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.
Prison reports first coronavirus infection among inmates
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By Jung Min-ho
By Jung Min-ho
Korea has reported its first coronavirus infection among prisoners.
According to the Ministry of Justice Sunday, an inmate, 60, at Gimcheon Prison in North Gyeongsang Province tested positive for COVID-19 on Feb. 27.
It is unclear how he caught the virus after being confined there on Jan. 21.
Health officials conducted virus tests on 20 prison guards and 12 inmates, who had been in close contact with him. The results are expected to come out in three days, the ministry said.
The inmate appeared to be healthy before starting to show symptoms of the virus, including fever, on Feb. 27, guards said.
Gimcheon Prison will disinfect all facilities.