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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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Travel & Food

Korean tourists warned of Brunei's draconian new laws

Muslim women listen to Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's speech during an event in Bandar Seri Begawan on April 3. The sultan called for Islamic teachings in the country to be strengthened with new Sharia punishments, including death by stoning for gay sex and adultery. AFPBy Jung Min-hoThe Korean government has advised its citizens to use “extreme care” when traveling to Brunei after the tiny nation on the island of Borneo introduced draconian criminal laws.“Brunei's new Sharia penal code applies not only to Muslims but also to non-Muslim foreigners,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. “Koreans who live or have plans to travel to the country should be aware of it.” The new measures, which came into force on April 3, cover a wide range of crimes, including stealing, drinking in public areas and sodomy ― a crime punishable by stoning to death.Those who are convicted of stealing could be put behind bars and have their right hand chopped off. If they offend a second time, they may lose their left foot.If a foreigner drinks alcohol in public areas

Apr 7, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Korean tourists warned of Brunei's draconian new laws
  • Brunei's stoning law doesn't deter Korean tourists
Law & Crime

Granddaughter of Namyang founder arrested for drug abuse

Hwang Ha-na leaves the Suwon Nambu Police Station in Suwon, Saturday, to attend a court hearing to review the validity of an arrest warrant for her. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoHwang Ha-na, 31, the granddaughter of the founder of a major Korean dairy producer and former fiancee of K-pop band JYJ's Park Yu-chun, has been arrested on drug charges.The Suwon District Court issued an arrest warrant for Hwang, the granddaughter of Namyang Dairy Products founder Hong Du-yeong, Sunday, for allegedly abusing drugs, including amphetamines and clonazepam, between May 2015 and April 2018.She reportedly admitted to some of the charges.In 2015, Hwang was investigated for allegedly taking amphetamines her friend, surnamed Choi, but was not indicted for the charges. On the other hand, Choi eventually received a 30-month prison sentence suspended for three years.She later boasted of her parents' close relationship with senior officials at the police station to her friend on the phone.

Apr 6, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Granddaughter of Namyang founder arrested for drug abuse
Society

Korea passes bill to ban discrimination against job applicants

GETTYIMAGESBANKBy Jung Min-hoKorean companies have long been notorious for intrusive and discriminatory hiring practices that require job applicants to submit sensitive personal information, including their parents' occupations and even income levels. This will soon change.The National Assembly passed a bill Thursday to ban companies from requiring jobseekers to provide unnecessary personal information, including their incomes, regions of birth, marital status and other family members' profiles.Violators could face a fine of up to 5 million won ($4,400).

Mar 28, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Korea passes bill to ban discrimination against job applicants
  • Father's status may make or break your career in Korea
  • Korea begins 'blind hiring' for all public jobs
  • INTERVIEW 'Blind hiring can be seed of hope,' says vice presidential spokesperson
Foreign Affairs

Chief of Japan Pension Service office removed after hate speech against Koreans

An anti-Korea rally at Kawasaki, near Tokyo, on June 5, 2016. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoThe head of a Tokyo pension office has lost his job over hateful tweets against Koreans.Yukihisa Kasai, head of the Japan Pension Service's (JPS) office in Setagaya Ward, reportedly said on Twitter that “Korean residents should be purged from Japan and new entries refused” and called them “cowardly people with vassal-like spirits.”The incident came only days after a high-ranking official at Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare was dismissed as head of its wages division for allegedly assaulting a Korean Air employee at Gimpo International Airport in Seoul.Kasai admitted to posting the tweets and, after the issue emerged, deleted them all.He was dismissed from his post and transferred to JPS's human resource division.

Mar 26, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Chief of Japan Pension Service office removed after hate speech against Koreans
  • Korean Air union demands Japanese gov't official apologize for assault
Travel & Food

Tourists beware: You can be fined and deported for vaping in Thailand

This could put you in jail in Thailand. GETTYIMAGESBANKBy Jung Min-hoActivists in Thailand called on their government early this month to come up with appropriate solutions to regulate e-cigarettes to protect the country's image among foreign tourists.The move came after local police detained and demanded bribes from a French tourist for possessing an e-cigarette.The popular tourist destination has very strict laws against vaping. People can be fined and even jailed for possessing vaporizers such as e-cigarettes and e-baraku.Unaware of the ban, which came into force in 2014, the tourist was caught holding an e-cigarette in January. She claimed that after refusing to pay bribes, she was detained in a cell, where she shared “a hard, dirty floor with 60 other people for four days” and fined 827 baht ($26).She also claimed the ordeal cost her about 8,000 euros in legal fees and travel expenses and ruined her holiday with her boyfriend.A survey last year ranked Thailand as the worst country in the world for e-cigarette users.

Mar 25, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Tourists beware: You can be fined and deported for vaping in Thailand
Travel & Food

282 holidaymakers evacuated after fire breaks out at Paradise City

Holidaymakers wait outside Paradise City in Incheon, Sunday, as firefighters put out a blaze on the third floor. Courtesy of Incheon Fire DepartmentBy Jung Min-hoA fire destroyed the women's sauna in Paradise City. Courtesy of Incheon Fire DepartmentMore than 280 holidaymakers were evacuated from Paradise City in Incheon, Sunday, after a fire broke out on the third floor of the luxury resort hotel.According to the Incheon Fire Department, the fire started in the women's sauna at around 3:16 p.m. Thirty-eight fire engines and more than 200 firefighters put out the fire in 40 minutes.No casualties were reported, and no one was using the facility when the fire occurred.Firefighters are investigating the cause of the fire.“After hearing the evacuation announcement, I started to walk down the stairs and, from the fifth floor, I could smell burning. I was scared,” said a guest surnamed Kim.Guests were allowed back in at around 6 p.m.A hotel official said all guests affected by the incident were given coupons for Sunday dinner and Monday breakfast as well as a free stay.

Mar 25, 2019By Jung Min-ho
282 holidaymakers evacuated after fire breaks out at Paradise City
Foreign Affairs

Korean Air union demands Japanese gov't official apologize for assault

A Japanese government official is suspected of assaulting a Korean Air employee, who held him back from boarding a plane for “being too drunk” at Gimpo International Airport in Seoul on March 19. Korea Times fileBy Jung Min-hoEmployees at Korean Air, the country's largest airline, have demanded a Japanese government official apologize and offer compensation to a company official he allegedly assaulted at Gimpo International Airport in Seoul, March 19.A union representing Korean Air staff released a statement March 22 to express “serious regret” for the “unforgivable” behavior of Kosuke Takeda, 47, a senior official at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.Takeda allegedly assaulted an employee, who held him back from boarding a plane for “being too drunk.” While refusing to comply, he reportedly said things like, “I hate Korea!”“It was a necessary safety check, which is stipulated in the guidelines,” the union said.If Takeda refuses to apologize, the union said it would take action to strip him of his civil s

Mar 25, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Korean Air union demands Japanese gov't official apologize for assault
  • Chief of Japan Pension Service office removed after hate speech against Koreans
Foreign Affairs

Gov't urges thorough probe into deaths of two Koreans in Philippines

The bodies of two Koreans are loaded into a van in front of a hotel in Makati, Philippines, on March 22. Police are still investigating. EPABy Jung Min-hoThe Korean government has urged Philippines police to investigate thoroughly the deaths of two Korean men in the Southeast Asian country last week.According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Saturday, the Korean Embassy in Manila asked local police to investigate the case thoroughly and promptly after a man, surnamed Kim, 38, and his brother, 35, were found dead in front of a hotel in Makati City on March 22.People near the hotel heard a “loud thud” when the two hit the ground, local media reported.It is unclear whether they committed suicide.An embassy official said the two entered the country about a month ago and police have so far not found any signs of foul play.

Mar 24, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Gov't urges thorough probe into deaths of two Koreans in Philippines
Foreign Affairs

Foreign minister apologizes after Moon's Indonesian greetings to Malaysian PM

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha responds to a question from Rep. Kim Joong-ro of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoForeign Minister Kang Kyung-wha has apologized in parliament over President Moon Jae-in's diplomatic gaffe during a summit with his Malaysian counterpart last week.Addressing questions from Rep. Baek Seung-joo of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party at the National Assembly Wednesday, Kang apologized for what she said a “painful mistake.”This came soon after Prime Minister Lee Nak-Yeon acknowledged the error at the Assembly. He said he thought there were “unprofessional” officials at Cheong Wa Dae.During a press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on March 13, Moon used the expression “Selamat sore,” which means “good (mid)day” in Indonesian. He should have said “Selamat petang.”The presidential office or the foreign ministry did not receive any complaint from the Malay government. But the issue came in

Mar 21, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Foreign minister apologizes after Moon's Indonesian greetings to Malaysian PM
  • 'Baltic, stupid!': Latvia tells Korean Foreign Ministry
  • Foreign ministry official dismissed for displaying crumpled national flag
Law & Crime

Police looking into allegations of Samsung scion's propofol abuse

Lee Boo-jin, Hotel Shilla CEO and daughter of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoPolice said Thursday they are looking into allegations that Lee Boo-jin, Hotel Shilla CEO and daughter of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee, habitually took propofol, a powerful anesthetic drug, at a cosmetic clinic in Seoul.According to the Seoul Gangnam Police Station, police and health authorities will inspect the clinic in southern Seoul Friday to find out whether Lee, 48, illegally received injections of the drug there.The move comes a day after local media outlet Newtapa reported an interview with the hospital's former medical official, who claimed that Lee took propofol at least twice a month between January and October 2016.Propofol is a sedative used to start and maintain general anesthesia. In Korea, it was classified as a psychoactive drug in 2011 and it is illegal to use it other than for certain medical purposes.As a precaution against possible side effects, particularly the stopping of breathing, a doctor or a nurse watched Lee taking the drug for hours in

Mar 21, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Police looking into allegations of Samsung scion's propofol abuse
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