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.
Gov't officials donate $1.5 mil. to underprivileged
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By Jung Min-ho
By Jung Min-ho
Top government officials have donated 2 billion won ($1.56 million) to 455 underprivileged families.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Sunday, many vice ministers and higher-level officials under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration have earmarked 10 percent of their salaries since this January to help such households through a project run by the Korea National Council on Social Welfare, a charity and research organization under the ministry.
So far, 225 households have received 1 billion won between March and June. An additional 230 families are being selected by the organization as the next beneficiaries. It said their donations have eased the financial burden of the recipients, helping with medical and educational expenses.
Top-ranking officials at 46 government departments and agencies as well as some 170 state-run institutions have participated in the donation project.
“We will continue to step up efforts to spread kindness and support for our underprivileged neighbors,” Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong said in a statement.