Cancel YTN’s Privatization: The Broadcasting Commission Can No Longer Delay

A court has invalidated a six-month suspension imposed on a YTN journalist who criticized the broadcaster’s sale to Eugene Group. The journalist had faced disciplinary action for alleged defamation, but the court found the remarks did not amount to slander or insult beyond the protection of freedom of expression.

The suspension came soon after Eugene took control of YTN and kept the journalist out of the workplace without pay for six months. The article portrays the punishment as an example to others, noting that he had long led efforts demanding fair broadcasting and had received a special award for press freedom.

Legal challenges have continued since the privatization. The Seoul Administrative Court ruled in November that the approval of Eugene’s change to the largest shareholder was invalid because the then Korea Communications Commission had operated with only two presidentially appointed members. The Seoul Central District Court later ruled that the appointments of YTN’s news division head and news director violated a collective agreement and were therefore invalid.

The regulator had attached 10 conditions to the approval. Among them were requirements for independent Eugene directors and auditors, and for YTN to appoint a chief executive with media expertise and independent outside directors. The article says YTN later appointed figures linked to Eugene’s chairman or group, including a longtime acquaintance, a former legal adviser to an Eugene affiliate and a fellow alumnus. A planned rights offering also changed into a 20 billion won private placement to Eugene, raising its stake from 30.95% to 39.2%.

The article says investigative programming was scrapped and replaced by profitable, contracted event broadcasts described as marketing coverage. It also cites reports of stress among employees after privatization. Despite repeated legal advisory meetings and discussions since April, the Broadcasting Media and Communications Commission has not reached a conclusion and could not even vote on holding a hearing because of a quorum dispute. The author says the commission must now act on the court rulings and complete the cancellation process without delay.