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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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Environment & Animals

Korea officially confirms 62,604 species in national biodiversity count

South Korea now officially recognizes 62,604 species within its borders, up from 61,230 in 2024, according to data released Monday. The latest National Species List, compiled by the National Institute of Biological Resources, is based on data gathered through the end of 2025. Compared with the 28,462 native species identified in 1996, the confirmed total has more than doubled. The steady rise reflects the discovery and formal documentation of species that were already present in Korea but previously unknown. Taking the country's total territory into account, experts estimate that the country may host around 100,000 native species in total. Among the species newly added to the list, 307 were entirely new to science, with their existence confirmed for the first time, according to the organization. One such discovery is a plant known as “beoteum yangjikkot,” a perennial herb that grows with yellow petals and spreads as its roots extend sideways. It has been confirmed as an endemic species found only in central regions of the country. Another new species, an invertebrate known as the larg

Feb 9, 2026By Jung Min-ho
Korea officially confirms 62,604 species in national biodiversity count
Global Community

Korea to tighten language screening for migrant workers, citing safety risks

Korea is tightening Korean-language screening for incoming migrant workers under its Employment Permit System, placing greater emphasis on speaking skills amid concerns that language barriers can contribute to worksite accidents and hinder communication at factories, farms and construction sites that increasingly rely on foreign labor. The Human Resources Development Service of Korea, a public agency under the Ministry of Employment and Labor, announced Monday that it will revise the interview and skill test used in the points-based selection process for E-9 visa workers. The changes follow the agency's recent study of employers’ views on the Korean-language proficiency of their E-9 workers. The survey found that nearly half of employers were dissatisfied with the Korean language abilities of their workers, citing particular difficulties in their ability to understand work instructions (48.9 percent) and safety rules (37.6 percent). Growing concern over industrial accidents involving foreign workers is driving the shift. Although they make up only about 3.4 percent of the workforce, fo

Feb 9, 2026By Jung Min-ho
Korea to tighten language screening for migrant workers, citing safety risks
Global Community

Migrant workers' moves between regions likely to become easier

Korea is weighing a plan to relax restrictions on migrant workers’ movement between regions outside the capital, exploring a major recalibration of its limits on their ability to change jobs. According to an internal document from a task force of the government and labor organizations, obtained by The Korea Times, regional “zone limits” are seen as one of the few issues on which labor, business and government representatives may be able to strike a compromise. Launched with 23 members in December last year, the task force aims to build a more coordinated, fair and effective system for managing foreign workers in Korea. According to a source and an internal document, officials discussed key issues facing these workers, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor plans to use the outcome of those talks to publish a policy road map and submit a legislative bill to the National Assembly in the coming months. Under the current Employment Permit System, E-9 visa holders face tight controls not only over how often and for what reasons they may change workplaces, but also over where in Korea

Feb 8, 2026By Jung Min-ho
Migrant workers' moves between regions likely to become easier
Society

Bill proposed to safeguard workers from AI-driven job losses

Lawmakers have introduced a bill that would require the government to better protect workers from job losses caused by artificial intelligence (AI), amid growing concerns that machines will replace human labor — fears recently sharpened by Hyundai Motor’s Atlas humanoid robot project. The amendment would require the national AI strategy to address “protecting workers’ job security and supporting their transition into new roles” as the labor market changes. “As AI and robotics have advanced rapidly in recent years, they have begun to replace not only simple, repetitive jobs but also skilled professionals, spreading employment insecurity across society,” Rep. Choi Eun-seok and 10 other lawmakers from the opposition People Power Party said in the proposal. The bill seeks to “clarify the state’s policy basis for tackling employment issues in the AI era and to lay an institutional foundation for preserving the people’s rights and improving their quality of life,” they added. Choi’s office insists the bill is not a rushed response. “This isn’t a law we just put toget

Feb 5, 2026By Jung Min-ho
Bill proposed to safeguard workers from AI-driven job losses
  • ‘Yellow envelope law’ meets age of robot workers
Global Community

Seoul to invest $6 mil. in bid to build CES-style events

Seoul plans to launch its own “Seoul-style CES” and “Seoul-style Davos forum” as flagship international business events, backed by an 8.5 billion won ($5.8 million) investment, in a broader push to expand the city’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry. The announcement on Thursday comes as the Seoul Metropolitan Government prepares to host major events this year, including an international machine learning conference and the World Conference on Lung Cancer, under its 2026 Seoul MICE industry development plan. Building on its 2024 recognition as the third‑busiest host city for international conferences in the world — by the Union of International Associations — city officials aim to attract more large-scale meetings and incentive tours. The city plans to focus on events tied to strategic industries such as medicine, engineering, science and economics, offering bidding and postevent support and incentives of up to 280 million won per event, they said. The city government will boost public–private cooperation through the Seoul MICE Alliance,

Feb 5, 2026By Jung Min-ho
Seoul to invest $6 mil. in bid to build CES-style events
Global Community

AI-powered glasses offer real-time subtitles of Korean lectures

At Pusan National University (PNU) in the southeastern port city of Busan, an American student sits in a Korean literature class wearing what appears to be an ordinary pair of glasses. As the teacher begins to speak, English sentences appear on the lenses, line by line. For the first time, there is no bracing for the moment of confusion and no constant worry about missing key points. “The biggest advantage is being able to fully understand and not miss what the professor says in class,” the student told The Korea Times on condition of anonymity. “It also seems very helpful for learning advanced vocabulary or specialized terminology. If this technology becomes established, it could play a major role in helping international students acquire academic knowledge without language barriers.” The student is one of several non-Koreans taking part in the university’s trial of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered translation glasses, part of a broader push to make campus life accessible in more languages. A Vietnamese student taking part was especially surprised by how well the system ha

Feb 4, 2026By Jung Min-ho
AI-powered glasses offer real-time subtitles of Korean lectures
Society

Seoul prepares safety measures ahead of BTS Gwanghwamun comeback show

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is rolling out a comprehensive crowd safety plan ahead of BTS’ long-awaited comeback performance next month, as officials brace for throngs of Korean and foreign fans in central Seoul. The K-pop group is scheduled to hold a live performance marking the release of its fifth full-length album at Gwanghwamun Square at 8 p.m. on March 21. “It is a big opportunity for Seoul that this event will be held at Gwanghwamun Square, the heart of the city, and we must make the most of it,” Mayor Oh Se-hoon said at a Wednesday meeting about the BTS performance. “We sincerely welcome this event, and we must pay attention to safety issues, traffic flow and easing any inconvenience for residents.” Oh described BTS as “precious” partners who served as Seoul’s tourism ambassadors from 2017 to 2023, helping the city grow into a global tourism powerhouse, which attracts nearly 20 million foreign visitors a year. With fans expected to pack Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul Plaza and other central locations, the city government says it will focus on prevention‑oriente

Feb 4, 2026By Jung Min-ho
Seoul prepares safety measures ahead of BTS Gwanghwamun comeback show
Society

Seoul to deploy robots to improve disaster management

Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters announced on Monday that it will use robots and new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) more proactively to address problems and improve its emergency response system. A key initiative under the plan is to expand the number of traditional markets covered by its fire patrol robots from two to four. These robots will autonomously patrol during late-night hours, using thermal sensors to detect high-temperature objects and send real time alerts. If their video analysis system determines that a fire has broken out, they report it to the local fire station and activate built-in dry chemical extinguishers to put it out. It will also deploy four-legged robots in dangerous underground spaces, such as tunnels that contain power lines, water pipes and gas lines, where toxic gases or smoke make human access difficult or unsafe. Equipped with LiDAR — a technology that uses laser light to build a detailed 3D image of the environment — and gas detectors, these robots can monitor hazards and search for people in real time. The city gov

Feb 3, 2026By Jung Min-ho
Seoul to deploy robots to improve disaster management
Society

As towns shrink, municipalities compete to host new nuclear plants

As Korea’s rural towns empty out, an unexpected competition is emerging among struggling local governments vying to host new nuclear power plants. Once seen as dangerous and unwanted, nuclear facilities are now viewed as a last-ditch way to stem population decline and revive local economies. On Friday, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), a subsidiary of the state-run Korea Electric Power Corp., posted a notice inviting applications for new nuclear sites. It is inviting bids to host two large nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of 2.8 gigawatts and a 0.7‑gigawatt small modular reactor (SMR). Municipalities that wish to participate are required to submit an application, including a consent resolution from their local councils, by March 30. The announcement follows the Lee Jae Myung administration’s decision to move ahead with additional nuclear construction to support the age of artificial intelligence (AI), which relies on energy‑hungry data centers and other power‑intensive infrastructure. In Ulsan’s Ulju County, some residents began campaigning even before the KHNP no

Feb 3, 2026By Jung Min-ho
As towns shrink, municipalities compete to host new nuclear plants
Society

Driverless robotaxis to hit Seoul streets this year in ‘physical AI’ push

Korea’s first fully driverless robotaxis will begin operating on Seoul streets later this year as the city pushes to become a leader in “physical” artificial intelligence (AI) embedded in real-world spaces like roads, buildings and public infrastructure. At this year’s AI Seoul conference at COEX on Friday, Mayor Oh Se-hoon positioned Seoul as a global testbed for AI in the built environment rather than only on screens. He said the city government will use large-scale urban pilots to demonstrate how the technology can be used to improve people’s lives in everyday settings. “Technology should ultimately be directed toward people, and the ‘leading physical AI city’ that Seoul envisions is one where the coldest technology brings about the warmest change,” Oh said. “Seoul is now fully set to begin a journey to become the global hub and benchmark for physical AI.” Oh presented a three-part strategy for that vision. First, starting this October, Korea’s first Level 4 robotaxis will begin operating in Seoul, making it the world's third city to adopt the technology. Leve

Jan 30, 2026By Jung Min-ho
Driverless robotaxis to hit Seoul streets this year in ‘physical AI’ push
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