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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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Health

International nursing chief to speak to Korean nurses

By Jung Min-hoAnnette KennedyInternational Council of Nurses (ICN) President Annette Kennedy will visit Korea next week to meet the country's future nursing leaders.The Korean Nurses Association (KNA) said Thursday that Kennedy will give a speech in front of 150 nurses and nursing students about “challenges and opportunities for young nurses,” at a National Assembly meeting room at 2 p.m. on Oct. 31.Event host Rep. Yoon Jong-pil of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party invited her.The Irish native has been the ICN's leader since June 2017. Previously, she served four years as its vice president and chief of the European Federation of Nurses.The ICN is a federation of 133 national nurses' associations. Headquartered in Geneva, it aims to improve the status of nurses and influence international and domestic health policies. The KNA has been a member since 1949.

Oct 25, 2018By Jung Min-ho
International nursing chief to speak to Korean nurses
Economy

Korea to tighten tax rules for foreign workers

Tax authorities are moving to tighten tax rules for foreign workers in Korea. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoRep. Choo Kyung-hoThe National Tax Service (NTS) said Thursday it will tighten tax rules for foreign workers.The move came a week after Rep. Choo Kyung-ho of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party said that 2,178 foreign workers here had failed to pay 15 billion won ($13.2 million) in taxes. The comment was made during a parliamentary inspection of the NTS.Choo criticized the NTS for failing to collect sufficient tax data from foreigners, who are increasingly replacing Korean workers in many industries.With the current system and available data, he said it would be difficult to keep track of how many foreign workers should pay tax and even if they don't, it would be difficult to penalize them.Under the law, when foreign workers leave Korea, they are required to submit tax payment certificates to the immigration office. But the Justice Ministry does not enforce this, saying it would be too difficult with available resources to apply the rule to 13 million foreigners (including tourists a

Oct 25, 2018By Jung Min-ho
Korea to tighten tax rules for foreign workers
Sports

'Korean Colossus' to face off Chinese kickboxer in 'knockout-only' fight

By Jung Min-hoWin or lose, Choi Hong-man's size always draws crowds. Martialism square's FacebookChoi Hong-man, a Korean mixed martial artist and kickboxer who stands 7 feet, 2 inches tall (2.18m), will face Chinese Wushu master Yi Long in a special fight in Macau next month.Chinese media reported earlier this week that the two will meet in a “knockout-only” fight at the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel on Nov. 10.Choi, 38, and Yi, 31, will have to fight until one knocks down the other. If neither delivers it in nine minutes, it will be a draw.Choi apparently has a major size advantage over Yi, who is 5 feet, 9 inches (1.76m). Choi also weighs about 150 kilograms (330 pounds), while Yi is only 74kg.But given there won't be any break during the fight, Choi may end up running out of gas in the middle, which his opponent is keen to take advantage of.Yi, who is little known among Korean fans, is a former Guangdong Foshan International Wing Chun champion. Since his kickboxing debut in 2009, he has had 61 wins (23 KOs and TKOs) out of his 74 fights. He is a versatile fighter who is

Oct 23, 2018By Jung Min-ho
'Korean Colossus' to face off Chinese kickboxer in 'knockout-only' fight
Others

More than half of Dutch 'not religious'

Fewer Dutch associate themselves with religion. AFPBy Jung Min-hoFor the first time in the Netherlands' history, the number of Dutch who consider themselves “religious” is less those who don't, a survey shows.Citing Statistics Netherlands, local media reported Monday that 49 percent of Dutch aged 15 or older said they belong to a religious group; 51 percent said they are not religious.In 2016's survey, half said they were religious, down four percentage points from 2012.Roman Catholic remains the largest group (24 percent), followed by Protestant (15 percent) and Islam (5 percent), according to the latest survey.It also shows that 78 percent of Dutch rarely or never attend a religious service. Ten percent said they do so weekly, 3 percent two or three times a month, 3 percent once a month and 7 percent less than once a month.Among the religious Dutch, 52 percent are women.People 18 to 25 are the least religious age group: only a third said they are religious. Among the over 75s, 71 percent said they belong to a religious group and 34 percent regularly attend services.

Oct 23, 2018By Jung Min-ho
More than half of Dutch 'not religious'
Law & Crime

US soldiers questioned over attacks on Korean man, police officer

Two female U.S. soldiers allegedly assaulted two Koreans, including a police officer. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoTwo female U.S. army soldiers have been questioned for allegedly assaulting a Korean man and a police officer in Dongducheon, police said Monday.According to Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police Agency, a private, 20, from the U.S. Eighth Army and a private first class, 19, from the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division were questioned in the early hours of the day after allegedly kicking and punching a man, 58, and a police officer.This came after an altercation between the soldiers and the man at around midnight. How the trouble started is still unclear.Police said the soldiers refused to say anything and returned to their units later.Police plan to summon them again for questioning after checking surveillance cameras in the area.

Oct 22, 2018By Jung Min-ho
US soldiers questioned over attacks on Korean man, police officer
Health

Police warning: Korean weed smokers in Canada to face criminal charges

A Toronto woman smokes a bong on the day Canada legalized recreational marijuana on Oct. 17. ReutersBy Jung Min-hoKorean police have warned Korean residents in Canada not to smoke marijuana, saying those who ignore the warning could face criminal charges when they return to their home country.Yoon Se-jin, head of the Narcotics Crime Investigation Division at Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, warned earlier this week that smoking pot is treated as a serious offense here and Korean smokers, subject to the laws of their country, could face up to five years in prison.“Weed smokers will be punished according to the Korean law, even if they did so in countries where smoking marijuana is legal. There won't be an exception,” he said.Last week, Canada became the second country to legalize weed for recreational use. Only Uruguay in South America did so earlier. (Despite its reputation for being open and liberal, the Netherlands has not legalized it fully.)So Canada's move is drawing extensive attention from many countries that must figure out the legality of marijuana issues

Oct 22, 2018By Jung Min-ho
Police warning: Korean weed smokers in Canada to face criminal charges
  • Korea reports 300% surge in pot smuggling from North America
Travel & Food

Thailand bans overnight tourists on Similan islands

The Similan islands are the latest tourist magnet, which has become a victim of its own success. DPABy Jung Min-hoFirst Boracay in the Philippines, then Maya Bay in Thailand. Now another famous Thai tourist destination, Similan islands, appears to have become a victim of its own success.In recent years, a huge influx of visitors to the Similan islands has polluted once-crystal-clear waters and seriously damaged marine ecosystems.To tackle the problem, the Thai government announced last week that it would ban tourists from staying overnight on the islands from Oct. 16 except tours operated by licensed deep-sea diving companies, according to local media.Eighty kilometers north-west of Phuket, the 11-island Similan archipelago is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the Andaman Sea.Before the ban, more than 5,000 tourists visited there a day to enjoy pristine beaches and swim amid colorful coral reefs.“The limit on the number of tourists will remain in effect. We have no thoughts on changing this,” Similan National Park Chief Ruamsilp Manajongprasert told The Phuke

Oct 22, 2018By Jung Min-ho
Thailand bans overnight tourists on Similan islands
People & Events

'Guardian of Dokdo' dies at 79

Kim Sung-do moved to Dokdo in 1965. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoKim Sung-do, one of only two residents on Korea's easternmost islets, has died.Kim died at Asan Medical Center in Seoul, Sunday, after suffering from liver cancer for more than a month, according to the Ulleung-gun Office. He was 79.Kim will be buried at the national cemetery in Daejeon.Kim, known as “the guardian of Dokdo,” started living on the island in 1965. He and his wife Kim Shin-yeol became official Dokdo residents when they moved their address there in November 1991. Japan has long claimed sovereignty over the territory ― one of the thorniest diplomatic issues between the countries.

Oct 21, 2018By Jung Min-ho
'Guardian of Dokdo' dies at 79
Society

15,000 cats killed on Seoul roads in three years

A stray cat / Korea Times fileBy Jung Min-hoOver the past three years, more than 20,000 animals, including 15,000 cats, have been killed on Seoul's roads.Between January 2016 and June 2018, 20,283 animals were killed on Seoul's roads, according to Seoul Metropolitan Government data revealed Sunday.Cats (15,423) account for 76 percent of the deaths, followed by water deer (2,140) and dogs (1,638).Compared with dogs, cats in general are more likely to be killed on roads because they roam more independently. They are also more difficult for drivers to see.In a press release, Rep. Song Ok-joo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea urged the city government to come up with a policy to better protect animals from being killed on the road.

Oct 21, 2018By Jung Min-ho
15,000 cats killed on Seoul roads in three years
Sports

Double amputee girl dreams of becoming Paralympic taekwondo star

By Jung Min-hoMaisie Catt, right, and World Taekwondo President Choue Chung-won during the Manchester Grand Prix in Britain, Saturday (local time). Courtesy of World TaekwondoA girl, who lost her legs to meningitis as a baby, is dreaming of representing the United Kingdom at para-taekwondo someday.According to World Taekwondo (WT) Sunday, Maisie Catt, 8, was invited to the Manchester Grand Prix on Saturday and showed off her skills in front of a packed crowd.Maisie was diagnosed with meningitis at 10 months old, which resulted in having both of her legs amputated and replaced with prosthetic blades. But the condition did not hold her back from taking up a new challenge.She began practicing taekwondo in January after watching her little brother Finlay, 5, having lessons. Just nine months into her taekwondo journey, Maisie has already been selected for the Great Britain Taekwondo Para-Poomsae Squad and recently received her green belt.After learning about her story, WT President Choue Chung-won invited her and her family to Manchester to watch and meet some of her favorite taekwondo at

Oct 21, 2018By Jung Min-ho
Double amputee girl dreams of becoming Paralympic taekwondo star
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