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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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Health

Coronavirus: Hong Kong dog believed to be first case of human-to-animal transmission

A dog wearing a face mask is seen on a Shanghai street on March 2 as China battles the COVID-19 outbreak. ReutersBy Jung Min-hoA pet dog in Hong Kong has contracted COVID-19 from its owner in what could be the first known human-to-animal transmission, local health authorities said Wednesday.The Pomeranian is now under quarantine after repeated tests confirmed a “low-level infection” of the virus, though it shows no symptoms of the disease, a spokesman for Hong Kong's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said.The results conflict with the World Health Organization's (WHO) official stance that “there is no evidence that companion animals/pets such as dogs or cats can be infected with the new coronavirus.”However, the spokesman stressed there is no evidence that pets could pass the virus to their owners.“Apart from maintaining good hygiene practices, pet owners need not be overly concerned and under no circumstances should they abandon their pets,” he said.Further tests will be conducted on the dog; it will not be released from quarantin

Mar 5, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Coronavirus: Hong Kong dog believed to be first case of human-to-animal transmission
  • Can dogs and cats be infected with new virus? WHO says no
Defense

Two USFK dependents test positive for COVID-19

Soldiers screen visitors at the entrance to Camp Humphreys at Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province, Feb. 27. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoTwo United States Forces Korea (USFK) dependents in Daegu have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the number of USFK-related infections to six.The fifth patient, a dependent of a USFK service member, has not been in contact with any other USFK-affiliated person since going into self-quarantine on Feb. 26.“The Korea Centers for Disease Control (KCDC) and Prevention and USFK health professionals determined contact tracing was not necessary due to the patient's quarantine measures and lack of interaction with others,” the USFK said Thursday. “The patient is currently in isolation under direct medical care and supervision from U.S. military medical providers.”The sixth patient, a dependent of a U.S. Department of Defense civilian employee, has been in self-quarantine with her spouse since Feb. 28.“KCDC and USFK health professionals are actively conducting contact tracing to determine whether anyone else may have been exposed. KCDC h

Mar 5, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Two USFK dependents test positive for COVID-19
Global Community

Foreigners accuse Daegu of scapegoating them for virus spread

People line up to buy face masks in front of a drug store amid the rise in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 in Daegu, Tuesday. ReutersBy Jung Min-hoForeigners are up in arms for the Daegu city government's “racist” Facebook post.The controversy emerged after the Daegu Metropolitan Government's official English-language Facebook page said Monday that organizers of the 2020 Daegu Lantern Festival will “restrict foreigners' admission due to prevention for COVID-19 spreading.”The comment comes as the government struggles to contain the virus, which has killed 33 people and infected more than 5,700 across Korea. Daegu is among the nation's worst-hit areas.“If a city wants to focus on scapegoating a particular group at a time when the rest of the world is trying to stop linking this virus to particular nationalities or origins, then this place is a national embarrassment” Michael Hurt, an American photographer and lecturer in cultural theory at Korean National University of Arts, told The Korea Times Wednesday.Another long-time American

Mar 4, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Foreigners accuse Daegu of scapegoating them for virus spread
Foreign Affairs

Philippines partially lifts travel ban to Korea

Officials wearing traditional guard uniforms and protective face masks at the Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, Feb. 29. APBy Jung Min-hoThe Philippines is lifting a travel ban to Korea, only a week after imposing it over coronavirus concerns.According to Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tuesday, Philippines citizens are now allowed to visit Korea, except for North Gyeongsang Province, including Daegu ― the hardest hit areas.Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the resumption of Filipinos' travel to Korea. Authorities earlier banned all travel to the country, except for those who live, study or work there.“Our ministry has asked the Philippine government to revoke the previous decision through various channels, explaining our superb medical and disease control capabilities in response to COVID-19,” the ministry said.Korea has so far recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases outside mainland China, with more than 5,300 infected patients and 32 deaths.Korea's health ministry said there have been

Mar 4, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Philippines partially lifts travel ban to Korea
Sports

Three foreign basketball players leave Korea over virus fears

The Goyang Orion Orions' Boris Savovic, center, the Busan KT Sonicboom's Allen Durham, left, and Byron Mullens / YonhapBy Jung Min-hoA Serbian basketball player will leave the Korean professional league (KBL) before the end of the 2019-20 season over coronavirus concerns.According to the Goyang Orion Orions, Boris Savovic said Thursday that he would terminate his contract to leave Korea ― the third foreign athlete to do so.Savovic, the first European to play in the KBL, joined as a center in November. He is eighth in the league with 15.3 points per game and 12th overall with 5.9 rebounds per game.Two other players ― the Busan KT Sonicboom's Allen Durham and Byron Mullens ― also have decided to return to the United States.The regular season was initially scheduled to finish on March 31. But faced with health issues and the star players leaving, the KBL said Saturday that it will suspend the season for four weeks.

Mar 2, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Three foreign basketball players leave Korea over virus fears
Foreign Affairs

Coronavirus: Korea warns against traveling to Japan, Italy

Sumo wrestlers wear masks as they arrive at the JR Shin-Osaka train station for a tournament in Osaka. AFPA tourist stands in the Piazza del Duomo in Milan on Feb. 29. AFPBy Jung Min-hoKorea has advised its citizens against traveling to Japan and Italy due to coronavirus concerns.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a Level 1 travel advisory for Japan on its four-tier scale on Saturday. The COVID-19 virus has killed 12 people and infected more than 900 (including those from the cruise ship Diamond Princess) in Japan.“The decision was made after considering the risk of infection in Japan,” the ministry said in a statement. “We will keep an eye on the situation developing in Japan and, if necessary, will change the advisory level.”On Friday, the ministry issued a Level 2 travel advisory for three regions in northern Italy ― Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna ― for the same reason. The death toll has hit 34 and nearly 1,700 people infected in the country.“Korean citizens who stay in northern Italy should be mindful of health and safety; if you are consid

Mar 2, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Coronavirus: Korea warns against traveling to Japan, Italy
Health

Prison reports first coronavirus infection among inmates

GettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoKorea has reported its first coronavirus infection among prisoners.According to the Ministry of Justice Sunday, an inmate, 60, at Gimcheon Prison in North Gyeongsang Province tested positive for COVID-19 on Feb. 27.It is unclear how he caught the virus after being confined there on Jan. 21.Health officials conducted virus tests on 20 prison guards and 12 inmates, who had been in close contact with him. The results are expected to come out in three days, the ministry said.The inmate appeared to be healthy before starting to show symptoms of the virus, including fever, on Feb. 27, guards said.Gimcheon Prison will disinfect all facilities.

Mar 2, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Prison reports first coronavirus infection among inmates
Society

Chinese students return home from Korea 'in fear of coronavirus'

Daegu University in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province. / Courtesy of Daegu UniversityBy Jung Min-hoSeven Chinese students at Daegu University have returned home over the past week in fear of the new coronavirus from China.Hankook Ilbo, sister paper of The Korea Times, reported Thursday that two Chinese students left for home after briefly staying at the dormitory in Gyeongsan, a city near Daegu where hundreds of COVID-19 infections have been reported since last week.“The students' parents were uneasy about the situation here and asked them to come back,” a Daegu University official said. “It's ironic that Chinese students leave (for China) in fear of the virus (from China).”This comes after five other Chinese students who recently came to Gyeongsan for the new semester returned home on Feb. 24 over the same concerns.Among 33 Chinese students who signed up for the dormitory, only one has checked into the facility, the official said.The COVID-19 virus, which emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, had killed 13 people and infected nearly 1,600 in Ko

Feb 27, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Chinese students return home from Korea 'in fear of coronavirus'
  • Chinese students delay trips to Korea amid coronavirus worries
Society

34 Shincheonji members on Jeju 'show symptoms of coronavirus'

People wear face masks at Jeju International Airport, Feb. 21. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoThe Jeju provincial government said Thursday that 34 members of Shincheonji, a doomsday “church” responsible for much of the spread of coronavirus in Korea, have shown symptoms of the disease ― a red signal for the island that has a population of 670,000.According to the Jeju government, 34 of the 603 Shincheonji members who responded to officials by phone Wednesday said they had shown symptoms such as fever and a cough.The officials said they have not been able to reach 43 others on the island.The 34 people will soon be tested for the virus, which has killed more than 2,700 people and infected nearly 82,000 around the world. They will be quarantined in their homes for two weeks.With police help, the Jeju government will look into Shincheonji facilities to ensure all members are tested.

Feb 27, 2020By Jung Min-ho
34 Shincheonji members on Jeju 'show symptoms of coronavirus'
Foreign Affairs

Virus fears: Filipino tourists banned from visiting Korea

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte / APBy Jung Min-hoThe Philippine government has temporarily banned Filipino tourists from going to Korea due to coronavirus concerns.But permanent residents, overseas workers and students in Korea will be exempted.“Any travel to South Korea will be temporarily suspended,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque said Wednesday. “Only permanent residents of South Korea, Filipinos leaving for study and OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) returning for work will be allowed, provided they sign a written declaration acknowledging the risks involved, which will be complemented with health advisory pamphlets.”Earlier, the government approved a move to impose an entry ban on all travelers coming from North Gyeongsang Province, including Daegu, which recently emerged as a hotbed of the virus.However, Filipinos and their foreign spouses or children, and holders of permanent resident and diplomatic visas will still be allowed entry, subject to screening and quarantine protocols.The government's inter-agency task force said it will decide whether

Feb 27, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Virus fears: Filipino tourists banned from visiting Korea
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