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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

Eastar Jet suspends operations of Boeing 737 Max 8 jets

Eastar Jet will suspend the operations of its Boeing 737 Max 8 jets as safety concerns rise over the aircraft. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoEastar Jet will suspend the operations of its Boeing 737 Max 8 jets as safety concerns arise over the aircraft, the Korean low-cost carrier (LCC) said Tuesday.“We will suspend the operations of our two Boeing 737 Max 8 planes on March 13,” Eastar Jet President and CEO Choi Jong-gu said in a statement. “We made that decision in cooperation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's inspections of the planes.”He also said the company will ask the U.S. plane maker to provide technical assistance.Eastar Jet is Korea’s only airline that operates the model, using the planes for flights to Jeju, Japan and Southeast Asia.The move comes after the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, which killed all 157 passengers and crew ― only six months after a deadly crash involving the identical model in Indonesia.There is no evidence the two disasters are linked, but both jets were almost brand new

Mar 12, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Eastar Jet suspends operations of Boeing 737 Max 8 jets
  • Korean Air may not introduce Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets
  • Singapore, China, Indonesia ground Boeing's 737 MAX 8 as concerns mount
Foreign Affairs

Korean man wanted for attempted murder in Japan

Japanese police are searching for a Korean man after two people shot. gettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoJapanese police are searching for a Korean gunman suspected of seriously injuring two men at a members-only gambling venue in Osaka's Minami entertainment district on Monday evening.Police put Shinichi Kyo, 34, on a wanted list for attempted murder and violating the firearms control law, after he allegedly shot two men ― a venue employee, 42, and a customer, 32 ― at the casino-style online gambling hub, according to local media.Investigators believe Kyo tried to kill the two, given that he shot them as soon as he walked into the facility. Kyo, a regular customer, shot the employee in the head and the customer in the chest, police said. They said Kyo left behind a revolver when he fled.Police were trying to determine whether the suspect knew the victims.The customer was in a coma, but regained consciousness; the worker was still unconscious.

Mar 12, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Korean man wanted for attempted murder in Japan
North Korea

Kim Jong-nam murder suspect freed after charges dropped

Siti Aisyah speaks during a press conference at the Indonesian Embassy after her release in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on March 11. APSiti Aisyah, third from left, with officials from Indonesian Embassy during a press conference at the embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on March 11. APBy Jung Min-hoSiti Aisyah, one of two women charged with the murder of the estranged brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has been released in Malaysia.Aisyah, 26, an Indonesian woman charged with Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, 30, with killing Kim Jong-nam by smearing VX nerve agent on his face at Kuala Lumpur airport in 2017, was freed on Monday after the Shah Alam High Court approved prosecutors' request to drop the charges against her.It is unclear why the prosecution made that request.Aisyah and Doan claimed they had been tricked into carrying out the murder plan by North Korean agents, who told them they were playing a prank for a reality TV show. The two said they thought what they smeared on him was lotion.“I feel happy. I did not know this will happen. I did not expect it,” Aisyah r

Mar 11, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Kim Jong-nam murder suspect freed after charges dropped
  • Bolton issues warning messages to North Korea
Companies

Korean Air may not introduce Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets

Boeing employees in front of a 737 MAX 8 produced for Southwest Airlines as Boeing celebrates the 10,000th 737 to come off the production line in Renton, Washington, on March 13, 2018. ReutersWreckage of the Ethiopia Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8, which crashed near Bishoftu, Ethiopia, March 10. EPABy Jung Min-hoKorean Air, the country's largest airline, may cancel its plan to introduce six Boeing 737-800 MAX planes this year after the new model crashed in Ethiopia on Sunday ― only six months after a deadly crash involving the identical model in Indonesia.“It is still too early to tell, but the recent incidents could affect our plan,” a Korean Air official told The Korea Times Monday.He spoke after the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, which killed all 157 passengers and crew.Korean Air contracted to buy 50 of the model (20 optional) in 2015.Last October, a Lion Air Boeing 737 Max went down over the Java Sea, killing all 189 people on board.There is no evidence that the two disasters are linked, but both jets were almost brand new and both we

Mar 11, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Korean Air may not introduce Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets
  • Korea mourns victims of Ethiopian plane crash
  • Korea launches emergency aircraft inspection after B737 crash
  • Eastar Jet suspends operations of Boeing 737 Max 8 jets
Sports

World Taekwondo launches program to train athletes as coaches

World Taekwondo has invited 28 athletes from 24 countries to its training course. gettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoWorld Taekwondo (WT) has launched a program to train athletes from around the world as professional coaches.The global taekwondo governing body said Friday that it invited 28 athletes from 24 member countries to its training course, which will be run from March 9-11 at Muju, North Jeolla Province.The course will cover a variety of areas, including competition rules, safeguarding athletes, anti-doping, medical and other emergency management.Participants who successfully finish the program will receive WT's instructor certificates and be eligible to teach WT Coach Education Courses.“Those who take and pass this course will be certified to pass their newly acquired skills and knowledge on to coaches in their home countries,” WT President Choue Chung-won said.

Mar 10, 2019By Jung Min-ho
World Taekwondo launches program to train athletes as coaches
Health

Korean adoptee in search of biological parents

Sarah Funston and her daughters, Hattie, 6, and Harper, 9 / Courtesy of Sarah FunstonBy Jung Min-hoSarah Funston (Kim Mee-jo) has a purple birthmark (looks like a bruise) on the back of her right calf, which is a unique identifier.Throughout her childhood, Sarah Funston felt “supported and loved” by her adoptive family. She often wondered about her biological parents, but did not feel the need to look for them ― until she gave birth to her first daughter.“I've always been curious about my birth family, but the impetus for my search began after having my own biological children nine years ago,” Funston, now 37, told The Korea Times. “I finally had the courage to seek answers about my culture and my past.“I currently work as a social worker. Growing up (as an adoptee), I know the complexities involving adoption and how it impacts all parties ― the adoptees, the adoptive parents and the birth parents. As I help others in my professional role, I also need to explore my own personal narrative about my own history and what that means to me.”Funston

Mar 7, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Korean adoptee in search of biological parents
Society

China, India dominate list of world's most polluted cities

Fine dust blankets the Chinese city of Xian. gettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoChina and India have dominated a new list of the world's most polluted cities.According to the latest report from Greenpeace and AirVisual, which measured 3,000 cities, the two Asian countries account for 90 ― 57 Chinese and 33 Indian ― of the worst 100 cities.Gurugram, a city just southwest of the Indian capital New Delhi, topped the list with an average air quality index of 135.8 in 2018, nearly three times the level that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regards as healthy.The data is compiled from governmental public monitoring sources and public IQAir AirVisual monitoring stations.Air pollution now represents the world's fourth leading contributing cause of premature deaths, killing more than 7 million people a year, according to the report.“While its impact on everyday lives may not always be apparent, the global economy silently suffers an estimated $225 billion annually from lost labor,” the report says. “While concerning in itself, these numbers are expected to underestimate tr

Mar 7, 2019By Jung Min-ho
China, India dominate list of world's most polluted cities
  • Beijing denies responsibility for fine dust
  • PHOTOS Dust blown away - but how long it will last?
Health

Two Koreans die in Swiss euthanasia facility

A local paper reported that one of the Koreans had late-stage cancer. gettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoTwo Koreans have died in a Swiss euthanasia facility in recent years.Dignitas, a non-profit society that provides assisted or accompanied suicide to its members, said Tuesday that two Koreans had died in its facility ― one in 2016 and the other in 2018.According to Seoul Shinmun ― a local daily that first reported on the people ― one of them had late-stage cancer.Dignitas says it helps members with severe physical or mental illnesses to end their lives. Founded in 1998, more than 2,700 people have died with its aid.According to its website, all adults can become members regardless of their nationalities. As of the end of 2018, 32 Korean nationals were registered as members.In Korea, terminally ill patients can refuse artificial life-extending treatment, but euthanasia is prohibited.

Mar 6, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Two Koreans die in Swiss euthanasia facility
Companies

40 Koreans on Forbes billionaire list

The richest Koreans / Screengrab of ForbesBy Jung Min-hoForty Koreans are on the 2019 Forbes billionaires list.Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee remains the richest Korean with a net worth of $16.9 billion. He is ranked 65th globally.Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-jin is second with $8.1 billion. With expectations for biosimilars high, his pharmaceutical company has become a favorite among investors, Forbes says.Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong comes in third with $6.9 billion, followed by Nexon CEO Kim Jung-ju ($6.5 billion) and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo ($4.3 billion).Meanwhile, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos remains the world's richest person. His wealth rose $19 billion during 2018 to total $131 billion this year.Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is second with a net worth that rose to $96.5 billion this year from $90 billion last year, followed by investor Warren Buffett ($82.5 billion).Notably, reality TV star Kylie Jenner, 21, makes the list as the youngest "self-made" billionaire in history. Forbes estimates her company, Kylie Cosmetics, is now worth $9

Mar 6, 2019By Jung Min-ho
40 Koreans on Forbes billionaire list
Others

Korea 9th healthiest country in the world: report

Korea is the world's ninth-healthiest country, according to a new Global Wellness Index. gettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoKorea has been ranked among the world's top 10 healthiest countries, according to a recent analysis.The Global Wellness Index, published on March 4 by investment firm LetterOne, ranks Korea as the ninth best country out of 151.The index focuses on 10 key metrics ― blood pressure, blood glucose, obesity, depression, happiness, alcohol use, tobacco use, exercise, life expectancy and government spending on healthcare ― to evaluate a country's health level.Canada topped the list thanks to its good scores for life expectancy, government healthcare spending and blood pressure, followed by Oman, Iceland and the Philippines.Big countries, including Japan, Germany, France and Italy, failed to make the top 25, with all faring poorly for high blood pressure scores. Middle Eastern countries ranked relatively high due to good scores in the alcohol category. The United States was hampered by obesity, depression and inactivity.The top 10 countries are:CanadaOmanIcelandPhilippinesMal

Mar 6, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Korea 9th healthiest country in the world: report
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