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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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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
Health

Gov't to restrict face mask exports

People wearing face masks contend with a rainy Tuesday in Seoul. APBy Jung Min-hoThe government said Tuesday it will restrict the export of face masks over the next two months to ensure sufficient domestic supply amid the coronavirus outbreak.The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said that, from Wednesday, mask manufacturers will not be allowed to export more than 10 percent of their daily production until April 30.The manufacturers also are required to release at least 50 percent of their daily output to designated retailers, including Korea Post and Nonghyup.“There have been setbacks in supplying enough masks to the public despite the fact that the daily production of masks has doubled to 11 million in the past two weeks,” Minister Lee Eui-kyung said during a press briefing. “To meet the domestic demand, we will limit the amount of masks for export.”The ministry will also require surgical mask makers to report their daily production, prices and who they sold their products to.

Feb 25, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Gov't to restrict face mask exports
Foreign Affairs

Don't go: US CDC raises travel advisory for Korea to highest level

An employee from a disinfection service company sanitizes the floor of a traditional market in Seoul, Monday. ReutersBy Jung Min-hoThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised its travel advisory for Korea to the highest level Tuesday (KST) after the number of coronavirus cases in Korea surged past 800.The Level 3 warning means U.S. citizens should avoid all nonessential travel to Korea, where the COVID-19 virus has killed eight people and infected nearly 900 as of Tuesday morning.“There is limited access to adequate medical care in affected areas,” the CDC said. “This new coronavirus has caused severe disease and death in patients who developed pneumonia. Risk factors for severe illness are not yet clear, although older adults and those with chronic medical conditions may be at higher risk for severe illness.”The move comes only two days after the CDC issued a Level 2 advisory, urging all travelers to take “enhanced precautions” in Korea.United Airlines and Delta Air Lines put South Korea on a travel waiver list over the outbre

Feb 25, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Don't go: US CDC raises travel advisory for Korea to highest level
  • US Forces Korea imposes tougher process for installation access over coronavirus outbreak
Defense

US Forces Korea denies delaying joint training over virus concerns

YonhapBy Jung Min-hoU.S. Forces Korea (USFK) has denied media reports that joint military training between South Korea and the United States will be delayed over coronavirus concerns.“A recent media article reporting United States Forces Korea proposing the postponement of future combined training is inaccurate,” USFK said Tuesday.“Any decision regarding combined training will be an U.S.-ROK Alliance decision and not a unilateral decision.”Citing South Korean sources, local paper Joongang Ilbo reported Monday morning that the two countries share concerns about COVID-19, which has killed more than 2,600 people and infected nearly 80,000 worldwide, and that they may delay the military drill planned for two weeks from March 9.“When any USFK decisions or announcements are made ― regardless of the topic or scenario ― they will be made through official USFK channels, platforms or agencies and not through rumors or speculation,” USFK said. “USFK's commitment to the ROK-U.S. alliance is ironclad and unbreakable and we will continue to provide a robus

Feb 25, 2020By Jung Min-ho
US Forces Korea denies delaying joint training over virus concerns
  • US Forces Korea imposes tougher process for installation access over coronavirus outbreak
Health

Coronavirus: 'It may be too late to close border with China'

A Korean protester calls for an entry ban on all people from China during a rally near the presidential office in Seoul on Jan. 29, 2020. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Jung Min-hoHakim Djaballah.An infectious disease expert who urged the government to deny entry to all people coming from China to fight the spread of the new coronavirus virus early this month (Feb. 4) said Monday that it may now be too late to prevent a pandemic.“Unfortunately, it may be a little bit too late because the SARS-CoV2 (which causes COVID-19) has adapted well in Korea and now the main concern is how the government will approach this dire situation and contain it,” Hakim Djaballah, former CEO of Institute Pasteur Korea, told The Korea Times. “The Daegu cluster is growing and may spread even further south to Busan and north back to Seoul.”More than 760 people have been confirmed as infected in Korea as of Monday morning, a spike from 16 on Feb. 4. Since emerging in the Chinese city of Wuhan about two months ago, the virus has killed more than 2,400 people and infected nearly 8

Feb 24, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Coronavirus: 'It may be too late to close border with China'
  • Coronavirus: Expert urges gov't to close border with China immediately
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