents ― equivalent to one in seven of the population ― marched last Sunday against the proposed law, which would allow the extradition of criminal suspects to mainland China.
Authorities say the bill is needed to enable a Hong Kong man to be sent to Taiwan, where he allegedly killed his girlfriend. But critics say it would also enable Chinese authorities to exert their influence on all Hong Kong residents, including politicians, by leveling false accusations and demanding their extradition.
Protesters dressed in black take part in a rally against a controversial extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 16. Reuters
The Bareunmirae Party also criticized authorities in Hong Kong and mainland China for violently quashing the people they have painted as “mobs.”
“It is obvious that Hongkongers came out to the streets because they felt their freedom was under threat,” Lee said. “Their rights to free speech and free assembly must be protected.
“We will continue to listen to their voices, knowing that democracy is important to them as much as it is to us (Koreans).”
Following massive protests across Hong Kong, its chief executive Carrie Lam announced the bill's indefinite shelving.