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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

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
Law & Crime

Ex-spy chiefs implicated in cover-ups

In this Feb. 3, 2021, file photo, National Intelligence Service Director Park Jie-won, right, listens to National Security Office Director Suh Hoon during a meeting at the government complex in Seoul. NewsisProbe launched over killing of fisheries official, deportation of NK fishermenBy Jung Min-hoTwo former chiefs of South Korea's intelligence agency are being investigated for allegedly abusing their positions to obstruct fact-finding efforts in past cases involving North Korea. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said Thursday it is investigating the complaints against former National Intelligence Service (NIS) directors ― Park Jie-won and Suh Hoon ― a day after the spy agency filed the allegations based on the results of its internal probe.Park, who served as NIS chief from July 2020 to May 2022, allegedly abused his power to “remove intelligence-related reports” unlawfully. The information was about a South Korean official who was killed in North Korean waters on Sept. 22, 2020.Details about what information was discarded remain elusive. But the Chosun Ilbo

Jul 7, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Ex-spy chiefs implicated in cover-ups
Politics

First lady thrust back into spotlight over unofficial aide

President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee walk toward Air Force One at Madrid―Barajas Airport in Madrid, June 30. NewsisAnyone close to first lady without formal title is easy target for political attacksBy Jung Min-hoIn the run-up to the presidential election, President Yoon Suk-yeol vowed to abolish the office that had supported the president's spouse amid controversy surrounding the luxury wardrobe of former first lady Kim Jung-sook.Two months after he stepped into office, Yoon is already struggling to keep that promise. His wife, Kim Keon-hee, has been thrust back into the spotlight following revelations that she received support from the wife of Lee Won-mo, a presidential aide, during their official trip to Madrid for the NATO Summit (June 28-30).The massive influence-peddling scandal that eventually brought down former President Park Geun-hye is still fresh in the public's memory and anyone close to the president and his wife without an official title is an easy target for political attacks in Korea.According to sources at the presidential office Wednesday, Lee's wife

Jul 6, 2022By Jung Min-ho
First lady thrust back into spotlight over unofficial aide
Defense

Top military officer interrogated in 2019 for seizing North Korean boat

Then Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Park Han-ki speaks during a hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul, in this Oct. 8, 2019, file photo. Park, who served as the top military officer during the previous administration, was interrogated in 2019 in an unprecedented case after seizing a suspicious North Korean boat despite an instruction to “drive out” non-military boats instead of capturing them. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulRuling party to launch team to investigate security breaches under MoonBy Jung Min-hoOne of the top military officials under the previous Moon Jae-in administration was quizzed for hours in an unprecedented case three years ago, after seizing a suspicious North Korean boat despite an instruction to “drive out” non-military boats instead of capturing them.According to military sources and media reports, Tuesday, Park Han-ki, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) from October 2018 to September 2020, was questioned by Moon's aides over the seizure of the boat on July 27, 2019. He made the decision after the boat had cross

Jul 5, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Top military officer interrogated in 2019 for seizing North Korean boat
North Korea

INTERVIEW 'Repatriation puts fear in eyes of all North Koreans,' rights expert says

In this June 4, 2020, file photo, Suzanne Scholte, left, the chairwoman of the North Korea Freedom Coalition and a Seoul Peace Prize winner, and other human rights activists prepare to send balloons carrying pro-democracy messages to North Korea from Paju, a city near the border with the North. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukScholte calls for reinvestigation into decision to send fishermen to 'their deaths'By Jung Min-hoSouth Korea's 2019 decision to repatriate two North Korean fishermen was a violation of its U.N. treaty obligations and investigators should find out who was behind sending them to a North Korean torture chamber, if not worse, according to a human rights expert.Suzanne Scholte, the chairwoman of the North Korea Freedom Coalition and a Seoul Peace Prize winner, told The Korea Times that checking whether the fishermen are alive could be a first step toward uncovering the truth.“Based on the testimonies of thousands of eyewitnesses, we know the fishermen (probably) faced execution ― the South Korean authorities knew that too ― because they were seeking resettleme

Jul 4, 2022By Jung Min-ho
[INTERVIEW] 'Repatriation puts fear in eyes of all North Koreans,' rights expert says
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