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.
Minke whale fetches $28,000 at auction
The dead minke whale is lifted from a boat in waters off Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday. Courtesy of Korea Coast Guard
By Jung Min-ho
Police check the carcass to discover whether the animal was hunted. Courtesy of Korea Coast Guard
By Jung Min-ho
A 5.2-meter minke whale, which was found dead in waters off Namhae Wednesday, has been auctioned for 32.7 million won ($28,000).
The Korea Coast Guard said the two-ton animal was found in a fixed shore net half a mile south of the county, South Gyeongsang Province.
After inspecting the carcass, police said there were no signs it had been hunted.
The fisherman who set up the net received a certificate that enabled him to sell the whale.
Commercial whaling is banned in Korea, but retrieving dead whales is allowed.