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Jun Ji-hye

Korea Times Finance Reporter

Hello, I am Jun Ji-hye, a reporter at The Korea Times. I primarily cover financial authorities and write articles on a wide range of topics related to finance and capital markets. If you have any information to share, feel free to email me at jjh@koreatimes.co.kr, and I will review it carefully. I am committed to always doing my best to communicate with readers through high-quality articles.

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Defense

Defense budget focuses on deterring NK provocations

By Jun Ji-hyeA total of 38.9 trillion won ($3.2 billion) was earmarked for next year’s national defense budget, up 4 percent from 2015.Most of the additional spending is to improve the nation’s defense capacity to better deter threats from North Korea. A total of 11.6 trillion won was allocated for that purpose, up 6.1 percent from this year, according to the defense ministry.Of that, 3.2 trillion won was earmarked for strengthening military power in the border area, up 40.6 percent. That sharp increase was apparently due to the recent landmine attack by North Korea in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).The money will be used to upgrade AN/TPQ-36 mobile radars capable of detecting projectiles launched at any angle, very-high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles (HUAV), K-9 self-propelled howitzers, K-2 tanks and multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) for counter-fire missions against the North’s multiple rocket systems.Days after three North Korean-made wooden box landmines exploded in the South-controlled area of the DMZ on Aug. 4, maiming two South Korean soldiers, Defense

Sep 9, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Drug abuse jumps in barracks

By Jun Ji-hyeThe number of soldiers and officers caught using drugs or being in possession of them has increased steadily in recent years, an opposition lawmaker said Wednesday.According to Rep. Kim Kwang-jin of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), a total of 45 soldiers and military officers have been punished for drug-related offenses since 2010.Among them, 32 belonged to the Army and eight belonged to the Air Force.   In 2014, the number of soldiers punished rapidly increased to 17 from four in 2013.The Ministry of National Defense submitted the data to the lawmaker ahead of a National Assembly audit.The drugs in question included 12 incidents of taking GHB (Gamma Hydroxide Butyrolactone). GHB produces an aphrodisiac effect when taken with alcohol, and is referred to as a date rape drug.Eleven cases involved marijuana.Rep. Kim said the use of new types of drugs such as AM-2201, a synthetic cannabinoid, is also increasing.“The military will not be trusted if the number of drug users consistently increases in units where military discipline should be stric

Sep 9, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
Drug abuse jumps in barracks
South Korea

Korea, China, Japan will hold talks for 3-way summit

By Jun Ji-hyeWorking-level talks between Korea, China and Japan are scheduled for Sept. 15 to work out details of a trilateral summit expected to be held in late October or early November, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.Ministry spokesman Noh Kwang-il said at a regular briefing that working-level officials from the three countries will meet at the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) headquartered in Seoul.“Officials are planning to discuss details of the summit, such as timing, as well as joint projects between the three nations,” he said.The planning of the working-level talks followed last week’s agreement between President Park Geun-hye and her Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to hold a trilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in late October or early November.Park and Xi reached the agreement during their summit when the former visited Beijing to attend China’s ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.Japan showed a favorable response to the proposal with its Foreign Ministry reportedly expressing

Sep 8, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

2 officers under probe for data leak

'They posted information about mine blasts online'By Jun Ji-hyeTwo military officers and one staff sergeant are being investigated for allegedly leaking information about the movement of North Korean soldiers in the wake of the North’s landmine attack early last month, the Defense Security Command (DSC) said Tuesday.They are a Marine Corps first lieutenant, an Air Force first lieutenant and an Army staff sergeant, whose names are being withheld.The Marine Corps first lieutenant was caught taking a photo of the Army Tactical Command Information System (ATCIS) with his mobile phone and sending it to a civilian friend on Aug. 22. The photo was exposed to social networking sites after the friend posted it to an online community portal.The photo showed that the South Korean military was on alert after a suspected North Korean surveillance drone appeared over a South Korean military outpost.The Joint Chiefs of Staff later explained that flights of the unmanned aerial vehicles, which measure slightly longer than 3 meters, took place several times from Aug. 22 to 24, including just 30

Sep 8, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Pyongyang could fire missile next month

The Unha-3 long-range rocket is fired from North Korea’s Sohae Satellite Launching Station in Dongchang-ri, North Pyeongan Province, on Dec. 12, 2012. The Unha-3, which allegedly put a satellite into orbit, is believed to have a range of more than 10,000 kilometers, enough to hit the western United States. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hye Will North Korea launch a long-range missile around the foundation day of its ruling Workers’ Party on Oct. 10? Military officials as well as experts on North Korea and national security are wondering, following the Aug. 25 South-North peacemaking agreement.The agreement, under which South and North Korea promised to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula, was made after a four-day marathon talk between the two sides. The talk was held as tensions reached record levels after landmines exploded on Aug. 4 inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), seriously injuring two South Korean soldiers. Seoul accused Pyongyang of planting the mines in the heavily guarded zone.The question over the North’s possible provocation garnered immense interest after

Sep 7, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
Pyongyang could fire missile next month
South Korea

More draftees unsuitable for service

By Jun Ji-hyeThe number of draftees considered to be at risk of committing suicide continues to increase, raising doubts about the military’s treatment programs for them.According to the Ministry of National Defense, Monday, the number of soldiers who entered the Green Camp, a rehabilitation center for maladjusted soldiers, rose to 3,132 last year from 2,582 in 2012 and 2,657 in 2013.As of June 30 this year, the number was 1,725.The military has established 24 such camps for the Army and four for the Navy in an effort to help draftees who have trouble adjusting to life in the barracks and are at risk of committing suicide, better adjust to military life through professional counseling and treatment programs.But the number of soldiers who failed to be rehabilitated and were eventually classified as unfit for service has also increased ― 417 in 2012, 467 in 2013 and 826 in 2014.Citing the figures, critics have questioned the effectiveness of the programs.Rep. Baek Kun-ki of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, who belongs to the National Assembly Defense

Sep 7, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Talks held to arrange reunion details

Korean Red Cross officials, right, shake hands with representatives from North Korea’s Red Cross Society during their talks at the truce village of Panmunjeom, Monday. / Courtesy of Ministry of UnificationBy Jun Ji-hyeSouth and North Korea held working-level talks Monday to arrange reunions for families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.The talks followed the recent landmark agreement to resume the reunions to ease military tension.Three Korean Red Cross officials met their counterparts from the North Korea Red Cross Society at the truce village of Panmunjeom to work out details, such as timing, whereabouts and scale.“We will do the best we can to meet the expectations of the families,” South Korean chief delegate Lee Deok-haeng told reporters before the meeting.The two Koreas agreed on Aug. 25 to resume the reunions around the Chuseok holidays late this month. The agreement came after four days of talks held while tension was high on the Korean Peninsula after the North’s landmine attack on Aug. 4.The government wants to hold the reunions as soon as possibl

Sep 7, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Military to fully fund soldier injured in mine explosion

President Park Geun-hye visits Staff Sergeant Ha Jae-hun, who was injured at the landmine explosion inside the Demilitarized Zone on Aug. 4, at the Seoul National University Hospital in Bundang, Gyeonggi province, Sunday. Park praised bravery he showed during the explosion, blamed on North Korea, at which the 21-year-old lost both of his legs from below the knee. / Yonhap By Jun Ji-hyeThe Ministry of National Defense said Sunday that it will pay all the medical expenses of a soldier who has been under care in a private hospital after he was injured in the Aug. 4 landmine explosion inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The government has defined the detonation as an act of provocation by North Korea. “We are taking measures so that Staff Sergeant Ha Jae-hun does not need to cover additional medical costs at his own expense,” said a ministry official, who asked not to be named.Under the Veterans’ Pension Act, a soldier injured in the line of duty and who is under care in a private hospital can only be funded by the government for 30 days.If this law is applie

Sep 6, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
Military to fully fund soldier injured in mine explosion
South Korea

Japan favorable to trilateral summit

By Jun Ji-hye Japan is showing a favorable response to President Park Geun-hye and her Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping’s proposal to hold a trilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in late October or early November.Park and Xi reached the agreement during their summit in Beijing, Wednesday.A high-ranking official of the Japanese Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying by the Nihon Geizai Shimbun, Thursday, “Japan welcomes the decision.” The ministry expressed its will to cooperate so the trilateral meeting can take place at the earliest possible date, the newspaper added.The response was apparently issued because of Japan’s sense of relief that Park and Xi refrained from attacking Tokyo for its wartime wrongdoings during their summit.At the beginning of the summit, Xi signaled that the two leaders would talk about the history issue, saying “The two nations fought against the invasion and occupation of Imperialism. Eventually, the two achieved liberation by fighting for their lives.”But no more mention about the matter was made.C

Sep 3, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Soldiers to get receive-only phones

By Jun Ji-hye LG Uplus, the nation’s third-largest mobile carrier, will offer soldiers some 44,000 receive-only mobile phones for free, the Ministry of National Defense said Thursday.The firm was chosen the previous day over SK Telecom and KT in bidding for a ministry project to provide phones to units. The ministry has earmarked some 3.6 billion won ($3 million) over three years.LG Uplus, however, bid only 1 won to win the project, while SK Telecom tendered 2.1 billion won and KT 1.7 billion won.An LG Uplus official, asking not to be named, said, “We decided to offer soldiers mobile phones for free as we were deeply impressed by those who postponed their discharge from the service while the nation experienced a crisis following the recent landmine explosions and shelling by North Korea.”The official said LG Uplus Vice Chairman Lee Sang-chul, who previously worked at the Agency for Defense Development, pushed ahead with the decision. Lee’s elder brother is former Defense Minister Lee Sang-hoon.The mobile phones are receive-only, so parents can c

Sep 3, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
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