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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

EXPLAINER How did Cambodia turn into den of crime?

Once a fast-growing tourism hot spot, Cambodia’s image as a safe, affordable gateway for Korean visitors has been shattered, as scenes of torture, kidnapping and ransom dominate headlines. The number of people falling victim to these crimes is growing rapidly: Data from Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs showed that cases of Korean nationals being kidnapped or unlawfully detained in Cambodia jumped from just 17 in 2023 to 220 last year ― and have already surpassed 330 this year as of August. Experts warn that Cambodia’s weak law enforcement, porous borders and deep-seated corruption have made the Southeast Asian country an especially attractive haven for transnational crime syndicates, many with Chinese leadership. Young Koreans falling victim Most Korean victims are in their 20s and 30s, targeted through online ads promising they can earn 8 million won ($5,600) to 15 million won per month, offering round-trip flight tickets and lodging and saying no special skills are required. After arriving, they are taken to locations like Bokor and Sihanoukville. These towns are home to “sca

Oct 13, 2025By Jung Min-ho
[EXPLAINER] How did Cambodia turn into den of crime?
Society

New rankings gauge Korean universities by global influence, not just research

The Korea Times’ new university ranking system, the K-universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026 (KGER), offers a fresh perspective on what it means to be a global campus. It focuses on global competitiveness, using a sophisticated framework of 22 indicators across four key categories: education, research, student support and graduate outcomes. This year, the ranking evaluated 54 four-year institutions with substantial foreign student populations, relying on publicly available data to ensure impartiality and transparency. At the heart of KGER is its focus on internationalization, with 63.2 percent of the total score devoted to factors that directly shape campus experience for global students. In the education category, international student ratio among enrolled students, diversity of nationalities, ratio of international students meeting language proficiency requirements and their academic retention rate were among the factors assessed. Research takes on a distinctly global dimension in the rankings. Institutions are evaluated on the number of international research papers per facul

Sep 24, 2025By Jung Min-ho
New rankings gauge Korean universities by global influence, not just research
Society

K-universities Global Excellence Rankings sets new standard for university evaluation

Departing from the prestige-driven focus of traditional rankings, the K-universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026 (KGER) is reshaping how Korea’s universities are evaluated, providing institutions with a road map for improvement while giving prospective international students a clearer view of what each campus offers. While legacy systems such as QS or Times Higher Education (THE) rely on reputation surveys and broad measures of academic prowess, KGER prioritizes what matters most to today’s international students: real evidence of global engagement, transparency and meaningful support. Specifically, existing global university ranking systems have built their authority by collecting subjective opinion polls from academics and employers around the world. In QS rankings, for example, reputation accounts for nearly half the score, giving long-established schools a head start based on historical prestige. Unlike traditional rankings, KGER is grounded in verifiable, objective data, placing priority on the real experiences and success of international students on Korean campuses. Metri

Sep 24, 2025By Jung Min-ho
K-universities Global Excellence Rankings sets new standard for university evaluation
Society

Int’l student boom spurs demand for credible university rankings in Korea

Korea’s higher education sector stands at a crossroads, confronted with a shrinking school-age population and mounting financial pressures, prompting universities to rely increasingly on recruiting international students as a path to survival. As a wide range of Korean cultural exports capture global attention, universities are tapping into the rising interest in studying in Korea, increasingly tailoring recruitment efforts to attract students from around the world. This surge in interest has underscored the need for transparent and reliable ways to gauge the level — and effectiveness — of internationalization at universities in Korea, ensuring that both domestic institutions and prospective students from abroad can make informed decisions. With domestic enrollment in sharp decline, the push for internationalization is not merely an academic ideal but an economic imperative, as universities increasingly look beyond their borders to fill classrooms and secure their long-term viability. According to Statistics Korea, the nation’s school-age population is declining faster than in an

Sep 24, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Int’l student boom spurs demand for credible university rankings in Korea
Global Community

EPS-TOPIK cheating expected to end with tablet-based system: officials

EPS-TOPIK, the standardized Korean language test for foreign workers under the Employment Permit System (EPS), will move entirely to tablets next year, a change officials say will strengthen fairness and curb cheating, reflecting the government’s efforts to uphold integrity in the testing process. According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of Justice has detected no cheating cases since last year. As the final gatekeeper in the EPS application process, the Ministry of Justice verifies applicants at the visa issuance stage, using biometric facial analysis to match test-takers’ photos with their passport pictures. The test’s initial screening is conducted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, which oversees nonprofessional employment programs — most notably the EPS — that require applicants to submit TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) or EPS-TOPIK scores. “There used to be cases where the Ministry of Justice would catch these fraud attempts and inform us, but ever since the spread of UBT (ubiquitous-based test), nothing is coming from that ministry a

Sep 19, 2025By Jung Min-ho
EPS-TOPIK cheating expected to end with tablet-based system: officials
Society

Hangang Bus to transform daily lives of Seoul residents, mayor says

After years of planning, the Han River’s water bus service sets sail Thursday, offering Seoul residents and visitors a new way to navigate the city and see it from the water. At Wednesday’s launch ceremony held at Yeouido Pier, Mayor Oh Se-hoon described the Hangang Bus as “a new lifestyle Seoul is proposing ― a choice for residents to enjoy leisure, scenery and the city’s night views in everyday moments.” “The river and cityscape viewed from the boat will offer a place of relaxation, a daily journey and a new cultural experience. As this new option is added to everyone’s daily life, a new brand will be born in Seoul,” Oh said. “Watching each passenger enjoy the passing scenery and shed the day’s fatigue on their commute home, my own weariness seems to melt away. Each Hangang Bus dock promises to become a new hub where culture and trends intersect.” The Hangang Bus, the capital’s first public waterborne transit system, will connect seven piers along a 28.9-kilometer route spanning from Magok to Jamsil. Eight eco-friendly vessels, each of which can carry up to 1

Sep 17, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Hangang Bus to transform daily lives of Seoul residents, mayor says
Global Community

Korea's visa-free policy for Chinese tour groups incites public anger

Korea’s visa-free entry program for Chinese tour groups is drawing public backlash, with more than 52,000 citizens signing a petition for its cancellation just two weeks before it is set to begin. The public backlash, amid an undercurrent of rising anti-China sentiment, is being fueled by a mix of historical grievances, economic competition and a nationalist reaction to what's perceived by many Koreans as Beijing's assertive cultural and political influence in the region. Scheduled to run from Sept. 29 through next June, the visa-free initiative has drawn criticism amid growing concerns over safety and potential abuse. Petitioners cite a mosquito-borne viral outbreak in China’s Guangdong Province, which has recorded more than 10,000 cases, warning that increased travel could threaten public health. They note that infected mosquitoes can be carried by airplanes — a phenomenon known as “airport malaria,” or more broadly, “airport-borne vector transmission,” a recognized public health risk. “The government, which is responsible for the health of its people, should immediate

Sep 17, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Korea's visa-free policy for Chinese tour groups incites public anger
Health

Korea sets ambitious goal of cutting suicide rate by 40% in 10 years

The Korean government on Friday announced a new initiative to tackle the country’s suicide rate, which remains the highest among OECD countries for the 22nd consecutive year, setting an ambitious goal of reducing it by nearly half in the next 10 years. Last year, more than 14,400 Koreans took their own lives ― an average of 40 deaths per day. Under the 2025 national suicide prevention strategy, the government set out to cut annual suicide deaths to below 10,000 within five years and to lower the suicide rate from 28.3 per 100,000 people in 2024 to 17 by 2034. Officials said they set the 2034 target by referencing Lithuania’s rate of 17.1, which is the second-highest among OECD member states. To reach these targets, authorities plan to intensify support and supervision, particularly for high-risk groups such as suicide attempt survivors and bereaved family members. “There were some reservations about setting the goal, but simply saying ‘we would make an effort’ was not enough, so we have decided to set a challenging goal,” Lee Hyung-hoon, second vice minister of health and

Sep 12, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Korea sets ambitious goal of cutting suicide rate by 40% in 10 years
Foreign Affairs

AI-powered translation to eliminate language barriers at APEC meetings

An artificial intelligence (AI)-powered interactive interpretation and translation system supporting the languages of all 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members will be installed throughout key locations during the upcoming APEC meetings in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. The translation devices will be set up at 12 designated hotels for national leaders as well as major hubs including Gimhae International Airport, Gyeongju Station and the city’s main bus terminal for the events, set to begin at the end of October, according to city officials Friday. These devices can instantaneously translate conversations between individuals speaking any of the APEC languages. Each of the hotels will operate help desks staffed by professional interpreters dedicated to supporting government delegates with the Economic Leaders' Meeting set for Oct. 31 to Nov. 1. General participant hotels, grouped into zones of four or five, will be supported by similar help desks and interpreter services, ensuring summit-level hospitality across the board. To further support guests, the city has desig

Sep 12, 2025By Jung Min-ho
AI-powered translation to eliminate language barriers at APEC meetings
Global Community

Gov't moves to protect foreign victims of wage theft

The government is pushing to revise the Immigration Control Act to better protect foreign workers — including those without legal status — from losing wages and severance pay in an effort to strengthen human rights protections in the country. Officials say the Ministry of Justice is drafting a bill to add foreign workers who are victims of wage theft to the list of exemptions under Article 84. The article currently requires public officials to notify immigration authorities if they encounter migrants who are living in the country illegally. As a result, such workers are reluctant to report unpaid wages or other labor violations, fearing that doing so could expose their status and lead to deportation. Ministry officials believe this has contributed to widespread underreporting of labor abuses. “The purpose of this amendment is to strengthen protections for foreign workers, including undocumented migrants, by exempting public officials from the duty to notify immigration authorities in cases where they are identified during investigations into wage theft or other violations of labor

Sep 11, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Gov't moves to protect foreign victims of wage theft
  • Monthlong crackdown targets wage theft and abuse of foreign workers
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