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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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Trends

Korea's population to halve in 80 years: study

In this July 3, 2019, photo, a girl holding her mother's hand carries her lunch at the Dunsan Elementary School in Daejeon. A recent study says Korea's population will halve by 2100. Korea Times fileBy Jung Min-hoKorea's population will halve in 80 years and by then two Asian countries ― Indonesia and the Philippines ― are expected to outgrow its GDP, according to a study in the medical journal Lancet.The analysis, published Tuesday, shows that Korea's population, which was estimated at 52.67 million, including foreigners, in 2017, is projected to reach a peak of 54.29 million in 2031, before plunging to 26.78 million in 2100.Meanwhile, the country's GDP ranking will fall six spots to 20th place behind Nigeria (9), Indonesia (12) and the Philippines (18), the report says.The world population will reach a peak of 9.73 billion in 2064 before decreasing to 8.8 billion in 2100, about 2 billion short of the United Nations' projection.Populations in 23 countries, including Korea and Japan, are forecast to decline by more than half, with 34 countries, including China, expecting a drop of mo

Jul 16, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Korea's population to halve in 80 years: study
  • Childbirths drop 10.4% in April as population decline looms
  • INTERVIEW 'Korea's population outlook makes immigration talk inevitable'
Photo News

PHOTOS Colorful lotuses in full bloom

Lotuses are in full bloom at the Lotus Village in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, Wednesday. YonhapYonhapYonhapYonhapYonhap

Jul 15, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Colorful lotuses in full bloom [PHOTOS]
Law & Crime

Police reveal identity of another key suspect in 'Nth room' case

Police take Nam Kyung-eup to a van parked near Jongno Police Station in Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoSo far, police have revealed the identities of six key suspects in the “Nth room” scandal. YonhapPolice have disclosed the identity of a man accused of being involved in running the notorious porn channels on the Telegram chat app.According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Wednesday, Nam Kyung-eup, 29, was an accomplice of Cho Ju-bin, 24, who called himself “baksa (doctor).” Together, they operated chat rooms in which they sexually abused many women.“I'm sorry,” Nam told reporters as he was taken to a van parked near Jongno Police Station in Seoul. “I admit (the charges).”Nam was a paid-up member of Cho's channels before conspiring to find targets and coercing victims to have sex in front of cameras, police said.A seven-member police committee ― including a lawyer, a psychologist and a journalist ― decided to disclose Nam's identity Tuesday. He immediately filed for an injunction, which the court rejected Wednesday.So far

Jul 15, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Police reveal identity of another key suspect in 'Nth room' case
  • 'Digital Prison' reveals identities of child porn site operator and judges who released him
Health

Bug fear: 36,000 Incheon households told not to drink tap water

A larva-like insect found in Incheon's tap water. The city government has advised some 36,000 households not to drink the water until health officials confirm its safety. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoHealth authorities have advised some 36,000 households in Incheon not to drink tap water after residents reported that tiny bugs had been found in it.“So far, we have received 23 complaints in which residents say they found larva-like insects,” the Incheon city government said Tuesday. “For everyone's safety, we advise 36,000 households in Wnaggil, Dangha, Wondang and Majeon-dong not to drink water from the tap directly.”Citing Kim Wang-gyu, a researcher at the National Institute of Biological Resources, the city government said the bugs were found to be chironomus plumosus, also known as the buzzer midge, and there is “no evidence that they are harmful” to humans.But to ensure safety, inspectors have started investigating water tanks, pipes and the source of the water, it said.Until health officials confirm the water's safety, the city government said it plans

Jul 15, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Bug fear: 36,000 Incheon households told not to drink tap water
  • 'Reddish' tap water sparks health concerns in Incheon
Health

Busan to fine beachgoers for not wearing masks

Women covering their faces at Gwangalli Beach in Busan, July 8. Starting July 25, those who do not wear masks at the city's five most popular beaches will face fines of up to 3 million won. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoVisitors to some of Busan's most popular beaches will have to wear masks or face hefty fines.Starting July 25, the city's health officials will impose fines of up to 3 million won ($2,500) for those not wearing masks at five beaches ― Haeundae, Songjeong, Gwangalli, Dadaepo and Songdo ― as part of the efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.With the Haeundae District Office's own rule already in place, visitors to Haeundae could be fined from July 20.Also, eating and drinking on the beaches will be prohibited. Violators could face a fine of up to 3 million won.If anyone causes significant financial damage by violating the rules, the city government said it will demand reparation.Smaller beaches have been excluded from the measures. However, if the number of visitors increases significantly, they may also be included, the city government said.“We made the decision for the s

Jul 14, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Busan to fine beachgoers for not wearing masks
Photo News

PHOTOS Mourners say goodbye to late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon

A woman cries as she leaves the memorial altar for late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon in Seoul, Sunday. Park, a strong contender for Korea's next president and a former human rights lawyer, took his own life Thursday, a day after he was accused of sexual harassment. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukKorea Times photo by Choi Won-sukKorea Times photo by Choi Won-sukA man bows as he pays tribute to late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon at the memorial altar in Seoul, Sunday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukPeople pay tribute to late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon at the memorial altar in Seoul, Sunday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Jul 12, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Mourners say goodbye to late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon [PHOTOS]
  • Deaths of two leaders left Korean society divided
Photo News

PHOTOS A short break from the scorching sun

People wait for a green light under a sun shelter in Seoul, Thursday. Temperatures in the capital reached 34 degrees Celsius in the afternoon. YonhapYonhapYonhap

Jul 9, 2020By Jung Min-ho
A short break from the scorching sun [PHOTOS]
Law & Crime

'Digital Prison' reveals identities of child porn site operator and judges who released him

Son Jong-woo, who operated "Welcome to Video," one of the world's largest child porn sites, leaves the Seoul Detention Center at Uiwang in Gyeonggi Province, Monday, after the Seoul High Court rejected a extradition request for him. YonhapThe operator of "Digital Prison" has revealed the identities of Son ― and the judges who released him ― among other criminals and suspects in some of Korea's most notorious cases. Screengrab of "Digital Prison"By Jung Min-hoThe operator of “Digital Prison,” an overseas-based website, has revealed the identities of infamous child porn site operator Son Jong-woo and three judges who recently rejected the U.S. government's extradition request for him.The unidentified operator says the purpose of creating the site was to “punish the criminals with the punishment they would fear the most ― exposing their identities.”The site, which opened a few months ago, came into the spotlight after it disclosed the photos, names and other personal information of Son, the operator of “Welcome to Video,” among other convicts and susp

Jul 9, 2020By Jung Min-ho
'Digital Prison' reveals identities of child porn site operator and judges who released him
  • Police reveal identity of another key suspect in 'Nth room' case
  • Debate heats up over 'Digital Prison' after college student's death
  • 'Digital Prison,' means to get justice, or breeding ground for false accusations?
  • 'Digital Prison' shuts down amid outcry
  • Gov't blocks access to 'Digital Prison'
  • 'Digital Prison' operator detained
  • 'Digital Prison' operator gets 3 1/2-year in prison for sharing personal data online
Global Community

INTERVIEW 'Korea's population outlook makes immigration talk inevitable'

Korea Immigration Service Commissioner Cha Gyu-geun speaks during an interview at his office in the Government Complex in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, June 29. Korea Times photo by Kim Kang-minBy Jung Min-hoGWACHEON ― Without the inflow of foreign workers, Korea is already shrinking.After deaths outnumbered births for the first time in November 2019, the gap has widened since. A chronically low birthrate, which hit an all-time low of 0.92 that year, suggests that the trend is only going to accelerate and that the country will face massive labor shortages in the decades to come if nothing changes.Years of government efforts to reverse the trend have been futile, leaving the country with the difficult choice of enduring the shock of a rapid decrease in the population or turning to immigration.Without immigration, the risk is that the population will continue to decrease and fail to provide enough taxpayers to fund social welfare and medical costs that will grow as the country ages.Cha Gyu-geun, commissioner of the Korea Immigration Service (KIS), says the time has come to face that rea

Jul 8, 2020By Jung Min-ho
[INTERVIEW] 'Korea's population outlook makes immigration talk inevitable'
  • Liberals' problem with immigration
  • EXCLUSIVE Over 41,000 undocumented immigrants leaving Korea under amnesty program
  • Korea's population to halve in 80 years: study
  • Experts advocate for immigration amid population decline
  • ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL Korea urged to adopt open immigration policy
Travel & Food

EU opens borders to Korean travelers

A waiter wears a protective face mask as he serves wine to Australian tourists after the easing of restrictions imposed to control the spread of COVID-19, at the terrace restaurant at the Catalonia Ronda hotel, in front of a bullring at sunset in downtown Ronda, southern Spain, June 29. ReutersBy Jung Min-hoThe European Union (EU) has reopened its borders to travelers from 14 “safe countries,” including Korea, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.The 27-member bloc decided to allow leisure trips from Wednesday (local time) as it struggles to revive economic activity while fending off new waves of the disease.The 13 others are Algeria, Australia, Canada, Japan, Georgia, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay.Visitors from China, where the new coronavirus first emerged late last year, will be allowed on the condition that Beijing allows in EU visitors.The United States, where more than 2.7 million people were reported to have been infected, was excluded from the list.But with the virus still raging in much of the world, it is unclear whether t

Jul 1, 2020By Jung Min-ho
EU opens borders to Korean travelers
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