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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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Foreign Affairs

23 Koreans blacklisted in Philippines for being rude

Among 133 people who were blacklisted in the Philippines last year, 23 were Korean nationals. gettyimagesbankgettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoTwenty-three Korean citizens have been banned from entering the Philippines for being rude and disrespectful to airport staff.According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 23 Koreans were denied entry and blacklisted in 2018 for showing arrogance or using foul language to immigration officers.“Being on the blacklist means you won't be able to enter the Philippines for at least one year,” the ministry said on Facebook on Jan. 23.“To avoid such trouble, please be polite when talking to Philippine officials. If you don't respond to their questions or raise your voices, you may be denied permission to enter the country. Therefore, you should be able to speak English or have someone who can.”Statistics show that 133 foreigners were blacklisted that year. Chinese nationals topped the list with 37, followed by Americans (25) and Koreans.Philippines Bureau of Immigration (BI) spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the bureau would not tole

Jan 28, 2019By Jung Min-ho
23 Koreans blacklisted in Philippines for being rude
Economy

Bitcoin 'will go to zero'

Some investors believe that bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are still overvalued. gettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoThe price of bitcoin, the world's most popular cryptocurrency, is still overvalued and “will go to zero” eventually, according to Jeff Schumacher, founder of BCG Digital Ventures.“I do believe it will go to zero. I think it's a great technology but I don't believe it's a currency. It's not based on anything,” the prominent crypto investor said during a discussion in Davos, Switzerland, CNBS reported last week.Glenn Hutchins, chairman of North Island, said bitcoin's role in the future may be focused on being a store of value.“It might be that the role of bitcoin in the system could be to bring value back, to hold your value there while you have other tokens you aren't using at the moment,” Hutchins said.“I am much less interested in investing around bitcoin as a currency unit or a currency equivalent, or even the blockchain as an accounting ledger. I am thinking much more about the protocols. In other words, what is the underlying

Jan 27, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Bitcoin 'will go to zero'
Travel & Food

Health warning: flu outbreak quickly spreads across Japan

People stand by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Jan. 21. The number of flu patients in the country has topped 2.1 million. APBy Jung Min-hoAn influenza outbreak is spreading across Japan at an alarming rate.According to media reports Saturday, more than 2.1 million people have been infected with the flu.The average number of patients at 5,000 medical institutions nationwide was 53.91 from Jan. 14-20, up 15 from a week before and the second-highest figure since the health ministry began collecting data in 1999.Meanwhile, the number of patients increased to 2.13 million, up about 495,000.The three most severely affected prefectures are Aichi, Saitama and Shizuoka.The ministry said the H1N1 strain accounted for 60 percent of cases. The strain caused a global outbreak of a new influenza a decade ago.

Jan 27, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Health warning: flu outbreak quickly spreads across Japan
Companies

Bills of lading unnecessary for APTA tariff benefits: top court

The Supreme Court in Seoul / YonhapBy Jung Min-hoThe Supreme Court has ruled that a bill of lading ― a receipt that acts as proof of ownership of goods being transported ― is not necessary to be eligible for tariff benefits included in an international trade deal.According to the Seoul-based law firm HMP Law Thursday, the court has overturned the High Court's ruling, saying it is unlawful for the Seoul Main Customs service to acknowledge bills of lading as the only legitimate proof of direct transportation.With the decision, those who trade under the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) between seven member nations ― Korea, China, India, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Laos ― can now receive tariff concessions stated in the deal even without bills of landing if they provide other proof of direct dealings.HMP said its Korean client filed a lawsuit against the customs office several years ago after officials refused to recognize its goods imported from China through Hong Kong were eligible for APTA tariff benefits for failing to provide a bill of lading.

Jan 24, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Bills of lading unnecessary for APTA tariff benefits: top court
Tech & Science

Canada's Huawei ban inevitable: expert

Canadian and Chinese flags hang before a meeting between Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Dec. 5, 2017. EPATrudeau speaks during a town hall meeting at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, Jan. 15. APBy Jung Min-hoCharles BurtonAmid growing tension between Ottawa and Beijing, it is now “politically impossible” for the Canadian government to allow Huawei's controversial 5G equipment in Canada, according to an expert.Following the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, CFO of the Chinese tech giant, in Vancouver on Dec. 1 at the request of U.S. authorities, a Chinese court sentenced a Canadian citizen to death for being involved in smuggling drugs ― a decision that brought criticism from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Meanwhile, several Canadians have been detained in China.Adding fuel to the fire, China's ambassador to Canada warned on Jan. 17 that there would be repercussions if the Canadian government banned Huawei from supplying technology for the country's 5G network.All this

Jan 24, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Canada's Huawei ban inevitable: expert
  • China demands US drop Huawei extradition request with Canada
Companies

Engine fires: BMW recalls 20,000 vehicles; 79,000 still under inspection

BMW is recalling more than 20,000 vehicles in Korea following engine fires. Korea Times fileBy Jung Min-hoGerman luxury automaker BMW is recalling more than 20,000 vehicles in Korea amid safety fears.A BMW representative said Wednesday that it issued a recall for about 20,300 vehicles found to have a faulty intake manifold; 79,000 more are still under inspection for a possible recall.The plan was revealed two months after experts discovered that faulty exhaust gas recirculation valves were the chief cause of a series of engine fires last year and demanded the company carry out additional inspections in December.The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said it approved the company's follow-up measure.“We will ensure that the company will implement its measure, including thoroughly inspecting the remaining vehicles,” a ministry official said.Affected car owners will be notified by mail and mobile phone.The defects came into the spotlight after dozens of BMWs caught fire, which significantly damaged the company's reputation.

Jan 23, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Engine fires: BMW recalls 20,000 vehicles; 79,000 still under inspection
Companies

Man destroys own Ford Explorer in protest against automaker

The owner of a Ford Explorer smashes his car with a baseball bat in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, Jan. 20. YonhapThe owner claims some parts of the car were repainted. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoA Korean man has destroyed his new car worth more than 50 million won ($45,000) in a fury, claiming he was given a Ford Explorer that “wasn't actually new.”Jang Dong-min smashed his vehicle with a baseball bat in front of a Ford sales shop in Jeonju on Jan. 20, accusing Ford Motor Company of giving him a car with “traces of repair.”“It was the last and only thing I could do after no one had believed me,” Jang told The Korea Times Tuesday. “Every time I looked at my car, I felt my heart swelling with anger … I couldn't just let it go.”Jang bought his first Ford Explorer in May 2017, but within a few weeks, a serious engine problem occurred, he said. So the company exchanged that car for a new one in August that year.But he later found some traces, which he believes indicate that his car was not brand new.After receiving an experts' technical eva

Jan 22, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Man destroys own Ford Explorer in protest against automaker
  • Ford Korea troubled by 'angry' consumer
Foreign Affairs

Korean man shot to death in Tokyo

Police search a karaoke bar in the Kabukicho entertainment district in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, following the shooting there on Monday evening. KyodoBy Jung Min-hoA Korean man has been shot to death at a karaoke bar in Tokyo.The man, 65, surnamed Lee, a long-time Tokyo resident, was reportedly shot three times in the city's famous Kabukicho entertainment district. He was immediately taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.Police are looking for the attacker, who fled on a motorcycle.Police said it was most likely a premeditated attack that resulted from a personal conflict.According to police, Lee was a member of the Sumiyoshikai crime syndicate when he was young, and the attacker is also believed to have gangster links.Police have found a motorcycle and helmet ― believed to have been used by the killer ― near the bar. Police are now checking footage from surveillance cameras.The karaoke outlet in the center of Kabukicho in Shinjuku Ward is about 500 meters northeast of JR Shinjuku Station. Several yakuza gangsters are based in the commercial area, which is also popular among t

Jan 22, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Korean man shot to death in Tokyo
Society

Korean teachers demand removal of native English speakers

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's plan to improve public English education has run into a brick wall. Korea Times fileBy Jung Min-hoA union of liberal teachers has called on education authorities to remove all ― if not reduce the number of ― native English teachers from elementary schools in Seoul.According to the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) Wednesday, its Seoul office representatives will soon meet their counterparts from the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) to discuss the issue.“There have been opinions that the quality of some native English teachers' teaching skills is low, which increases Korean teachers' workload,” a KTU official reportedly said. “They can be replaced by Korean teachers, given that what they teach is elementary level English.”In April 2018, the SMOE announced measures to improve the quality of English education in public schools. As part of the reform, the office decided to provide native English teachers to all 557 elementary schools in the city.By the end of this year, the SMOE initially pl

Jan 17, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Korean teachers demand removal of native English speakers
Tech & Science

Huawei CEO: 'Trump a great president'

Ren Zhengfei, founder and CEO of Huawei, smiles during a roundtable meeting with journalists in Shenzhen, China, Tuesday. The founder of network gear and smartphone supplier Huawei Technologies said the tech giant would reject requests from the Chinese government to disclose confidential information about its customers. APChinese President Xi Jinping pauses as he is shown around the Huawei offices by Ren Zhengfei in London, Oct. 21, 2015. ReutersBy Jung Min-hoRen Zhengfei, the founder and CEO of Chinese tech giant Huawei, called U.S. President Donald Trump “a great president” as his company struggles with spying allegations by the United States and some of its allies.Speaking to journalists from Western media at Huawei's headquarters in Shenzhen, Tuesday, Ren, 74, also said he would never allow China's government to access customer information, in a bid to assuage growing global security concerns about his company.“Trump is a great president,” Ren reportedly said. “He dares to massively cut taxes, which will benefit business. But you have to treat well t

Jan 17, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Huawei CEO: 'Trump a great president'
  • US in criminal probe of Huawei: report
  • US lawmakers introduce bipartisan bills targeting Huawei, ZTE
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