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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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Tech & Science

Huawei's 'Happy New Year' message sent from iPhone

iPhone lovers are everywhere, even in the building of Apple's rival. AFPHuawei's New Year message sent from an Apple iPhone. Screen grab of MKBHD's TwitterBy Jung Min-hoHuawei has wished everyone a happy New Year on the last day of 2018 ― using a phone made by its rival.In a Twitter message sent from an Apple iPhone, a Huawei official said: “Happy #2019 from all of us at Huawei. Our resolution this new year is to give you more reasons to connect to those you care about.”The Chinese smartphone maker's gaffe was first spotted by famous tech YouTuber MKBHD.The message had spread quickly before Huawei deleted it.This came after companies in China recently began boycotting Apple products in response to the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver last month.Some companies reportedly threatened employees with fines, confiscation of Apple devices and even contract termination for using Apple gadgets.

Jan 3, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Huawei's 'Happy New Year' message sent from iPhone
  • Huawei staff punished for tweeting from iPhone
World

Cult follower rams van into Tokyo crowd 'in retaliation'

Police and firefighters inspect the site of a van attack near Takeshita Street in Tokyo, Jan. 1. A car slammed into pedestrians on a street where people had gathered for New Year's festivities. Kyodo News via APA policeman guards a roped-off crime scene the morning after a man deliberately drove into the crowd on New Year's Eve on Takeshita Street, in Tokyo's fashion district of Harajuku, on Jan. 1. Nine people were hurt, one seriously.By Jung Min-hoA suspected member of a Japanese cult rammed his vehicle into pedestrians in central Tokyo on New Year's Day, injuring eight people, in what he said was “retaliation.”According to local media Tuesday, police have arrested Kazuhiro Kusakabe, 21, on charges of attacking a random crowd on Takeshita Street with his vehicle, “with an intention to kill.”“I did that to retaliate against the death penalty,” the suspect told police.Police said they are still investigating his motives, but some media reports said the man had linked the attack to the executions in July of 13 members of Aum Shinrikyo, a doomsday cu

Jan 2, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Cult follower rams van into Tokyo crowd 'in retaliation'
Korean Heritage

Confusing 'Korean age' system dies hard

How old are you in Korean age? gettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoThe year 2019 has arrived. This means all Koreans have just become a year older.Welcome to the “Korean age” system, in which everyone becomes a year old at birth and gains an additional year every New Year's Day.This method originated in China centuries ago and was once used by several countries in the region, including Japan. But today, Korea is the only country where it is still dominantly used.Many people think the system is confusing and needs to be abolished; thousands of people have even signed petitions on the Cheong Wa Dae website demanding change. But it dies hard ― why?One of the reasons is that there is little the government can do about it. Laws were enacted in 1962 to adopt the international age system that counts how many years it has been since a person was born. Since then, Korean ages have disappeared from legal documents.In other words, Korean ages only exist in the perceptions of Koreans.In other countries, such legislative change would have gradually led to perceptional change. But in a cultur

Jan 2, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Confusing 'Korean age' system dies hard
  • Transition team eyes scrapping 'Korean age'
  • How South Korea's complex age custom has endured
World

In photos: Last sunset of 2018

By Jung Min-hoBeautiful sunset photos taken in different parts of the world on the last day of 2018.Kids play on the beach enjoying the last sunset of the year in Manhattan Beach, Calif., the United States. AFPA mother and child walk along the beach during sunset in the southeast coastal resort of Ayia Napa in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus. APA horseman rides on the beach at sunset in west of Gaza city. AFPA man takes a picture near Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. ReutersA man rows a boat near a frozen portion of Dal Lake in Srinagar, India. AFPA couple take a selfie photo in Naypyidaw, Myanmar. AP

Jan 1, 2019By Jung Min-ho
In photos: Last sunset of 2018
Society

Chinese man sentenced to 7 years for attempted rape on Jeju

By Jung Min-hoA Chinese man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for attempting to rape a woman on Jeju Island.The Jeju District Court convicted the man, 30, Monday of trying to sexually assault the woman, 28, at a parking lot on northern Jeju on July 24, 2018.The victim, who tried to protect herself, suffered injuries that required six weeks of medical treatment.The situation could have been worse if she had not been saved by a passerby in the middle of the man's attack.During his trial, the man claimed that although he assaulted her, he had no intention of rape. He said he attacked the woman, who did not know him, just because he was upset after an argument with his girlfriend.But the court rejected his claims, given that he first asked her to have sex with him and, after being refused, forcibly took off her underwear.

Jan 1, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Chinese man sentenced to 7 years for attempted rape on Jeju
World

New Year's celebrations around the world

By Jung Min-hoFireworks illuminated the night skies around the world.From Moscow's Red Square to Sydney's Opera House and beyond, revelers welcomed the year of 2019 with confetti and smiles.Revelers enjoy during New Year celebrations in Moscow's Red Square, Russia, January 1, 2019. ReutersFireworks explode over Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand. ReutersPeople cheer during a New Year countdown at the Eastwood Shopping Mall in suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines. APEntertainers gather at the countdown event to celebrate the arrival of 2019 at Beijing Olympic Park in Beijing, China. EPAFireworks ignite next to the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany. EPAFireworks explode over the harbor and the Sydney Harbor Bridge in Sydney, Australia. EPAFireworks explode over the ancient Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis hill in Athens, Greece. ReutersTrotters compete during the traditional horse race celebrating the New Year at Kincsem Park Racecourse in Budapest, Hungary. EPAPalestinian people take a picture on the beach at sunset a few hours prior to the New Year's celeb

Jan 1, 2019By Jung Min-ho
New Year's celebrations around the world
Politics

Cheong Wa Dae accused of pressuring state bank to remove KT&G chief

Shin Jae-in / Screengrab of YouTubeBy Jung Min-hoA former government official claimed that Cheong Wa Dae pressured a state bank to change the leadership of local tobacco maker KT&G.Shin Jae-in, who worked at the Ministry of Economy and Finance from 2014 to July this year, claimed the ministry ― at the presidential office's request ― pressured Industrial Bank of Korea, the second-largest shareholder of KT&G, to oppose the reappointment of its CEO Baek Bok-in at a shareholders’ meeting early this year.Shin claimed he leaked the documents about the ministry’s plan to broadcaster MBC, which broke the story in May.In a YouTube video, he said he felt “ashamed” of being part of the administration that was “abusing” its power. “That’s why I quit,” he added.The ministry denied his allegations, saying he was not in a position to know such information.IBK did oppose Baek’s reappointment, but he was kept on as KT&G CEO anyway.Check the video here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa3nP_zaxiI

Dec 30, 2018By Jung Min-ho
Cheong Wa Dae accused of pressuring state bank to remove KT&G chief
  • Whistleblower found alive after hinting at suicide
Society

Deaths to exceed births in Busan for first time

Schools in Busan (pictured) have already started to suffer from a lack of students. Korea Times fileBy Jung Min-hoThe number of deaths this year will exceed that of births in Busan for the first time in decades.According to Statistics Korea, the number of people who died in the country's second-largest city is estimated to surpass that of those who were born there by nearly 2,000.The reversal had been predicted last year, when the number of births was 21,500, slightly higher than the number of deaths.When the number of births was nearly three times bigger only 20 years ago, such a dramatic change was unimaginable.Schools in Busan have already started to suffer from a lack of students.According to the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, four schools have closed this year and 25 others will face the same fate by 2022 as they struggle to fill classrooms.Data from the Korean Education Development Institute show that the number of students at elementary, middle and high schools in Busan has declined in recent years and, for the first time next year, will fall below the number of stude

Dec 24, 2018By Jung Min-ho
Deaths to exceed births in Busan for first time
Tech & Science

More countries considering Huawei ban

A man walks past a Huawei phone retail shop in Beijing, China, Dec. 19. ReutersBy Jung Min-hoHuwei's hopes to “dominate the market” for the next generation of mobile communications networks are threatened around the world as more countries see the company's devices as national security threats that must be removed.So far, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Japan have barred the Chinese telecom equipment provider from taking part in their 5G infrastructure build-outs amid concerns of its links with China's government.As Huawei nervously watches other countries' moves, Germany's Deutsche Telekom said last week that it would “re-evaluate its procurement strategy” in regard to Huawei. The company also said it took “the global discussion about the security of network elements from Chinese manufacturers very seriously.”The statement came after Alex Younger, director of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, reportedly said that Britain needed “to decide the extent to which we are going to be comfortable with Chinese ownership of these te

Dec 24, 2018By Jung Min-ho
More countries considering Huawei ban
Entertainment

PHOTOS Miss Universe national costume show: Meet most eye-catching contestants

By Jung Min-hoIt was an interesting show of culture from around the world as Miss Universe contestants walked down the runway in their national costumes at Nongnooch International Convention and Exhibition Center in Pattaya, Thailand.The ladies will compete for the title in the finals, which is scheduled to be held in Bangkok on Dec 17.From hanbok to Sailor Moon dress, here are some of the most eye-catching.Miss Universe Korea Baek Ji-hyun poses in her national costume during the Miss Universe 2018 national costume contest at Nongnooch International Convention and Exhibition Center in Pattaya, Chonburi province, Thailand, Dec. 10. Women representing 94 nations participate in the 67th beauty pageant Miss Universe 2018 which will be held in Bangkok on Dec. 17. EPA Japan's Yuumi Kato / EPA Cost Rica's Natalia Carvaja / EPA Laos's On-anong Homsombath / EPA Zambia's Melba Shakabozha / AP Ecuador's Virginia Limongi / AFP  Singapore's Zahra Khanum / EPA Brazil's Mayra Dias / EPA El Salvador's Marisela de Montecristo / AP

Dec 12, 2018By Jung Min-ho
Miss Universe national costume show: Meet most eye-catching contestants [PHOTOS]
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