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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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Politics

How a young activist failed to reform the Democratic Party

Park Ji-hyun is surrounded by reporters at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday, after resigning as a co-chief of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoWhen a 26-year-old activist who fought to shed light on digital sex crimes became the co-leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) in March, many hoped she would be able to utilize the crucial months left before the June 1 local elections to galvanize the support of young female voters.But instead of solving the problems that were deeply rooted in the main opposition party, Park Ji-hyun, who helped expose systematic sex trafficking crimes (known as the “Nth” room scandal), revealed to the public the shortcomings of the DPK at a time when many voters were still undecided.The result was devastating for the DPK, which won only five out of 17 metropolitan mayor and governor posts and lost its majority in local offices nationwide. In the previous elections four years ago, the DPK won 14 of those posts.As she resigned from the party leadership along with other top officials, Park thanked thos

Jun 4, 2022By Jung Min-ho
How a young activist failed to reform the Democratic Party
  • DPK embroiled in post-election blame game
North Korea

North Korea set for nuclear test, says US official

Kim Gunn, center, South Korea's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, his U.S. counterpart Sung Kim, right, and Japanese counterpart Takehiro Funakoshi pose before their meeting at the Foreign Ministry's office in Seoul, Friday. AP-YonhapBy Jung Min-hoThe top nuclear envoys of South Korea, the United States and Japan met for the first time in Seoul Friday since President Yoon Suk-yeol took office last month amid growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea.Speaking to reporters before their meeting, the senior diplomats ― Kim Gunn, Sung Kim and Takehiro Funakoshi ― all underscored the importance of a “firm and united” response to the North's military threats. They also urged Pyongyang to return to the table for talks, offering help for its fight against COVID-19 and food crisis.“Our trilateral cooperation is essential for responding to challenges posed by North Korea,” Kim Gunn, the South's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, said. “North Korea's relentless pursuit of nuclear w

Jun 3, 2022By Jung Min-ho
North Korea set for nuclear test, says US official
  • S. Korean, US navies hold combined exercise in waters off Okinawa
Politics

Ex-supporters explain why they 'walked away' from Democratic Party

A woman prepares to cast her vote for local elections to elect mayors, governors, council members and education superintendents at a polling station in Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoIt was a party they trusted only four years ago. When the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) won 14 out of 17 metropolitan mayor and governor posts, in the biggest-ever local election victory by any party, some party leaders said that the landslide would be only the beginning of its long reign.But it wasn't.Barring an unprecedented polling error, the liberal DPK is expected to lose at least 10 of the key posts after the June 1 elections.Some people who voted for the party in previous elections told The Korea Times Tuesday that they have lost trust in it largely due to its incompetence and hypocrisy. “I will never vote for the DPK, not just this election but ever again,” said Cheong, 31, a Seoul travel company employee who had previously voted only for liberal parties, mostly the DPK. “Housing prices skyrocketed during the Moon Jae-in government. But the DPK, which has control over b

Jun 1, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Ex-supporters explain why they 'walked away' from Democratic Party
  • Ruling party scores landslide victory in local elections
  • DPK leaders offer to quit interim leadership committee en masse over election defeat
Politics

Yoon in search of 'better ways' to counter corruption in presidential office

President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks to reporters as he enters his office in Seoul, Monday. The presidential office said Tuesday that it is seeking to set up a better system to prevent and counter corruption involving people close to the president. Yonhap 'It is up to National Assembly to maintain special inspector system'By Jung Min-hoPresident Yoon Suk-yeol is searching for more effective ways to prevent and counter corruption involving people close to him, but it is up to the National Assembly whether to maintain the current special inspector system, an official said Tuesday.The post of special inspector was established in 2014 to keep the presidential office clean from corruption. Its role is to look into alleged irregularities by the president's family members, including the spouse and close relatives and presidential officials who are either equal to or above a senior presidential secretary in rank.“The presidential office is trying to create a better system to root out corruption, but it doesn't mean that the current system will be abolished, which (as it is the law) requires

Jun 1, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Yoon in search of 'better ways' to counter corruption in presidential office
Politics

Opposition lawmakers reject 'foul-mouthed' health minister nominee

In this Oct. 4, 2019, file photo, Rep. Kim Seung-hee speaks during her parliamentary inspection at the National Assembly in Seoul. Kim, who was named as the nominee for health minister post, has become a prime target of main opposition party lawmakers who accuse her of being “foul-mouthed” and “unethical.” YonhapBy Jung Min-hoLess than a week after then Health Minister nominee Chung Ho-young withdrew from consideration, his replacement, Kim Seung-hee, has now become a prime target of main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmakers who accuse her of being “foul-mouthed” and “unethical.”“Many people remember her as a foul-mouthed politician, as she once said former President Moon Jae-in was showing early signs of dementia,” lawmakers of the DPK said in a joint statement. “For stirring up hatred and using foul language, she was brought to the National Assembly's ethics committee and for that reason, she did not even get the opportunity to compete in the last general election as a candidate for the United Future

May 29, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Opposition lawmakers reject 'foul-mouthed' health minister nominee
Politics

Lee In-sil named new patent office chief

By Jung Min-hoLee In-silAnother woman has been appointed to lead a key government office as President Yoon Suk-yeol appears to be coping with criticism that his administration is too male-dominated.The presidential office said Sunday that Lee In-sil will be the next commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), a government agency responsible for administering intellectual property rights including patents, utility models and designs.Lee, chief of Korea Women Investors Association, has worked in the field for more than 30 years after becoming only the third female patent agent in the country. “Not only has she worked to protect the national interest in the battlefield of the international patent war, she has helped other women engage in economic activities by supporting them through various organizations over the past 20 years,” the office said in a statement.KIPO added that she has been an inspiration for women seeking to make their marks in many male-dominated career fields.Just three days earlier, in a surprising announcement, Yoon said women will lea

May 29, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Lee In-sil named new patent office chief
North Korea

North Korea COVID situation 'very worrying' for mutations: experts

This photo shows a general view of Ryomyong Street in Pyongyang, North Korea, May 16. On Thursday, North Korea reported more than 105,500 new fever cases. AP-Yonhap By Jung Min-hoDelta and Omicron ― the SARS-CoV-2 variants that have perpetuated the global pandemic ― were first detected in places where vaccination rates were low and new cases were surging.This is what makes the COVID-19 situation in North Korea especially concerning ― for everyone within and outside its borders ― according to medical experts, Thursday. “The environments where the Delta and Omicron variants emerged in India and South Africa, respectively, show that unvaccinated populations could fuel the formation of new variants,” Kim Sin-gon, a professor at Korea University College of Medicine, said at a seminar in Seoul on North Korea's COVID-19 situation. “This is why South Korea and the world should pay more attention to North Korea's struggle with COVID-19 … Its zero vaccine rate is deeply conce

May 26, 2022By Jung Min-ho
North Korea COVID situation 'very worrying' for mutations: experts
Defense

South Korean military to start using more advanced helmets this year

This combination of images provided by the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement shows two views of the new helmet developed jointly by Hyosung and Kyungchang Industry. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoSouth Korea's military will start using more advanced helmets later this year after more than five years of work on the development project, according to the state defense agency Wednesday. The new lightweight helmet is the outcome of a joint project launched by two Korean firms ― Hyosung and Kyungchang Industry ― to enhance the survivability and mobility of troops on the battlefield.The Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement, which has led the project since 2017, said the helmet is capable of protecting its wearers from 9- millimeter pistol bullets and other similar weapons. Moreover, its bulletproof capability remains intact at both high and low temperatures, or even when submerged underwater.Aramid, a class of resilient and heat-resistant synthetic fibers, was developed as a material for the new military helmet by Hyosung ― the

May 26, 2022By Jung Min-ho
South Korean military to start using more advanced helmets this year
North Korea

COVID-19 aid offer stands despite North Korea's latest provocation: minister

Unification Minister Kwon Young-se responds to questions from lawmakers at the National Assembly in Seoul, May 20. Kwon said Wednesday that South Korea will continue to seek ways to help North Korea fight against COVID-19 despite its latest military provocation. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoDespite North Korea's latest military provocation, South Korea will continue to seek ways to support the North's fight against COVID-19, Unification Minister Kwon Young-se said Wednesday. “The Yoon Suk-yeol administration has maintained the stance that it would continue to find ways to help improve the lives of North Korean people, while responding strongly to its provocation,” Kwon said during a seminar for inter-Korean cooperation on the pandemic at the National Assembly in Seoul. “That's why we offered help immediately after the reports about the COVID-19 outbreak in North Korea … It's regrettable that the North chose to provoke (South Korea) instead of responding favorably to the offer,” he said.Kwon urged the North to take “the right path,” saying the Yoon go

May 25, 2022By Jung Min-ho
COVID-19 aid offer stands despite North Korea's latest provocation: minister
Health

Over 76% of Koreans support legalizing euthanasia

gettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoMore than 76 percent of people in Korea support legalizing euthanasia, or physician-assisted suicide, according to a recent opinion poll.A survey by Professor Yun Young-ho at Seoul National University College of Medicine showed 61.9 percent of respondents said they would “strongly agree” to making a law for access to the controversial medical procedure, while 14.4 percent said they would “agree.” Only 2 percent said they would “strongly disagree” with such legislation, while 21.7 percent said they would “disagree.”In the same survey conducted in 2016, about 50 percent said they would support it.The No. 1 reason for their support in the latest poll was “the rest of life is meaningless (30.8 percent),” followed by “the right to a dignified death (26 percent),” “less pain (20.6 percent),” “less burden for the family (14.8 percent)” and “less burden for society (4.6 percent).”Nearly 45 percent of those opposed to the procedure picked “respect for

May 25, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Over 76% of Koreans support legalizing euthanasia
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