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.
A Korean protester shed tears during a rally demanding full compensation and an apology for the victims of Japan's wartime sex slavery from Japanese government in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, Wednesday, Aug. 14. YonhapYonhapYonhapAPYonhap
![Protesters in Seoul demand Japan apologize for victims of its wartime sex slavery [PHOTOS]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Narcisa Claveria, who claims to be a victim of sexual abuse of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, reacts during a demonstration marking the International Day to Commemorate Victims of Japanese Wartime Sexual Slavery, near the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, Philippines, Aug. 14. According to a statement of the protestors, they are saddened that 74 years since the end of World War II, Japan still refuses to atone fo its wartime atrocities. EPAA woman, who claims to be a victim of sexual abuse of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, holds a placard as she joins a demonstration marking the International Day to Commemorate Victims of Japanese Wartime Sexual Slavery, near the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, Philippines, Aug. 14. EPAProtesters display placards during a rally near the Presidential Palace to mark the 74th anniversary of the end of World War II in Manila, Philippines, Aug. 14. In their statement, the protesters lamented the fact that after 74 years since the end of World War II, Japan still "refuses to atone for its wartime atrociti
This photo, captured from Russian website Sport 24, shows Sergio Busato, an assistant coach for the Russian national women's volleyball team, making a racist gesture after his team beat Korea at an Olympic qualifying tournament match in Kaliningrad, Russia, Aug. 4. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoRussia's governing body for volleyball has apologized over its women's national team coach's racist gesture following a recent match against Korea.According to the Korea Volleyball Association (KVA) Tuesday, its Russian counterpart, the RVF, and Sergio Busato, an Italian-born assistant coach for Russia, apologized in a statement over his “slant-eye” gesture toward Korean players.This comes after the KVA filed complaints with the RVF and the international governing body for the sport, FIVB, against his behavior after the two teams' Olympic qualifying tournament game in Kaliningrad, Russia, Aug. 4.“The coach claimed he was just expressing joy after winning a ticket to the Olympics and had no intention to offend or disrespect the Korean team,” the KVA said.“The RVF said it sus
Environmentalists stage a rally in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, Tuesday, to urge a boycott of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Korean government said Monday it decided to remove Japan from a list of nations receiving preferential treatment in trade in what was seen as a tit-for-tat move following Tokyo's recent decision to downgrade Seoul's trade status amid a diplomatic row. APAn environmentalist in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, Tuesday, shouts slogans during a rally urging a boycott of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The sign reads: “No Abe.” APYonhapYonhap
BTS members arrive for the Fact Music Awards in Incheon on April 24. They will take a break, the group's agency announced Monday. APBy Jung Min-hoK-pop sensation BTS will take an extended break from the music scene to allow its members to “enjoy the ordinary lives of young people in their 20s,” the group's agency said Monday.It will be the first time the seven-member band has taken time off since its debut in 2013.“This period of rest will be an opportunity for the members of BTS, who have relentlessly driven themselves toward their goal since their debut, to recharge and prepare to present themselves anew as musicians and creators,” Big Hit Entertainment said on Twitter.“This will also provide them with a chance to enjoy the ordinary lives of young people in their 20s, albeit briefly.“Should you have a chance encounter with a member of BTS while they are on vacation, we ask that you show consideration for their need to rest and enjoy their private time off.”It is unclear how long the break will be.But the agency said the group would eventual
A diver dressed as an independence activist performs in front of the Korean national flag during an event to celebrate the upcoming (Aug. 15) 74th anniversary of liberation from Japan's colonial rule, at the Coex Aquarium in southern Seoul, Monday. YonhapYonhapAPYonhap
Jeju Air / YonhapBy Jung Min-hoKorean budget carrier Jeju Air will begin services on six new routes to China this month amid an escalating boycott of travel to Japan.The company said Monday it planned to offer flights from three Korean cities ― Incheon, Busan and Muan ― to six Chinese destinations ― Beijing, Xian Harbin, Yanji, Nantong and Zhangjiajie ― between Aug. 13 and 22.The move comes after Jeju Air and other Korean airlines decided to suspend services to Japanese destinations as a result of the boycott, which was triggered early last month by the Japanese government's export restrictions ― an apparent retaliation for Korean Supreme Court rulings last year that ordered Japanese companies to pay damages to Korean victims of forced labor during World War II.Since then, Jeju Air has suspended three unprofitable Japanese routes ― it now operates on 19 routes between the two countries.
Tourists swim near waterfalls at the Krka National Park in southern Croatia. GettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoTwo Korean tourists have been found dead in a national park in Croatia.According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Monday, a man in his 50s and his daughter in her 20s were found on Saturday (local time) in the Krka River at Krka National Park, southeast Croatia.The Korean Embassy in Croatia said it confirmed that the victims, whose identities are being withheld, were Koreans and that their families had been told of the tragedy.Local police told the embassy that they will perform autopsies.The park is one of the country's best-known tourist spots. According to the Straits Times, a Singaporean college student, 25, drowned while swimming at the park in 2016.
Emergency workers give first-aid treatment to the American water polo player at the INA World Masters Championships in Gwangju, Sunday. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoAn American water polo player has died after having an acute heart attack at the FINA World Masters Championships in Gwangju, organizers said Sunday.According to the organizing committee, the player, 70, whose identity is being withheld, lost consciousness during Saturday's match against the Australia at around 2:28 p.m.He was immediately taken out of the water for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and brought to a nearby hospital where he underwent surgery. He was pronounced dead at around 5:30 a.m. the next day.He had reportedly suffered from angina and arteriosclerosis for a long time.The committee said officials would meet his family members at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul to discuss returning the body to the U.S.The 18th FINA World Masters Championships, which began on Aug. 5, is a biennial global festival for aquatic sports enthusiasts. Gwangju hosted the 18th FINA World Championships for elite aquatics sports athletes from July 12
How the law should deal with child sex dolls has become a worldwide issue. Korea Times fileBy Jung Min-hoA group of lawmakers has proposed a bill to ban the import and sale of child sex dolls.Eleven members of the National Assembly, led by Rep. Jeong In-hwa of the minor opposition Party for Democracy and Peace, proposed a bill last week to ban the import and sale of child sex dolls. The bill also aims to prohibit the transport and possession of such items.The move came a week after more than 200,000 people signed a petition against the import of life-size sex dolls, following the Supreme Court's controversial ruling in late June to uphold a lower court's decision to allow such dolls into Korea.“Although the court's decision for the people's rights to self-determination in sexual matters should be respected, there should also be protection for children,” Jeong said in a statement. “Children should not be sexually objectified.”The bill defines child sex dolls as “toys, dolls or other items made for sexual pleasure, which can clearly be perceived as a child