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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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North Korea

Two possible reasons behind recent mask-free gatherings in North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is surrounded by war veterans in front of a monument celebrating the country's "victory" in the Korean War (1950-53) in Pyongyang, North Korea, on July 27, the 69th anniversary of the end of the war, in this photo released July 28 by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. YonhapEnough people may be immune, or many 'fever' cases could be unrelated, experts say By Jung Min-hoNorth Korea's official numbers of suspected COVID-19 cases and photos of the ruling elite in recent weeks suggest that it is clearly making progress against the coronavirus despite almost no vaccination efforts, according to experts Monday. North Korea's number of new suspected COVID-19 cases remained at zero for the third consecutive day, according to the Korean Central News Agency, Pyongyang's official mouthpiece. On Monday, it reported that no additional fever cases had been confirmed over the previous 24 hours until 6 p.m. the previous day. The total number of such cases from late April stood at 4.77 million, of which 99.99 percent had recovered, it claimed. The number

Aug 1, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Two possible reasons behind recent mask-free gatherings in North Korea
North Korea

North Korea may delay nuclear test until end of China's party congress: experts

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is surrounded by war veterans during an event celebrating the 69th anniversary of end of the Korean War (1950-53) in front of the Monument to the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday, in this photo released Friday by the official North Korean Central News Agency. YonhapKim honors Beijing's support on 69th anniversary of end of Korean WarBy Jung Min-hoNorth Korea may postpone its next nuclear weapons test for several months until the end of the National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the country's most important event in years, according to experts Friday.The North has completed preparations for its seventh nuclear test, intelligence reports show. But it has not taken action for months. Experts say China is most likely the reason behind the delay as Pyongyang's test will certainly take away the world's attention from the crucial political event and might lead to the worst-case scenario for Chinese leaders, especially President Xi Jinping, who seeks to secure a precedent-defying third term in power there.In

Jul 29, 2022By Jung Min-ho
North Korea may delay nuclear test until end of China's party congress: experts
  • North Korean leader says blood-sealed ties with China will develop for generations
Defense

Ukraine war reshapes European arms procurement market in Korea's favor

Four FA-50 light combat aircraft flying over urban area / NewsisPoland inks deals to buy fighter jets, tanks, howitzers amid conflict in neighboring UkraineBy Jung Min-ho, Joint Press CorpsSince Russia's invasion of Ukraine, some Eastern European countries, still armed largely with Soviet-era weapons, have sent their equipment to help Kyiv ― in a move that could reshape the future of the region's weapons systems.In a major procurement deal illustrating such a shift, Poland, which has provided Ukraine with its Soviet-designed T-72 tanks, agreed Wednesday (local time) to buy 48 FA-50s, a light combat jet co-developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Lockheed Martin, 980 K2 battle tanks, manufactured by Hyundai Rotem, and 648 K9 howitzers, made by Hanwha Defense.After signing the framework contracts in Warsaw, Mariusz Blaszczak, the defense minister of Poland, said its armed forces need better weapons to protect the country from potential aggressors and the deals are “just the first stage of the two countries' cooperation.”Poland's Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak p

Jul 28, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Ukraine war reshapes European arms procurement market in Korea's favor
Defense

'We will defend freedom, democracy': Korean War UN Veterans Day celebrated in Seoul

Soldiers lift the flags of 22 nations that fought for South Korea during the Korean War during the celebration of the Korean War U.N. Veterans Day at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoSouth Koreans honored the sacrifices of the heroes who fought under the flag of the United Nations Command during the Korean War (1950-53) as they celebrated the Korean War U.N. Veterans Day in Seoul, Wednesday. “Korea was a country barely known 72 years ago. Many did not know where it was. Yet, 1.95 million soldiers from 22 countries came here under the United Nations Command's flag and fought for this country,” Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said in a speech during the ceremony at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza. “To this day, North Korea has not stopped its provocation, threatening the security on the Korean Peninsula … We will protect the security through the strong U.S.-South Korea alliance and defense capabilities.”Protecting freedom and democracy, which the veterans fought to defend, is now the way to honor their sacrifices, he added.Duri

Jul 27, 2022By Jung Min-ho
'We will defend freedom, democracy': Korean War UN Veterans Day celebrated in Seoul
  • Yoon vows to defend freedom through firm alliance with US
Defense

Will Biden attend Korean War monument event?

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a virtual meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., Monday (local time). Biden expressed hope that he could return to work in person this week after recovering from COVID-19, as the question arises as to whether he will attend Wednesday's event marking the completion of a new Korean War memorial monument in Washington. EPA-YonhapWar of Remembrance to honor fallen US, Korean soldiersBy Jung Min-hoU.S. President Joe Biden expressed hope Monday (local time) that he could return to work in person this week after recovering from COVID-19, as the question arises as to whether he will attend Wednesday's event marking the completion of a Korean War memorial monument in Washington, D.C. At the ceremony unveiling the Wall of Remembrance, which will be a permanent addition to the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Veterans Affairs Minister Park Min-shik will read out a message from President Yoon Suk-yeol as the two nations celebrate the 69th anniversary of the end of the 1950-53 war.In his first public appearance at a virtual meeting since Friday, the da

Jul 26, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Will Biden attend Korean War monument event?
  • Biden calls on all Americans to pay respect to Korean War veterans
Politics

Deportation of North Korean fishermen unprecedented violation of Constitution: minister

Unification Minister Kwon Young-se speaks during a parliamentary inquiry into the Yoon Suk-yeol administration at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoSouth Korea's 2019 decision to repatriate two North Korean fishermen against their will was unprecedented and a violation of the Constitution, Unification Minister Kwon Young-se said Monday.Asked whether there have been any similar cases before and after the incident, Kwon said it was the only occasion when North Koreans were forced to leave South Korea despite their objection.South Korea's Constitution says North Koreans should be treated as South Korean citizens. As a result, North Korean escapees are not even required to express their intention to defect to the South if they want to stay here, he added.“If North Koreans say they do not want to return to North Korea, the ministry must accept them,” Kwon said during a parliamentary inquiry into the Yoon Suk-yeol administration at the National Assembly in Seoul. “The decision to send them back was clearly wrong, which damaged the Constitution an

Jul 25, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Deportation of North Korean fishermen unprecedented violation of Constitution: minister
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
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