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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

PM to attend coronation of King Charles III

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo walks into the press briefing room at the Government Complex Sejong, in this April 29 photo. Han will attend the coronation of Britain's King Charles III at London's Westminster Abbey later this week. YonhapHan aims to promote Busan's Expo bid to world leaders on sidelines of royal eventBy Jung Min-hoPrime Minister Han Duck-soo will attend the coronation of Britain's King Charles III, scheduled for Saturday (local time), with world leaders and religious representatives looking to witness the historic ceremony at London's Westminster Abbey.According to Han's office Tuesday, he will attend the reception at Buckingham Palace, Friday, as a Korean government representative before the royal ritual ― the first coronation since June 2, 1953, the day his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was crowned.With dignitaries from more than 200 states expected to be there, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Spain's King Felipe, Han seeks to use the opportunity to strengthen diplomatic relations and to promote Busan's bid to host the World Expo 2030. Korea's Second

May 2, 2023By Jung Min-ho
PM to attend coronation of King Charles III
Defense

Yoon returns from US with reinforced nuclear assurances

President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee step out of the presidential jet after arriving at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. YonhapPyongyang's reaction reminiscent of dangerous escalation in 2017, analyst saysBy Jung Min-hoIf North Korea attacks South Korea with nuclear weapons, two things are now guaranteed to happen: The United States will respond swiftly and overwhelmingly with the full range of its capabilities, including nuclear, and this will result in the end of the North Korean regime.Those promises, mentioned in the Washington Declaration and backed by U.S. President Joe Biden, are the greatest achievement of President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to Washington, according to South Korean officials.Yoon's spokesman Lee Do-woon, during his final press briefing at the U.S. capital, Friday (local time), hailed the agreement as a practical measure against the growing nuclear threats from Pyongyang as it will involve Seoul in the U.S.' nuclear and strategic planning.“It was the first time the U.S. had made such promises to an individual state

Apr 30, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Yoon returns from US with reinforced nuclear assurances
Defense

ANALYSIS Nuclear-armed submarines will not stop North Korea's provocations

USS West Virginia (SSBN 736), a U.S. Navy Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine / Korea Times file Seoul's involvement in US retaliation decision would have effect on regime, experts sayBy Jung Min-hoPresident Yoon Suk Yeol and his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden announced a new security deal in Washington, Wednesday (local time), aimed at deterring North Korea's intensifying nuclear threats and highlighting the U.S. leader's decision to send a nuclear-armed submarine to South Korean waters for the first time in 40 years. Much of the agreement remains subject to working-level reviews and negotiations. But they agreed on two specific plans: The U.S. will “further enhance the regular visibility of strategic assets,” including its nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), and open a communication channel with Seoul over “any possible nuclear weapons employment” on the peninsula.But will the measures deter Pyongyang from developing its nuclear weapons? Experts say that w

Apr 27, 2023By Jung Min-ho
[ANALYSIS] Nuclear-armed submarines will not stop North Korea's provocations
  • S. Korea moves closer to US, distances itself from China, Russia
  • Ohio-class nuclear-powered submarine to visit Korea: Pentagon
Foreign Affairs

Assembly speaker calls for formation of joint lawmakers' body with US

National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, left, and Lt. Gen. Willard M. Burleson, commander of the Eighth U.S. Army, raise their glasses for a toast at an event celebrating the 70-year bilateral alliance between South Korea and the United States at the Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapSeoul in festive mood to celebrate 70 years of 'expanding' partnershipBy Jung Min-hoSouth Korea's National Assembly speaker on Wednesday called for the formation of a joint body with the United States for lawmakers as the two democratic allies seek to reinforce cooperation in combating growing external threats to democracy. During an event celebrating the 70-year bilateral alliance at the National Assembly, Speaker Kim Jin-pyo stressed the need to create a “new platform” for the further development of the diplomatic relationship.His statement came amid President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to Washington, where ruling party lawmakers, led by People Power Party (PPP) floor leader Rep. Joo Ho-young, are set to meet with members of the U.S. Congress on Thursday (local time) to talk about the pos

Apr 26, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Assembly speaker calls for formation of joint lawmakers' body with US
  • Korea-US alliance will thrive also in space: President Yoon
  • Majority of Koreans hold out little hope for Yoon's US visit
  • Yoon, Biden to announce Washington Declaration after summit
Politics

ROK-US alliance evolves from security treaty to comprehensive partnership

Foreign Minister Pyon Yong-tae, front left, and his U.S. counterpart John Foster Dulles attend a press conference after signing the Mutual Defense Treaty between the two countries in Seoul in this June 1953 photo. Korea Times fileRelationship grows stronger as it endures 70 years of domestic, geopolitical testsBy Jung Min-hoUpon signing the Mutual Defense Treaty with the U.S. in 1953 after the Korean War, South Korea's first president, Syngman Rhee, said that the agreement would make the war-torn nation prosper “for many generations to come.” Seven decades later, that message of hope rings true, as Yoon Suk Yeol makes a state visit to Washington as the president of one of the world's most prosperous countries and a believer in how much the successful partnership can achieve.The two countries celebrate the 70th anniversary of what has expanded to become a comprehensive alliance encompassing a wide range of sectors from science to environment. Over the decades, their ties have been tested by many domestic and geopolitical challenges, only to grow stronger. The defense pact

Apr 25, 2023By Jung Min-ho
ROK-US alliance evolves from security treaty to comprehensive partnership
  • Korean War hero's daughter recalls patriotic, yet strict father
Foreign Affairs

Yoon bets on strengthening ties with democratic allies

President Yoon Suk Yeol walks with U.S. President Joe Biden for their state dinner at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul in this May 21, 2022 photo. AP-YonhapExperts urge president to tread carefully as China, Russia warn of consequencesBy Jung Min-hoTensions are mounting between South Korea and its two powerful neighbors ― China and Russia ― as Seoul has become ever more vocal about some of their most sensitive issues, under President Yoon Suk Yeol.As South Korea's diplomatic tilt toward its democratic allies has become increasingly evident, experts are urging the president to tread carefully to avoid upsetting the security dynamics in the region where Seoul shares key interests with both Beijing and Moscow.China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang issued a warning, Friday, in a statement apparently aimed at Yoon's recent remarks on Taiwan, an island China claims as its own.“Recently, there has been some absurd rhetoric accusing China of unilaterally changing the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, through force or coercion, and of disrupting peace and stability across the Strait,

Apr 21, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Yoon bets on strengthening ties with democratic allies
  • China FM warns of 'dangerous consequences' of Taiwan criticism
Foreign Affairs

Yoon's Ukraine remarks may have been intentional before Biden summit

President Yoon Suk Yeol drinks water during an interview with Reuters at the presidential office in Seoul, Tuesday. Reuters-YonhapSouth Korea's military aid could be discussed in Washington next week: expertsBy Jung Min-hoSince President Yoon Suk Yeol said in Wednesday's Reuters interview that Seoul was open to the possibility of providing military aid to Kyiv in its war with Moscow, critics have slammed him for making another diplomatic blunder while answering a hypothetical question he did not have to respond to.But some analysts told The Korea Times Thursday that his response may have been a highly calculated one ahead of next week's Seoul-Washington summit, in which he and U.S. President Joe Biden are expected to discuss South Korea's possible extension of support for Ukraine.“Officials in Washington quickly welcomed Yoon's comment on Ukraine, which got me thinking that perhaps he said so as part of some sort of mutual understanding with Washington,” said Hyun Seung-soo, an expert on Russia at the Korea Institute for National Unification, a think tank.Yoon said in the

Apr 20, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Yoon's Ukraine remarks may have been intentional before Biden summit
  • EXCLUSIVE Ukraine welcomes South Korea's gesture of possible arms support
North Korea

North Korea will likely launch 1st spy satellite this month, analysts say

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his daughter Ju-ae inspect an aerospace agency in Pyongyang, Tuesday, in this photo released the day after by the North's official Korean Central Television. YonhapRegime seeks to strengthen intelligence capability with multiple satellitesBy Jung Min-hoNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un said his regime has completed the development of its first reconnaissance satellite and told officials to expedite the preparations for launching it as planned, state media reported Wednesday.During his Tuesday visit to North Korea's aerospace agency, Kim claimed that acquiring high levels of intelligence-gathering capability is essential to protecting its sovereignty against the United States. Based on his previous comment made at a plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party in December 2022, experts told The Korea Times that North Korea will likely launch its satellite this month ― possibly during the Seoul-Washington summit.“According to the plan North Korea previously announced, it will launch the satellite in April. It will most li

Apr 19, 2023By Jung Min-ho
North Korea will likely launch 1st spy satellite this month, analysts say
Others

Meet the man behind Busan citizens' campaign for World Expo 2030

Park Jae-yul, second from left in the front row, chairman of the civil society division of the Citizens Committee World Expo 2030, poses with Busan residents after welcoming events for the Bureau International des Expositions' delegation at Busan Station, April 4. Courtesy of Park Jae-yulBy Jung Min-hoIf citizens' enthusiasm was the most decisive factor in the race to host World Expo 2030, Busan would simply be unrivaled.The passion demonstrated in every corner of the Korean city during the on-site inspection earlier this month by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the event's governing body, left its delegation in no doubt that the people of Busan genuinely want the opportunity.“They want it because it is their project. The people ― not the central government or politicians ― started the campaign in 2014 by collecting signatures, which eventually became a national project. So they understand deeply what it means to host the World Expo where they live and how important it is for them,” Park Jae-yul, chairman of the civil society division of the Citizens Commi

Apr 19, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Meet the man behind Busan citizens' campaign for World Expo 2030
Foreign Affairs

9 in 10 Koreans pick US as most important partner country

gettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoNearly nine out of 10 Koreans think that the United States is their most important partner nation, a recent poll showed. According to a survey released on Sunday by the Federation of Korean Industries(FKI), a business lobby group, a whopping 89 percent picked the U.S. as Korea's No. 1 partner country.The respondents said the alliance, which marks its 70th anniversary this year, has benefited their country in many ways, including economic growth and scientific development.Asked whether it would have been possible for Korea to grow into the economic powerhouse that it is today without its alliance with the U.S., 64.6 percent said it would have been impossible. Among them, 52.3 percent said Washington's security support was necessary for Korea's development, with others saying its cooperation in the economy and American companies' partnerships were also helpful. Slightly more than half of them said they were in favor of strengthening relations, while 44 percent said they were satisfied with the status quo. Asked about the reasons for supporting a stronger re

Apr 17, 2023By Jung Min-ho
9 in 10 Koreans pick US as most important partner country
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