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Jung Min-ho

Korea Times Politics & City Reporter

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.

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Foreign Affairs

Over 11,000 anti-Asian incidents reported since 2020 in US; ethnic Koreans among main targets

Activists hold signs as they march from San Gabriel City Hall to Alhambra City Hall during an anti-Asian hate rally in California, in this March 26, 2021, file photo. Ethnic Koreans are among the main targets of apparent growing violence, harassment and other forms of hate against Asians living in the United States, according to a recent report. AFP-YonhapBy Jung Min-hoEthnic Koreans are among the main targets of apparent growing violence, harassment and other forms of hate against Asians living in the United States, a report shows. According to “Two Years and Thousands of Voices,” a research document released last week by Stop AAPI Hate, 16 percent of the victims of 11,467 such incidents reported over the past two years are ethnic Koreans. Chinese account for the most cases with 43 percent, followed by Koreans, Filipinos (9 percent), Japanese (8 percent) and Vietnamese (8 percent).The nonprofit organization started to collect data on March 19, 2020, a week after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic following the first case report from the Chinese city of Wuhan.The document n

Jul 25, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Over 11,000 anti-Asian incidents reported since 2020 in US; ethnic Koreans among main targets
Defense

South Korea emerges as fastest-growing arms exporter

Four FA-50 light combat aircraft flying over urban area / NewsisPoland set to sign major deal to buy tanks, howitzers, fighter jetsBy Jung Min-hoSouth Korea has emerged as the world's fastest-growing arms exporter, vastly outpacing the growth of other major market players in recent years. According to a recent report by the Export-Import Bank of Korea, the nation's arms exports hit a record high of more than 7 billion dollars last year. Its exports during the 2017-21 period were 177 percent higher than that in the 2012-16 period ― by far the highest growth among the top 20 exporters, followed by Australia (98 percent) and France (59 percent).South Korea's share of global arms exports nearly tripled to 2.8 percent from 1 percent. It is now the world's eighth largest, and Asia's second (after China), arms exporter ― a rapid rise from 31st position on the list by the SIPRI arms transfer database back in 2000.“Exports of naval vessels grew by 1,660 percent (during the 2017-21 period compared to 2012-16) which led the trend,” the report says. “Arms exports are estimated

Jul 24, 2022By Jung Min-ho
South Korea emerges as fastest-growing arms exporter
North Korea

Murder accusations against North Korean fishermen questioned

A North Korean fisherman resists South Korean officials' attempt to hand him over to North Korean officials at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjeom, in this Nov. 7, 2019, file photo. Courtesy of Ministry of Unification'Only judiciary has authority to decide whether they are criminals'By Jung Min-hoThe Ministry of Unification has raised doubts over murder accusations brought up against two North Korean fishermen who were deported against their will three years ago based on that claim.A high-ranking official told reporters Thursday that no one other than the judiciary “has the authority to decide whether they are brutal criminals.” The latest move by the ministry is a de facto retraction of the claims it made over the fishermen during the previous Moon Jae-in administration.Authorities under the Moon administration accused the fishermen of conspiring with a third man to kill their captain and 15 others on a boat before their escape to the South on Nov. 2, 2019. After a three-day investigation, South Korean authorities sent the fishermen back to the North on Nov. 7,

Jul 21, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Murder accusations against North Korean fishermen questioned
North Korea

Three questions remain over repatriation of North Korean fishermen

A North Korean fisherman waits to be deported at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjeom, in this Nov. 7, 2019, file photo. Courtesy of Ministry of UnificationBy Jung Min-hoPictures of North Korean fishermen fiercely resisting deportation provide an answer to one important question: They seemed sincere about defecting to South Korea, contrary to the claims of the previous Moon Jae-in administration.The revelation by the Ministry of Unification has left many people shocked here and abroad. Now, calls are mounting to uncover the whole truth behind the 2019 decision to send the fishermen back to the brutal North Korean regime. There are three big questions that remain unanswered.In this Nov. 8, 2019, file photo, South Korea's Navy tows a boat used by two North Korean fishermen before it was handed over to North Korean authorities. Courtesy of Unification MinistryDid they really kill 16 people on boat?According to authorities under the Moon government, the fishermen conspired with a third man to kill their captain and 15 others on the boat before their escape to the South. But the b

Jul 15, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Three questions remain over repatriation of North Korean fishermen
North Korea

INTERVIEW Teaching and learning from North Korean defectors

From left in the front row, Kim Min-jae, Song Hyung-min and Gu Hyo-won, former leaders at the Global High School Union of the Freedom Speakers International (FSI), smile at its office in Seoul, July 10. From left in the second row are FSI co-director Lee Eun-koo, Shim Te-ri, Lee An-su and FSI co-director Casey Lartigue. Lee An-su, 17, from Yongsan International School of Seoul, and Shim, 17, from Seoul Foreign School, will lead the union over the next year as general director and vice general director, respectively. Courtesy of FSI'They are just like us': Teenage volunteers share their experiences at FSIBy Jung Min-hoNuclear weapons, starvation and gross abuses of human rights: North Korea is the country everyone loves to hate. For many of those who used to live there, such negative images are among the many challenges they face when trying to start anew elsewhere.High school students who have volunteered to assist North Korean defectors settle in South Korean society said one of the best things that came from their hands-on experiences ― raising funds and teaching them English ― was

Jul 15, 2022By Jung Min-ho
[INTERVIEW] Teaching and learning from North Korean defectors
North Korea

Human rights activists shocked by photos of North Korean fishermen

A North Korean fisherman is held by South Korean officials before being handed over to North Korean officials at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom, in this Nov. 7, 2019, file photo. Courtesy of Ministry of UnificationNew photos show violations of human rights, hurt credibility of crime allegations: rights expertsBy Jung Min-hoSuzanne Scholte, chairwoman of the North Korea Freedom CoalitionPhotos of North Korean fishermen fiercely resisting deportation seem to show that they were sincere about defecting to South Korea, and the credibility of the previous administration's claim doubting the intent of the defectors has been damaged by the revelation, according to human rights activists. New pictures released Tuesday by the Ministry of Unification show the fishermen appearing to be gripped by fear, as South Korean officials hand them over to North Korean authorities at Panmunjom, the inter-Korean truce village. Authorities under the Moon Jae-in administration claimed in 2019 that they were not legally obligated to accept the fishermen because they had conspired with a third man

Jul 13, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Human rights activists shocked by photos of North Korean fishermen
North Korea

Ministry shifts stance on deportation of North Korean fishermen

A North Korean fisherman resists South Korean officials' attempt to hand him over to North Korean officials at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom, in this Nov. 7, 2019, file photo. Courtesy of Ministry of UnificationNew revelation suggests they were sincere about defecting, unlike previous claimsBy Jung Min-hoThe Ministry of Unification has abandoned its previous position on the repatriation of two North Korean fishermen, whom it said were “not sincere” about defecting to South Korea in 2019 ― a chief justification for the controversial decision.Speaking to The Korea Times, Tuesday, a ministry official reconfirmed its shift in stance. But while the Coast Guard apologized for reversing its investigation results involving North Korea under the previous administration, the official said the ministry, as of now, has no plans to issue an apology.The Moon Jae-in administration said in 2019 that the South Korean government was not obligated to accept the defectors, because they murdered 16 fellow fishermen during their escape to South Korea across the Northern Limit Lin

Jul 12, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Ministry shifts stance on deportation of North Korean fishermen
Foreign Affairs

US embassy vows to continue openly promoting LGBTQ rights

A homophobic sign is displayed near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Monday. YonhapThat plan set to collide with local conservatives ― most avid supporters of Korea-US allianceBy Jung Min-hoSurrounded by several police officers near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Monday, a protester with a determined look on her face was holding a sign that read, “No Homosexual Ambassador to Korea.” But another sign set up behind her puzzled some passersby, as it said “Reinforce S. Korea-U.S. Alliance.” The mix of these seemingly inconsistent messages shows the nature of the challenges facing the new U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg, who arrived in Seoul the previous day.A demonstrator is surrounded by police officers protesting the appointment of new U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg in Seoul, Monday. Another sign behind her reads "Reinforce S. Korea-U.S. Alliance." YonhapRepresentatives of dozens of right-wing civic groups, including Anti-Homosexuality Christian Solidarity (AHCS) and the People's Alliance for Healthy Society, held a rally Friday in front of

Jul 11, 2022By Jung Min-ho
US embassy vows to continue openly promoting LGBTQ rights
Foreign Affairs

New US ambassador arrives in Seoul

New U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg speaks to reporters at Incheon International Airport, Sunday. Goldberg will lead the U.S. mission in Seoul by taking the post that had remained vacant for more than a year since the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoPhilip Goldberg, the new U.S. ambassador to South Korea, arrived in Seoul, Sunday, at a critical juncture for peace on the Korean Peninsula.Goldberg, who vowed to pursue the comprehensive, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of Pyongyang at his Senate confirmation hearing in April, will lead the U.S. mission in Seoul by taking the post that had remained vacant for more than a year since U.S. President Joe Biden was inaugurated.“I'm honored to represent the American people and President Biden at this very important moment in our relations," Goldberg, 65, told reporters after arriving at Incheon International Airport in Incheon before heading to his office in Seoul. “Relations between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) were forged in conflict, a great alliance, and

Jul 10, 2022By Jung Min-ho
New US ambassador arrives in Seoul
Foreign Affairs

NBC's 'Today' show mocked for using Korean flag to report Abe's death

Screenshot of NBC's "Today" showBy Jung Min-ho“Today,” a morning news program on NBC, has been mocked for displaying footage of Korean flags during a segment reporting on the death of Shinzo Abe, the former Japanese prime minister. A reporter on the show told viewers Friday (local time) about the assassination of Abe, who was shot while making a campaign speech for the Liberal Democratic Party in Nara, ahead of Sunday's upper house elections.“Gun violence is exceptionally rare in Japan,” the reporter said amid footage of landmarks of Tokyo, such as Tokyo Tower and the Shibuya crossing.When the screen started to show Korean flags hanging from flagpoles, the reporter continued, “Its gun laws are among the most stringent in the world.”The error, which immediately made headlines, has sparked criticism and ridicule online.“The video shows how ignorant it has been about Asians,” one person commented on Naver, the most-used search engine in Korea.“NBC is known as a liberal media outlet … It says it respects diversity and global co

Jul 10, 2022By Jung Min-ho
NBC's 'Today' show mocked for using Korean flag to report Abe's death
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