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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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Companies

Two-minute COVID-19 antibody test kit set to hit market

Researchers work in a lab at the headquarters of genome sequencing company EDGC in Incheon. EDGC HealthCare, its subsidiary, says its rapid antibody test kits are ready for the market. Courtesy of EDGCBy Jung Min-hoA Korean company's rapid antibody test kit for COVID-19, which can deliver results in just two minutes, is ready for mass production.An official at EDGC HealthCare, a company known for its COVID-19 detection kit (DiaPlexQ), told The Korea Times Friday that its antibody test kit (COVID-19 IgM/IgG) recently attained CE marking, a certification that demonstrates conformity with health and safety standards for products sold in Europe.“We are now waiting for an export permit from the Korea Food and Drug Administration. We have also been working on an export deal for 100,000 tests with a potential customer in Spain,” the official said.With the detection and antibody test kits available, the government would be able to respond better to a potential second wave of the coronavirus infection in the fall, the company said in a statement.The company said its antibody test

May 8, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Two-minute COVID-19 antibody test kit set to hit market
Companies

EDGC HealthCare exports COVID-19 detection kits to Colorado

Boxes of EDGC HealthCare's coronavirus test kits for the state of Colorado / Courtesy of EDGC HealthCareBy Jung Min-hoEDGC HealthCare, a subsidiary of Korean genome sequencing company EDGC, is planning to export more COVID-19 detection kits to Colorado this month.An EDGC Healthcare official told The Korea Times Thursday that the U.S. state will import its detection kits, DiaPlexQ, for 200,000 tests over the next two months after its initial purchase of 100,000 tests last month.The deal comes after the test kit received emergency-use approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Colorado is one of several U.S. states to have imported the products for a total of 1 million tests in the country, the official said.Since emerging in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, the new coronavirus has infected nearly 3.7 million people and killed more than 260,000 around the world.Korea initially struggled with a surge in new cases but has kept the outbreak under control. The government has been praised for its rapid virus testing program ― 10,000 daily tests ― an

May 7, 2020By Jung Min-ho
EDGC HealthCare exports COVID-19 detection kits to Colorado
Photo News

PHOTOS Fire engulfs Gimpo recycling plant

Firefighters extinguish the blaze at the recycling facility in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. About 90 firefighters were deployed to put out the fire that occurred about 9:10 a.m. and injured one person. YonhapYonhapYonhapYonhap

May 7, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Fire engulfs Gimpo recycling plant [PHOTOS]
Sports

International governing bodies of taekwondo and powerboating vow to promote human rights through sports

World Taekwondo and Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation President Choue Chung-won, right, and Union Internationale Motonautique President Raffaele Chiulli applaud after signing a memorandum of understanding during their online video conference, Wednesday. Courtesy of World TaekwondoBy Jung Min-hoThe international governing bodies of taekwondo and powerboating signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) Wednesday to promote human rights and world peace through sports.Due to the coronavirus pandemic, World Taekwondo (WT) and THF President Choue Chung-won and Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) President Raffaele Chiulli celebrated the new partnership online from Seoul and Rome, respectively.Under the terms of the agreement, the three parties have committed to working together to develop sports education programs for refugees around the world. They have also agreed to promote the ideas of sustainable development and environmental preservation in line with the International Olympic Committee's “sustainable strategy.”“WT

May 7, 2020By Jung Min-ho
International governing bodies of taekwondo and powerboating vow to promote human rights through sports
Photo News

PHOTOS Preparing for baseball season opening amid pandemic

A health official sanitizes seats at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, Monday, a day before the start of the 2020 Korea Baseball Organization season. The original opening day of March 28 was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. YonhapA health official sanitizes seats at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, Monday. YonhapA health worker wipes the floor at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, Monday. YonhapOfficials make a final check outside Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

May 4, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Preparing for baseball season opening amid pandemic [PHOTOS]
  • ESPN to air Korean baseball games
Law & Crime

Woman convicted for fighting off 'rapist' seeks retrial after 56 years

GettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoA woman convicted 56 years ago for biting off a man's tongue as she fought against his “attempt to rape” will request a retrial this week.According to Busan Women's Hot Line, a nonprofit women's rights group, Monday, Choi Mal-ja, 74, and her lawyers will file an application for retrial with Busan District Court Wednesday. She said she acted in self-defense and Korea's justice system at the time failed to recognize it.On May 4 in 1964, Choi, then 18, was arrested after injuring a man, 21, surnamed Roh, who was allegedly trying to rape her on a street. The next year, she was given a suspended prison sentence. She was devastated.During an investigation, she maintained her innocence and said she clearly acted in self-defense against the man, who was forcing his tongue in her mouth. But prosecutors rejected her claim, and charged him with blackmail among other offenses, but not rape.Speaking to the Hankyoreh, a local daily, Choi said she was detained for six months before the ruling and her father even paid Roh settlement money for a lighter senten

May 4, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Woman convicted for fighting off 'rapist' seeks retrial after 56 years
Global Community

Bucheon offers stimulus money to foreigners, including undocumented ones

GettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoThe Bucheon city government is offering stimulus money to foreigners, including undocumented ones, to help them cope with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.The ordinance passed by the city council on April 29 states marriage immigrants, permanent residents and all the other foreign residents recognized by the mayor as those in need of aid are eligible to receive 50,000 won ($41) each just like Korean residents.In early drafts, foreigners, except F-5 and F-6 visa holders, were excluded from the benefit. But councilor Jung Jae-hyun said undocumented foreigners should also be included. Among 33 other council members, 26 consented.“It is right to support all members of our community, including foreigners, as they financially struggle during the pandemic,” councilor Kim Dong-hee said in a statement.Beneficiaries of the city's policy can apply separately for stimulus money from the Gyeonggi provincial government.

May 4, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Bucheon offers stimulus money to foreigners, including undocumented ones
  • Gyeonggi to offer universal basic income to marriage immigrants, permanent residents
  • South Korea begins offering coronavirus relief funds
Law & Crime

Olympic star arrested for sexually assaulting teen

In this July 13, 2012, photo, Wang Ki-chun, right, competes in the men's under-73kg division. Korea Times fileBy Jung Min-hoWang Ki-chun, one of the biggest Korean judo stars and an Olympic silver medalist, has been arrested on a charge of sexually assaulting a teenage girl, police said Sunday.According to the Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency, Wang, 31, was arrested Friday and faces an indictment for sexual assault. Police refused to reveal details of the case.Wang, who started judo in 1995, rose to stardom after taking a gold medal in the under-73kg division at the 2007 World Judo Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The next year ― despite a ribcage fracture ― he surprised the world by winning silver at the Beijing Olympics.After his retirement in 2016, Wang opened a judo gym named after him in Daegu; now there are six of them across the country.

May 3, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Olympic star arrested for sexually assaulting teen
Law & Crime

Parliament approves raising the age of consent to 16

GettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoKorea's legal age of consent is set to be raised to 16 from 13 after parliamentary approval.On Wednesday, the National Assembly passed revisions to the criminal law to better protect children under 16 from sexual exploitation.President Moon Jae-in is expected to sign it into law in two weeks.The age of consent is that at which a person is considered mature and competent enough to consent to sexual activity. An adult who engages in sexual acts with a person under the age could be charged with child sexual abuse or rape.Korea has long been criticized for keeping the legal benchmark too low. In Russia and Finland, it is 16; in California and Florida, it is 18.New law to criminalize watching illegally filmed sex videosThe set of bills passed that day includes punishing those who watch illegally filmed videos of sexual acts.Under the new sex crime act, people who possess, purchase, store or watch such videos can face up to three years in prison or a maximum fine of 30 million won ($24,610).After the Nth room case came into the spotlight, calls have grown to to

May 3, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Parliament approves raising the age of consent to 16
  • Ruling party agrees to raise age of consent to 16 in fight against child sexual abuse
Health

PM urges Jeju officials to stay alert during long holiday weekend

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun speaks during a meeting at the government complex in Seoul, Monday. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoPrime Minister Chung Sye-kyun has urged Jeju officials to stay alert for a possible new wave of coronavirus infections during the upcoming holiday weekend.“I have been told that plane and train tickets to major tourist attractions were almost sold out. I urge all officials on Jeju and Gangwon provinces to stay alert,” Chung said at Monday's meeting in the Seoul government complex. “The outcome would be seen as a litmus test of whether our society can handle this health crisis while maintaining normal activities of daily living.”Despite Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong's call for people to refrain from visiting the island, more than 170,000 visitors are expected to spend time there during the holiday from late April to early May, including Buddha's Birthday (Apr. 30), May Day (May 1), Children's Day (May 5) and a weekend in between.With the number of daily new cases hovering around 10 and social distancing eased, many people opt to enjoy their holida

Apr 27, 2020By Jung Min-ho
PM urges Jeju officials to stay alert during long holiday weekend
  • Jeju braces for surge in incoming holiday tourists amid easing pandemic restrictions
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