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.
Japan's former vice farm minister arrested for killing 'hikikomori' son
By Jung Min-ho
Hideaki Kumazawa / Kyodo
By Jung Min-ho
A former Japanese vice agriculture minister, 76, has been arrested on charges of stabbing his “hikikomori” son to death.
According to
Sunday, Hideaki Kumazawa, also a former ambassador to the Czech Republic, was arrested on Saturday for allegedly killing his son, Eiichiro, 44, with a kitchen knife at home in Tokyo ― a charge he reportedly admitted.
Kumazawa said he had an argument with his son over noise outside.
When police arrived at the home in Tokyo's Nerima Ward after receiving Kumazawa's call, the son was bleeding from multiple stab wounds. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Kumazawa told the police that his son confined himself at home for many years and recently showed violent behavior toward his family.
“I think (the family) moved here about 10 years ago, but I have never seen the son,” a man, 86, who lives in the neighborhood, was quoted as saying.
Kumazawa joined the agriculture ministry in 1967 and became a vice minister in 2001. After stepping down the following year, he served as Japan's Ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2005-08.