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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

Korea’s environment ministry to test-use ChatGPT

Korea’s environment ministry will test-use ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot developed by U.S. company OpenAI, for a month before formally adopting that technology to streamline and improve its operations later this year, officials said on Sunday. According to the ministry, its 100-member team will begin using various features of ChatGPT Plus — the paid version of ChatGPT — in their daily work starting Monday, including data analysis, preparing presentation materials, and translating documents into multiple languages. However, during the test period, the officials are not allowed to put in sensitive, information such as personal data, under the ministry’s internal security rules. After the test period, they plan to submit feedback to the ministry about whether the AI tool has been useful for their work and areas of concern. Their opinions will be used to comprehensively evaluate the ministry's plan to adopt AI technologies, potentially starting in September. This comes as government ministries and agencies seek ways to take advantage of ChatGPT and other

Jun 2, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Korea’s environment ministry to test-use ChatGPT
Law & Crime

Election watchdog chief apologizes over errors

The chief of the National Election Commission (NEC) has apologized for management mistakes during last week’s early voting for the presidential election, vowing to make every effort to minimize such errors on Election Day on Tuesday. “There were some management lapses,” Chairperson Roh Tae-ak told reporters at its office in eastern Seoul, Saturday. “I apologize for any confusion we may have caused voters.” This came after the revelation that some voters held ballots outside one of the voting stations in Seoul, Thursday, — a violation of the Public Official Election Act. In a separate case the same day, a contract official responsible for distributing ballots was detained after voting twice, using both her own and her husband’s identification cards. These unprecedented incidents occurred amid growing distrust in the commission’s competence and integrity as the national election watchdog — particularly among conservatives, some of whom have claimed instances of vote rigging in past elections. Following media reports about the incidents, members of the People’s Welfare C

Jun 1, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Election watchdog chief apologizes over errors
Politics

Nation's two leading candidates silent on human rights issues

A coalition of prominent human rights organizations, both within South Korea and internationally, including the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Human Rights Watch, sought to engage the nation's leading presidential contenders regarding fundamental rights. However, their questionnaires have reportedly been met with silence from the two front-runners. According to Human Rights Watch, Wednesday, Kim Moon-soo, the presidential candidate of the conservative People Power Party, and his liberal rival, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea, have notably declined to respond. The unanswered questions addressed key issues such as freedom of speech, environmental responsibility and the future of human rights policy toward North Korea, among others. Another questionnaire sent jointly by the FIDH and the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG), a Seoul-based group, was also met with silence, according to a TJWG official. “It is deeply disappointing that voters will have to cast their ballots without knowing where the two major candidates stand on key issues,” the o

May 29, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Nation's two leading candidates silent on human rights issues
Foreign Affairs

Presidential candidates differ on N. Korea, foreign policy

Presidential candidates from South Korea’s two major parties say they want peace on the Korean Peninsula and a stronger global role for their country. However, they differ sharply on how to achieve these goals. This significant divides in foreign and inter-Korean policy underscore the high stakes for South Korea, positioned at a critical geopolitical crossroads. The incoming president’s decisions could redefine Seoul’s alliances, economic trajectory and the delicate power balance in Northeast Asia. With less than a week remaining until the June 3 presidential election, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party and Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea present starkly contrasting approaches to crucial foreign policy issues — most notably in their strategies for dealing with North Korea’s authoritarian regime. Kim’s 219-page manifesto, unveiled Monday, ties his North Korea policy closely to his U.S. strategy and defense plans, with a strong emphasis on bolstering deterrence. As president, Kim said he would pursue the dedication of some U.S. nuclear weapons in Guam to dete

May 27, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Presidential candidates differ on N. Korea, foreign policy
North Korea

Immediate inter-Korean summit infeasible, Lee Jae-myung says

Holding an inter-Korean summit is necessary but it would be difficult in the near future, Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea, said Monday. Asked by reporters about his unification policy, Lee said he would push to resume talks with Pyongyang if he becomes president, hinting at reversing the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s policy focused on deterrence against ― rather than negotiation with ― the North regime. “I don’t know if it would be possible. It is going to be very difficult, given the circumstances. But of course we should prepare and make it possible,” Lee said. Lee's stance is somewhat different from the usual stance of liberal administrations in the past, which used to set inter-Korean talks as a policy priority. This reflects the current inter-Korean relations which have been at their lowest in decades, with the North identifying the South as a separate and hostile nation and strengthening military ties with Russia in recent years. Since taking office in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has made clear that he wants t

May 26, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Immediate inter-Korean summit infeasible, Lee Jae-myung says
Law & Crime

DPK pauses contentious court overhaul bid — for now

The liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has decided to withdraw a set of controversial legislative bills that sought sweeping changes to the justice system, following criticism that the proposals threatened judicial independence. The party announced its decision on Monday — the same day court representatives from across the country convened to address growing concerns over the judiciary’s independence and integrity. Of the 126 court representatives, 88 attended the meeting, where they discussed the fallout from the Supreme Court’s May 1 ruling, which overturned a lower court’s acquittal of DPK presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung on charges of violating the election law. The verdict triggered a strong backlash from DPK lawmakers, raising concerns about political pressure on the courts. The DPK’s swift withdrawal of the bills, coming just before the rare gathering of judiciary representatives, appears aimed at easing immediate tensions. However, the judges' decision not to release a public statement underscores persistent anxieties within the legal community, suggesting th

May 26, 2025By Jung Min-ho
DPK pauses contentious court overhaul bid — for now
  • 30 on the bench? DPK eyes radical Supreme Court expansion plan
Health

Gov’t calls for COVID vaccinations amid spike in cases in neighboring countries

Health authorities in Korea are calling for older adults to receive COVID-19 vaccines as a resurgent wave spreads across neighboring countries. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said on Friday that the risk of spread here should not be dismissed, despite no such signs observed so far here. Between May 11 and 17, 100 patients were admitted to hospitals after contracting the virus, a decrease from 146 the previous week, officials said. In the past four weeks, there has been no drastic change in the number of patients, they added. But given a recent surge in cases in Singapore, China and other Asian countries, the public should take precautions by wearing masks, washing hands frequently and getting vaccinated for COVID-19, the agency said. “To prevent domestic transmission and outbreaks, it’s important to take precautions such as washing your hands, covering your mouth when you cough and wearing a mask in crowds,” agency chief Jee Young-mee said. “In particular, high-risk groups such as the elderly, those with weak immune systems and patients staying in medical facilit

May 24, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Gov’t calls for COVID vaccinations amid spike in cases in neighboring countries
Politics

PPP sends mixed messages on early voting amid fraud conspiracy theories

When Kim Moon-soo accepted the conservative People Power Party’s (PPP) nomination for president in his speech at the party's national convention on May 3, he vowed to abolish the early-voting system, which some extreme conservatives believe can be used for vote rigging. Despite previously promoting conspiracy theories about early voting, Kim on Sunday urged his supporters to participate in the early-voting process after visiting the birthplace of former first lady Yuk Young-soo, the assassinated wife of former President Park Chung-hee, in North Chungcheong Province. "Our party pledges to mobilize all available resources to thoroughly monitor and oversee early voting," Kim said, adding that he, too, will cast his ballot during the early voting period. Kim was expected to face a dilemma over early voting, as many of his conservative supporters remain wary of the system due to lingering election fraud conspiracy theories. Avoiding or downplaying early voting could have fueled doubts about his position on election integrity, while actively promoting it risked alienating his core base. In th

May 23, 2025By Jung Min-ho and Jung Da-hyun
PPP sends mixed messages on early voting amid fraud conspiracy theories
Health

Incheon reports over 1,200 drug-resistant infection cases

Incheon has reported over 1,200 confirmed cases of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections this year, fueling growing concerns over bacteria that have developed resistance to certain antibiotics, officials said Thursday. The increasing prevalence of CRE, a group of germs that are difficult to treat, highlights an ongoing public health challenge as medical professionals grapple with dwindling options for effective treatment. According to the Incheon Metropolitan Government, the number of CRE cases rose to 1,233 over the first months of 2025 at a rapid pace. By the year’s end, the figure is expected to hit far above the city’s previous record of 3,649 in 2024, officials said. These bacteria are resistant to the carbapenem class of antibiotics, considered the most reliable last-resort treatment for bacterial infections. For this reason, CRE infections can be highly risky and even fatal. Left untreated, they can lead to complications like pneumonia and bloodstream infections. To curb this worrying trend, city officials are now developing a new system in collaboration wit

May 23, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Incheon reports over 1,200 drug-resistant infection cases
Global Community

Reform Party candidate criticized over dual wage proposal

A powerful labor group and human rights activists for migrant workers are criticizing Reform Party presidential candidate Lee Jun-seok over his campaign pledge to introduce a separate minimum wage system for noncitizens. Lee, the former leader of the People Power Party, advocates for a tiered minimum wage for foreign migrant workers, suggesting pay could vary by origin country or skill set. He argues this would ease burdens on small businesses and alleviate labor shortages. His proposal faces strong opposition from human rights groups, who condemn it as discriminatory and a violation of international labor standards. During a press conference Thursday at the headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, which has more than 1 million members, its representatives called the idea “unconstitutional” and urged the presidential hopeful to respect their human rights. “This election should be about ending the politics of discrimination and hate and moving toward a society where the rights of all workers are respected. But instead, we’re moving backward,” the organization s

May 23, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Reform Party candidate criticized over dual wage proposal
  • Reform Party candidate pledges separate minimum wage system for foreign workers
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