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.
Stegosaurus footprints found in Korea's southeastern island
This photo, provided by the city government in Geoje, shows a stegosaurus footprint fossil on Geoje Island, South Gyeongsang Province. Courtesy of Geoje city government
By Jung Min-ho
Researchers have discovered footprints left by a stegosaurus some 150 million years ago on Korea's southeastern island of Geoje, according to its officials on Monday.
A team of researchers, led by Kim Kyung-soo, a professor at a geological heritage research center under Chinju National University of Education, found the footprints in Cheonggok-ri — the first evidence showing that the dinosaur species once wandered in Korea.
Stegosauruses are known for their kite-shaped plates, which march across their backs. They could grow 7 meters long and weigh more than 3 tons.
In a city-funded project to study the fossil site on the island's northwestern region, the team also found the footprints of a hadrosaurus and other species, as well as 11 fossilized imprints of dinosaur skin.
More details about their discoveries are expected to be revealed at a briefing set for Friday. Issues such as how to preserve and utilize the site will be discussed at the event.
The research project was proposed after a suspected dinosaur footprint was discovered by a travel firm owner in 2019. The project is expected to close officially next month with a final report.
Last year, fossilized eggs of herbivorous dinosaurs were found in Korea's southwestern region of Sinan.
That location was just 100 meters away from the site where a fossilized nest of carnivorous dinosaurs was discovered in 2009.