Jung Sung-ho signals end to appeal in YTN privatization dispute

Dec 19, 2025, 08:42 am

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Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho listens to lawmakers’ questions during a full session of the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Budget and Accounts in Seoul on December 13. / Source: Song Eui-ju

Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho has ordered the government not to appeal a court ruling that annulled approval for the privatization of broadcaster YTN, signaling acceptance of the judiciary’s judgment that the decision-making process was unlawful.

In a Facebook post on December 18, Jung said he had directed the Korea Communications Media Commission (formerly the Korea Communications Commission) to forgo an appeal of the ruling handed down on November 28. The Justice Ministry oversees and directs state litigation, including administrative lawsuits.

The ruling invalidated the approval granted under a two-member commission system, which the court found procedurally improper. Observers say the government’s decision not to appeal reflects respect for the judiciary’s conclusion that key deliberations on YTN’s change of largest shareholder were conducted unlawfully.

The case stems from YTN’s privatization process, in which Eugene ENT, a special-purpose company established with investment from Eugene Group and Tongyang, acquired a 30.95% stake in YTN previously held by KEPCO KDN and the Korea Racing Authority. On February 7 last year, the commission approved Eugene ENT’s application to become YTN’s largest shareholder.

The YTN branch of the National Union of Mediaworkers and YTN’s employee stock ownership association challenged the decision, arguing that approval by a two-member commission lacked legal validity. They filed both a main lawsuit and a request to suspend enforcement. While the suspension requests were dismissed, the court later reached a different conclusion on the merits.

On November 28, the Seoul Administrative Court’s Administrative Division 3, presided over by Chief Judge Choi Soo-jin, ruled in favor of YTN’s employee stock ownership association, canceling the commission’s approval of the change in largest shareholder.

Jung said the government’s decision respected the court’s judgment that the approval, made under what he called an “abnormal two-member system” during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, was procedurally flawed. He added that YTN’s privatization had long been dogged by suspicions that it was part of an attempt by the former administration to exert indirect control over the media through private companies.

He further pointed to recent findings by a special prosecutor indicating that Jeon Seong-bae, a figure known as “Geonjin Beopsa” with close ties to the Yoon family, exchanged messages with representatives of the Unification Church discussing concrete plans for YTN’s private acquisition, lending weight to those suspicions.

Jung noted that although litigation will continue due to a separate appeal filed solely by Eugene ENT, he hoped the decision would reaffirm that media independence and adherence to due process are fundamental pillars of democracy that all authorities must respect.

Eugene ENT filed an appeal with the Seoul High Court on December 4, arguing that disputes over procedural flaws in decisions made by a two-member commission have produced more than a dozen conflicting rulings across lower courts.

#Jung Sung-ho #Justice Ministry #YTN #privatization #appeal waiver