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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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North Korea

Train trip to Vietnam no longer pipe dream for South Koreans

Kim Jong-un boards a train in Pyongyang for his trip to Vietnam. South Koreans are excited about the possibility of being able to travel to other countries by train. APBy Jung Min-hoFacing a belligerent regime in the north for decades, South Koreans have become so used to the belief that ― like people living on an island ― traveling overseas almost always requires air tickets.So when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un announced earlier this month that he would take a train to Vietnam for his second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Hanoi on Feb. 27 and 28, they were pleasantly surprised.The news reminded South Koreans that Korea is part of the Asian continent and, if the North opens its railways to them, they too can go to Vietnam or even Britain by train.South Korea has resources to build world-class high-speed trains and railways, and its people have purchasing power and interest in overseas travel. With Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in already cooperating to connect railways along the eastern and western Korean Peninsula, the dream of connecting South Korea with th

Feb 26, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Train trip to Vietnam no longer pipe dream for South Koreans
Law & Crime

Korean Air 'nut rage' heiress probed over alleged attacks on husband

Cho Hyun-ah (Heather Cho) / YonhapBy Jung Min-hoInjuries allegedly caused by Cho's violence / Courtesy of Cho's husbandCho Hyun-ah, 44, the Korean Air heiress who made headlines around the world for the 2014 “nut rage” incident, is being investigated for allegedly attacking her husband during divorce proceedings.The Suseo Police Station in Seoul said Saturday that investigators started analyzing evidence provided by her husband, surnamed Park, 45, who claims Cho's abusive behavior against him and five-year-old twin sons destroyed their marriage.In a recently released video, Cho shouts “Die! Die!” at Park, who told investigators his wife repeatedly “strangled him” and threw a tablet PC at him, which seriously injured his toe.On Feb. 20, Park said he was preparing for a long legal battle.“I thought it would be better to put up with it, but when my child asked me, 'Dad, would you protect me?,' I was able to get up the nerve (to fight),” he wrote on Facebook. “I'm afraid of standing up to a chaebol family, but as a father, I will prot

Feb 24, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Korean Air 'nut rage' heiress probed over alleged attacks on husband
Tech & Science

Advertisers boycott YouTube over pedophile network

Nestle and others major companies have suspended their YouTube ads over news of a pedophile network on the global video-sharing platform. gettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoDisney, Nestle, Epic Games and other major brands have pulled their ads from YouTube after reports of a pedophile network rampant in the comments of many videos.The companies reportedly made the decision after YouTube creator Matt Watson posted a video on Feb. 17 to criticize YouTube, owned by Google, for ignoring pedophiles' exploitation of videos of young children, mostly girls, doing, for example, gymnastics or showing bare legs.Such videos are often filled with all kinds of lewd remarks directed at the children.A Nestle spokesperson confirmed that “all Nestle companies in the U.S. have paused advertising on YouTube.”A spokesperson from Epic said: “We have paused all pre-roll advertising … Through our advertising agency, we have reached out to Google/YouTube to determine actions they'll take to eliminate this type of content from their service.”Watson, also known as MattsWhatItIs, accus

Feb 21, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Advertisers boycott YouTube over pedophile network
  • YouTube fake news rampant in Korea
Law & Crime

Women under probe after fighting back against alleged rapist

A woman who attacked a man who allegedly raped her may be indicted on assault charges. gettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoA woman is being investigated for allegedly wounding a man with a knife after she realized that he “raped” her while she slept.The Gwangju Seobu Police Station said Wednesday that it is investigating whether her attack was necessary. The man, 36, has also been questioned for the alleged crime.According to police, the two drank at his place in western Gwangju on Feb. 15. But after she fell asleep, he allegedly raped her, which woke her up. In anger, she grabbed a knife from the kitchen and attacked him. Police said his injuries are minor.Police did not release her immediately because they thought her attack, which did not occur during his alleged rape attempt, may not be covered by Korea's self-defense law, which is notorious for its lack of flexibility for defenders.Under the law, people are allowed to use force to “prevent unjust infringement of one's or another person's legal interest,” as long as there are reasonable grounds for that act and t

Feb 21, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Women under probe after fighting back against alleged rapist
  • Korea's self-defense law - nothing but a name
Companies

Future uncertain for Sealy Korea amid radon fears

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission is expected to fine Sealy Korea after completing its inspection. Screengrab of Sealy Korea's websiteBy Jung Min-hoThe future of Sealy, a global bedding maker, remains uncertain in Korea after some of its mattresses were found to emit excessive levels of a cancer-causing gas.A similar case several months ago has pushed local company Daijin Bed to the brink of bankruptcy.On Feb. 13, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) ordered the U.S. company to recall 357 mattresses of six models ― produced between January 2014 and November 2016 ― after finding they were contaminated with the radioactive gas radon.The models are Majesty Deluxe, Cygnus, Pegasus, Veloce, Hospitality Euro Top and Violet.Following the decision, Sealy recalled about 500 mattresses of nine models (Canna, Morendo and Allegro added) on Feb. 14.Radon is a radioactive, colorless, odorless and tasteless gas. According to the World Health Organization, it is the biggest cause of lung cancer after smoking. Studies in Europe, North America and China have confirmed that even l

Feb 21, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Future uncertain for Sealy Korea amid radon fears
Foreign Affairs

Family demands truth behind Korean man's mystery death in Indonesia

Family members of a Korean man who died in Indonesia have demanded a thorough investigation. gettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoIt was a mysterious death.A Korean man, 54, surnamed Oh, a veteran employee of Korea East-West Power (EWP), a subsidiary of the Korea Electronic Power Corp., was found dead on Jan. 21 at his home in the southern region of Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo.When police arrived, a wire was wrapped around his neck, his body was covered with stab wounds and bruises, and there were blood-stained footprints. So it was no wonder his family was dumbfounded when police concluded that there were no signs of anyone having broken in and the man died of suffocation ― without telling them what caused him to choke in the first place.Now his wife and two daughters fear they will never know how he died.“All of his family members are concerned whether local police are properly investigating the case,” Oh's niece said in a petition on the Cheong Wa Dae website, which has garnered more than 9,500 signatures.“Meanwhile, officials at the Korean Embassy in Jakar

Feb 20, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Family demands truth behind Korean man's mystery death in Indonesia
Health

Lawmaker proposes bill to ban smoking while walking

A lawmaker has proposed a new bill to ban smoking while walking to protect pedestrians from secondhand cigarette smoke. Korea Times fileBy Jung Min-hoSmoking while walking would be banned in Korea if a new bill passes into law.Rep. Hwang Ju-hong of the minor liberal Party for Democracy and Peace proposed a bill early this month to ban smoking on virtually all public roads and walkways.If the National Assembly passes the bill, violators would be fined 100,000 won ($90).“Non-smokers are often exposed to tobacco smoke because of some inconsiderate smokers,” Hwang said. “Public opinion is in favor of banning smoking while walking.” Korea has already banned smoking in most restaurants, offices and public venues such as parks.Smokers opposed to the bill complain that there are not enough smoking rooms. According to the Seoul Institute's study in 2017, the number of public smoking rooms in the city with a population of 10 million people was only 10,000.

Feb 20, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Lawmaker proposes bill to ban smoking while walking
Health

Gov't under fire for 'China-style' internet censorship

The Korean government is struggling to convince critics that it is not seeking more control over the internet. gettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoThe Korean government is under massive criticism after blocking access to hundreds of porn and gambling sites by opening up user data packets ― a method some people believe opened the door to China-style internet censorship.The Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC), an internet censorship body, said on Feb. 11 that it had blocked access to 895 overseas-based websites with “harmful” content, including Pornhub, the world's largest porn site.While doing so, the KCSC said it used Server Name Indication (SNI), which allows one IP address to serve multiple domain names over https.The move sparked controversy among many people, including computer scientists, over how much control the government should have for the right balance between protecting victims of “revenge porn” ― a big factor behind the measure ― and internet freedom.On the Cheong Wa Dae website, a petition against the new rule has garnered nearly 250,000 si

Feb 19, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Gov't under fire for 'China-style' internet censorship
Society

Base fare for Seoul taxis to rise to W3,800 tomorrow

The fare rises will be the first since October 2013. Korea Times fileBy Jung Min-hoThe base fare for taxis in Seoul will increase from 3,000 won to 3,800 won ($3.40) at 4 a.m. Saturday.The base fare for late-night services (from midnight to 4 a.m.) will rise from 3,600 won to 4,600 won.The base fare for deluxe taxis and jumbo taxis will rise from 5,000 won to 6,500 won.The rises will be the first since October 2013.The Seoul Private Taxi Association has promised to improve the way it deals with complaints about reckless drivers and rude drivers.

Feb 15, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Base fare for Seoul taxis to rise to W3,800 tomorrow
Sports

Senior taekwondo official suspended for alleged corruption

A senior official at the Korea Taekwondo Association faces an investigation for allegedly peddling influence to select national team coaches. gettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoA senior official at the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) has been suspended for allegedly peddling influence to select national team coaches.The taekwondo governing body said Thursday that it suspended director Lee Sang-hun, who is accused of forcing a Korean Sport and Olympic Committee official to appoint six people Lee wanted as coaches.It is unclear whether Lee received something in return.After the issue came into the spotlight, the coaches were suspended.The KTA said it would file a complaint with police over the allegations.“If police find any wrongdoing, we will take stern measures,” the KTA said in a statement.This is not the first time Lee has been caught up in corruption allegations.In August 2018, he took 3 million won ($2,700) from the head coach of the national team at the Jakarta Palembang Asian Games. Two months later, Lee claimed he returned the money.

Feb 15, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Senior taekwondo official suspended for alleged corruption
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