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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

Korea, Latvia to open direct air route in May

A panoramic view of the Old Town in Riga / gettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoKorea and Latvia will open a direct air route between the two countries in May.According to the Latvian Embassy in Seoul Monday, Korean Air, the country's largest airline, will operate charter flights between Incheon and Riga on May 24 and 31 and June 7 to promote tourism between the countries.Hanjin Travel, one of the largest Korean tour agencies, will organize the special events with support from Latvian government agencies.“These will be the first direct commercial flight between the capital city of Latvia and the Republic of Korea,” the embassy said in a statement.“Koreans are active travelers and are open to exploring new destinations. Since the Latvian Embassy in the Republic of Korea was opened in the late 2015, it has been cooperating with the LIAA Tourism Department, LIVE RIGA and other partners to attract tourists from Korea.”

Jan 28, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Korea, Latvia to open direct air route in May
Entertainment

Actor So Ji-sub to meet Asian fans in February, March

So Ji-sub / Courtesy of 51KBy Jung Min-hoKorean actor So Ji-sub will meet his fans in seven Asian cities from next month.So, 41, known for his leading roles in TV shows “I'm Sorry, I Love You (2004),” “Cain and Abel (2009)” and “Oh My Venus (2015-16)” among many others, will begin his fan meeting tour in Taipei on Feb. 10.This will be his third such event, according to his agency 51K.After spending time with his fans at various events in Taipei, So will visit six other cities ―Chiba (Feb. 20-21), Kobe (Feb. 23), Bangkok (March 2), Jakarta (March 9), Hong Kong (March 10) and Manila (March 16).

Jan 28, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Actor So Ji-sub to meet Asian fans in February, March
World

Hillary Clinton considering 2020 presidential run

Hillary Clinton / APBy Jung Min-hoHillary Clinton may not be ready to give up her White House dreams just yet.“Clinton is telling people that she's not closing the doors to the idea of running in 2020,” CNN's Jeff Zeleny said Sunday (local time) on “Inside Politics.” “I'm told by three people that as recently as this week, she was telling people that look, given all this news from the indictments, particularly the Roger Stone indictment, she talked to several people, saying 'look, I'm not closing the doors to this.'”The former Democratic presidential nominee, who lost to Donald Trump in 2016, did not say publicly she will run in 2020.“Most losing presidential candidates never totally close the doors to running for president” Zeleny added. “But I think we have to at least leave our mind open to the possibility that she is still talking about it. She wants to take on Trump. Could she win a Democratic primary to do it? I don't know the answer to that.”So far, Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Kirsten Gillibrand of New

Jan 28, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Hillary Clinton considering 2020 presidential run
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
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