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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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Foreign Affairs

Over 34,000 sign petition to ban Rising Sun flag from Tokyo Olympics

Protesters burn images of the Rising Sun flag featuring a portrait of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with the Chinese characters "Shameful," during a protest on the 80th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre, in Hong Kong, Dec. 13, 2017. ReutersBy Jung Min-hoMore than 34,000 people have signed a petition to ban Japan's Rising Sun flag ― a symbol of the country's wartime aggression ― from display at 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games venues.As of Thursday, 34,400 people have signed a petition on Change.org urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to warn the organizing committee of the Tokyo Games (July 24-Aug. 9) after it decided to allow displays of the flag. The petitioner likens the flag to the Nazis' hakenkreuz (swastika) flag, a symbol of Hitler's era, saying they are “the same war crime flags.”“What if Germany were to host the Olympics in 2020 and announced to the international community that it would allow hakenkreuz, which was used by the Nazis in the 1936 Games?” the petitioner wrote. “What would the citizens of the European countries affected b

Sep 26, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Over 34,000 sign petition to ban Rising Sun flag from Tokyo Olympics
Law & Crime

Photo of 'Hwaseong serial killer' revealed

The high school graduation photo of Lee Chun-jae, left, and a facial composite of the Hwaseong serial killer / Korea TimesBy Jung Min-hoA photo of the prime suspect in one of Korea's most notorious serial murder cases has been revealed.The Hankook Ilbo, sister paper of The Korea Times, obtained the high school graduation photo of Lee Chun-jae, 56, and published it in Thursday's issue.The young Lee looks similar to a facial composite of the killer, which was made about three decades ago based on witness accounts.Between September 1986 and April 1991, 10 women, including teenagers and a 71-year-old, were sexually assaulted and killed in a similar way at Hwaseong, a city south of Seoul, which prompted a nationwide investigation.The case, which had remained unsolved for years, inspired film director Bong Joon-ho's 2003 box office hit, “Memories of Murder.”But last week, police made a surprise announcement that they had identified Lee as a prime suspect in at least three of the killings after using the latest forensic techniques to retrieve DNA.Lee, who is serving a life sente

Sep 26, 2019By Jung Min-ho
  • 'Prime suspect's DNA matches sample from evidence in serial killing'
  • Police narrowly missed serial-killer suspect 25 years ago
Law & Crime

HMP Law to strengthen global network at IBA conference

HMP lawyers talk with visitors at Suji's Deli ― the firm's temporary PR booth ― during the International Bar Association's annual conference at the Convention and Exhibition Center in southern Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of HMP LawBy Jung Min-hoHMP Law, a major law firm in Korea, said Wednesday that the International Bar Association's (IBA) annual conference in Seoul is a great opportunity to strengthen global networks and it will make the most of it.About 20 lawyers, including Park Sang-il (IBA's Host Committee member) and Lim Hye-yeon (IBA's Organizing Committee member), will represent the law firm at the world's largest and most prestigious international meeting of legal professionals.During the event (Sept. 23-27), HMP lawyers will use Suji's Deli as their temporary PR booth and be there from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily to welcome visitors.“HMP Law has built its reputation as one of the most trusted Korean law firms in the field of international businesses,” Park Kyun-je, a partner at HMP Law, said. “I hope the law firm will strengthen its global competitiveness throu

Sep 25, 2019By Jung Min-ho
HMP Law to strengthen global network at IBA conference
Travel & Food

INTERVIEW Traveler's advice: Think twice about quitting your job to see the world

Chang Chan-young visits Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia on Dec. 23, 2010. Courtesy of Chang Chan-youngBy Jung Min-hoWe are all too familiar with the message: “I quit my job to travel the world and find my new dream ― and you should too!”While this mindset and lifestyle are becoming increasingly popular in the era of social media and digital nomads, one man who has tried it says the message should be taken with a pinch of salt.“While traveling around the world for 529 days, I visited every place I wanted to see and did everything I had dreamed of,” Chang Chan-young, 34, said in a recent interview. “After the adventure, I returned home. It was a perfect ending. But then I realized that it wasn't a movie and asked myself, 'What should I do now?'”Before and during his journey, Chang thought, at the end of it, he would discover something special ― something that would somehow open the next chapter of his life. But there was no such eureka moment, he said.“Traveling around the world was the goal of my life and I accomplished it when I was still in my 20s

Sep 25, 2019By Jung Min-ho
[INTERVIEW] Traveler's advice: Think twice about quitting your job to see the world
Photo News

PHOTOS Fall has arrived

Two women spread their arms to feel the breeze as they walk near the National Museum of Korea in Seoul, Sept. 23, the autumnal equinox ― the halfway point between the longest and shortest days of the year. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukKorea Times photo by Choi Won-suk/Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukKorea Times photo by Choi Won-sukKorea Times photo by Choi Won-sukKorea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Sep 23, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Fall has arrived [PHOTOS]
Photo News

PHOTOS Fall picnic to Mount Paektu in North Korea

In a photo taken on Sept. 11, 2019, North Korean students pose for photos in Chonji lake, or "heaven lake," as they visit the crater of Mount Paektu, near Samjiyon. Mount Paektu has long been considered the spiritual birthplace of Korea. AFPIn a photo taken on Sept. 11, 2019, North Korean students pose for photos in Chonji lake, or "heaven lake," as they visit the crater of Mount Paektu, near Samjiyon. AFPIn a photo taken on Sept. 11, 2019, North Korean students pose for photos in Chonji lake, or "heaven lake," as they visit the crater of Mount Paektu, near Samjiyon. AFPIn a photo taken on Sept. 11, 2019, North Korean students pose for photos in Chonji lake, or "heaven lake," as they visit the crater of Mount Paektu, near Samjiyon. AFPIn a photo taken on Sept. 11, 2019, North Korean students pose for photos as they march to the summit of Mount Paektu, near Samjiyon. AFPA photo taken on Sept. 11, 2019, shows visitors walking towards a cable car station before Chonji lake, or "heaven lake" in the crater of Mount Paektu, near Samjiyon. AFPA photo taken on Sept. 11, 2019, shows a funicul

Sep 21, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Fall picnic to Mount Paektu in North Korea [PHOTOS]
North Korea

North Korea-themed pub? A risky business idea in Seoul

Empty frames are seen after the removal of the portraits of late North Korean leaders and the image of a North Korean flag from the exterior of the North Korea-themed pub under construction in Seoul's Hongdae area, Sept. 16. YonhapA woman takes a photo of the signs that satirize North Korean-style slogans near the North Korea-themed pub under construction in Seoul's Hongdae area, Sept. 16. YonhapOwner removes images of late North Korean leaders over fears of national security lawBy Jung Min-hoYou may have thought that a North Korea-themed cafe or restaurant would be a hit in South Korea. But putting that business idea into action may get you into serious trouble.Earlier this week, the owner of a North Korea-themed pub in Seoul's Hongdae area removed a North Korean flag and portraits of the country's late leaders ― Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il ― from the building's exterior after police warned him.The owner of the Pyongyang Pub, which is still under construction, said he came up with the idea to promote his business, not the regime. The place also was decorated with parodies of North K

Sep 19, 2019By Jung Min-ho
North Korea-themed pub? A risky business idea in Seoul
Society

Seoul has most expensive groceries in Asia

It costs a lot to buy groceries in Seoul. / GettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoSeoul is Asia's most expensive city for groceries, data showed Tuesday.According to Numbeo, a site that collects global cost-of-living data, the Korean capital's price index is 105.73 ― Asia's highest and the sixth highest among 375 cities around the world.The five more expensive cities than Seoul are all in Switzerland: Zurich (130.18) tops the list, followed by Basel (128.26), Lausanne (127.70), Geneva (119.81) and Bern (113.57).The price index is based on the retail prices of items such as meat, vegetables and fruit.Major Asian cities such as Tokyo (87.72), Hong Kong (79.74) and Shanghai (52.82) lag behind Seoul by a big margin.Pakistan's Rawalpindi has the cheapest groceries (14.37), followed by the nation's two other cities ― Lahore (18.01) and Karachi (18.09).In terms of living costs as a whole, Seoul is ranked 22nd with an index score of 87.26, which is higher than Paris (85.76) and Singapore (81.27)1. Zurich, Switzerland2. Basel, Switzerland3. Lausanne, Switzerland4. Geneva, Switzerland5. Bern, Switzerla

Sep 17, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Seoul has most expensive groceries in Asia
Photo News

PHOTOS Korea to cull thousands of pigs over African swine fever

A government official speaks on a phone near a pig farm at Paju in Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday, after the government had confirmed Korea's first case of African swine fever. The government plans to cull about 4,000 pigs in the region by Tuesday, strengthening efforts to disinfect farms and transport vehicles. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukKorea Times photo by Choi Won-sukKorea Times photo by Choi Won-sukKorea Times photo by Choi Won-sukKorea Times photo by Choi Won-sukKorea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Sep 17, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Korea to cull thousands of pigs over African swine fever [PHOTOS]
  • Korea on high alert after first African swine fever case confirmed
  • First outbreak of African swine fever confirmed in Korea
North Korea

Reunions of separated families 'top priority' if inter-Korean talks resume

Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul speaks to family members separated by the Korean War. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoReunions of family members separated by the Korean War (1950-53) will be the top priority if inter-Korean talks resume, South Korea's unification minister said Friday.“The government will continue to seek ways to fundamentally resolve the issue,” Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul said at Imjingak, a park in Paju, south of the demilitarized zone separating two Koreas. “There are too many people and most of them are very old,” he said. “South and North Koreas need to come up with the best possible ways to make their wishes come true before it's too late.”Kim made the comment as he celebrated the Chuseok holiday with members of divided families.Last September, South and North Korea agreed to set up a permanent family reunion center, but no progress has been made since.Tens of thousands remain separated from their family members as a result of the war, which ended in a truce. A total of 133,353 South Koreans have registered to be reunited with

Sep 13, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Reunions of separated families 'top priority' if inter-Korean talks resume
  • It's 'wrong' to block separated families from being reunited: Moon
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