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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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Global Community

Liberal lawmakers call for expansion of rights for migrant workers

Liberal lawmakers on Tuesday called for expanding the rights of foreign workers in Korea as members of the Migrants’ Trade Union (MTU) marked the 20th anniversary of its founding. At the event held in Seoul to celebrate the anniversary, Rep. Lee Yong-woo of the Democratic Party of Korea expressed solidarity with union workers and vowed to help their voices be reflected in the future policies of his party and the new administration after the presidential election on June 3. “All workers are equal, regardless of their migration status,” he said. “I will do my best to help guarantee their equal rights as laborers during and after the election campaign.” In a statement released for the forum, he outlined several policy priorities, including introducing a system that would allow foreign workers to freely change their workplaces and fields of work — a long-standing demand of the MTU. Rep. Jung Hye-kyung of the minor liberal Progressive Party also vowed to improve the rights of migrant workers as she acknowledged the unfairness that remains in the current system. “I will do my part

Apr 29, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Liberal lawmakers call for expansion of rights for migrant workers
Global Community

Buyeo county seeks reprieve for unregistered migrants to ease labor shortage

The county government of Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province, with a population of 59,000, are preparing a proposal to urge the central government to allow undocumented migrants to remain in Korea under specific restrictions in order to address labor shortages, according to a high-ranking official familiar with the matter. The county office plans to raise the issue at the next meeting of the National Association of Mayors in Korea, an organization of local government leaders, before formally submitting a more detailed policy proposal to the Ministry of Justice, according to the official. “The point is to permit undocumented foreign nationals to stay and work here if they meet certain conditions,” the official told The Korea Times recently. “Without them, the labor shortage situation would be much worse.” One thing the county office plans to propose is the introduction of a self-reporting system, whereby immigration officers will not detain or deport undocumented migrants who provide information voluntarily about where they live and work. This proposal comes two weeks after Park Jun

Apr 28, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Buyeo county seeks reprieve for unregistered migrants to ease labor shortage
Global Community

Bill drafted to guarantee undocumented children’s right to education

A bill has been proposed to guarantee undocumented children’s right to education in Korea. Under the bill, foreign minors would receive the same level of education as Koreans at elementary, middle and high schools despite not having valid visas to stay here. It was drafted Thursday by Rep. Lee Hack-young and nine other legislators from the liberal Democratic Party of Korea. The bill identifies all foreign children, “including undocumented ones,” as subject to the basic rights enshrined in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. In 1991, Korea joined the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, a treaty that affirms children’s right to education, including access to free, compulsory primary education. But many undocumented children in the country have not been able to fully enjoy the right, according to the lawmakers. “While there have been no major problems with enrollment for registered foreign children, there have been problems with enrollment for undocumented ones, preventing them from receiving even basic education,” they said in the proposal. “The enfor

Apr 26, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Bill drafted to guarantee undocumented children’s right to education
Politics

More signs point to acting president entering June 3 election race

Speculation is growing that acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo may run in the upcoming presidential election, as his recent actions resemble those of a president preparing for a major political event. On Thursday, Han gave a budget policy speech at the National Assembly ― the first by an acting head of state since 1979. On Friday, he shed tears as he consoled the bereaved families of soldiers and police officers killed while on duty, during an event at the Daejon National Cemetery, where he also called for a strong defense posture against any North Korean provocation. In recent weeks, he also visited automakers and shipbuilders, held an economic task force meeting with the heads of the nation's top conglomerates and visited the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, to emphasize the alliance. Han has neither confirmed nor denied that he will run for president, despite continuous questions and speculation. Under the relevant election laws, if he is to join the race, he is required to resign from his current post by May 4. Speaking to The

Apr 25, 2025By Jung Min-ho
More signs point to acting president entering June 3 election race
Law & Crime

All eyes on Supreme Court as DPK’s main presidential contender awaits ruling

After an appeals court in Seoul found Lee Jae-myung, the leading presidential contender of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), not guilty of violating the election law on March 26, party officials said it would be virtually impossible for the Supreme Court appeal to be concluded before the June 3 election. They may be wrong. After taking over the case, Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae referred it to a full-bench review and held the first deliberation session on the same day — a rare move. Just two days later, on Thursday, the court convened its second session, signaling an unusually swift pace. Many experts view the move as a clear indication that the court is determined to resolve the case before the June 3 presidential election — a prospect that has heightened anxiety among DPK politicians. “Given the steps taken by the court so far, the justices are likely to issue a ruling before the voting day,” Lee Hyun-gon, a former judge, told The Korea Times. “Part of the reason for the court to speed up is to avoid a more confusing situation following the election.” The scenario the lawyer

Apr 24, 2025By Jung Min-ho
All eyes on Supreme Court as DPK’s main presidential contender awaits ruling
Environment & Animals

Is DPK coming around on nuclear energy?

After the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan, liberal politicians here embraced the idea of phasing out Korea's reliance on nuclear power, a stance that defined the energy policy of the liberal Moon Jae-in administration. Now, it seems the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is changing its mind on the issue, as party officials say completely excluding nuclear energy is no longer a viable policy option. Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the party’s leading contender for the next presidency, talked of "energy mix," a concept of combining diverse energy sources which usually include nuclear power, in his climate pledges ahead of the June 3 election. On Earth Day on Tuesday, Lee vowed to achieve four long-term objectives for the nation’s environment: mapping out a more specific plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, eliminating the use of plastic, reducing fine dust and preserving biodiversity. In a separate social media message targeting residents on Jeju Island the following day, Lee also said he would lead the efforts to develop more green technologies to make the energy supply more re

Apr 23, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Is DPK coming around on nuclear energy?
Politics

Korea’s liberal party embraces Hungary's approach to depopulation

The liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is embracing Hungary's approach to the birthrate crisis, reviewing the idea of offering loans to newlywed couples with the promise that the debts will be forgiven once they have three children. The policy idea of offering 100 million won ($70,000) loans to all newly married couples, regardless of their income levels, is now reportedly under review by the DPK as officials work to finalize policy priorities ahead of the June 3 presidential election. The party introduced the idea during last year’s campaign for legislative elections as one of its pledges to address Korea’s persistently low birthrate. If one of the party’s contenders wins the presidential race, this cash-for-kids proposal could quickly become actual policy through legislation, given that the DPK holds a majority in the National Assembly. Under the plan, all newly married couples would be given 100 million won. If they have one child, they would be relieved of paying interest on their loans. If they have a second one, the principal would be reduced by half to 50 million won,

Apr 22, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Korea’s liberal party embraces Hungary's approach to depopulation
Global Community

Ansan, Korea's most diverse city, to host global interculturalism forum

Ansan, the most ethnically diverse city in Korea, will host an international event to promote interculturalism ― a movement that supports cross-cultural interaction ― as officials embrace multicultural harmony as the city’s identity and brand. The city government in Ansan, the first Korean city to join the list of the Council of Europe’s intercultural cities, announced last week that it will host the symposium from Sept. 17 to 19 to share its vision with and strengthen ties to other members, including Japan’s Hamamatsu and Australia’s Melton. “This year marks the fifth anniversary of our membership and 20 years since the creation of the division dedicated to serving foreign residents,” its official told The Korea Times Monday. “As we celebrate it, we will invite representatives of other member cities to Ansan to share our thoughts on the development of our common vision and new policy ideas.” According to the Council of Europe’s website, the intercultural city program was launched in 2008 to support cities in “reviewing and adapting their policies through an inte

Apr 22, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Ansan, Korea's most diverse city, to host global interculturalism forum
Society

Ex-spokesman for labor ministry to lead Korea Labor and Employment Service

Park Jong-pil, a former spokesman for the labor ministry, has become the new chief director of the Korea Labor and Employment Service (KLES). Park, 57, began his three-year term on Monday, which will continue through April 20, 2028, according to officials. The KLES is a state-run organization dedicated to fostering harmonious labor-management relations and improving employment and labor services. In a statement released before his inauguration, Park said he would focus on making tangible changes. “All work our organization does should be field-friendly,” he said. “I will pay more attention to the voices of workers. Based on their needs, I will focus on driving real changes.” After graduating from Korea University with a history degree, he entered public service in 1995. While working, he studied public administration at Yonsei University as well as the University of Birmingham before earning a doctorate in business administration from Yeungnam University in 2021. Known as a good communicator with the press, Park served as a spokesman for the Ministry of Employment and Labor twice

Apr 21, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Ex-spokesman for labor ministry to lead Korea Labor and Employment Service
Global Community

ILO says Korea’s new foreign nanny program ‘contrary’ to its equality rules

Korea’s new foreign nanny program launched last month for residents in Seoul is not aligned with the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) equality principles, its representative said. In a recent response to inquiries from The Korea Times about the program — through which holders of certain visas can gain employment here as domestic workers for less than the minimum wage — the ILO official said it would be in violation of multiple conventions that guarantee the right to equal treatment. Among them is Article 6 of the ILO’s Domestic Workers Convention that ensures the right of domestic workers to enjoy fair terms of employment in the same way as those employed for other types of work, including the same minimum wage, the official said. The convention defines "domestic work" as work performed in or for a household or households. This comes after the announcement by the Ministry of Justice and the Seoul Metropolitan Government that holders of one of four visas ― D-2, D-10-1, F-3 and F-1-5 ― can apply for permission via the outsourcing service firm EasyTask to work as dom

Apr 20, 2025By Jung Min-ho
ILO says Korea’s new foreign nanny program ‘contrary’ to its equality rules
  • EXCLUSIVE Fewer than 50 foreigners applied to nanny program: source
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