Why was photojournalist Jang Jin-young fined for traveling to Ukraine?

The court said he entered Ukraine without applying for the foreign ministry’s exceptional passport-use approval. It ruled that the personal safety risks of traveling to a conflict zone outweighed his right to gather news.

What did Jang Jin-young say about appealing the court ruling?

Jang said he will appeal and also challenge the constitutionality of the law. His lawyer argued that the special permission process is restricted to accredited media journalists and excludes freelance reporters and those from small independent outlets.

How have media groups responded to Korea’s approval rules for conflict-zone reporting?

Media advocacy groups including the People’s Coalition for Media Reform and Media Movement Center criticized the ruling. They said making access to conflict zones conditional on government approval restricts press freedom and undermines the public’s right to know.

Korean court fines photojournalist over unauthorized Ukraine trip

Listen

Summary

A Korean court fined freelance photojournalist Jang Jin-young 5 million won in Goyang on Wednesday for entering Ukraine without government authorization in 2022. The court said he did not seek exceptional passport-use approval, and it ruled that safety risks in a conflict zone outweighed his right to gather news. Jang plans to appeal and challenge the law’s constitutionality.

Key Facts

Jang entered Ukraine in March 2022 and worked there for about two weeks before returning to Korea.
The Goyang branch of the Uijeongbu District Court fined him 5 million won for violating the Passport Act.
His lawyer said the exceptional permission process is limited to journalists from media organizations accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and excludes freelance journalists and reporters from small independent outlets.
Media advocacy groups criticized the ruling, saying government approval for conflict-zone access restricts press freedom and the public’s right to know.

By Hankookilbo

Published Aug 14, 2026 5:39 pm KST

Media advocacy groups express concerns over restrictions to press freedom

Goyang branch of the Uijeongbu District Court / Newsis

A Korean court has fined a freelance photojournalist for traveling to Ukraine without government authorization after Russia invaded the country in 2022, triggering a multiyear military conflict.

Legal sources said Friday that the Goyang branch of the Uijeongbu District Court fined Jang Jin-young, 46, 5 million won ($3,530) Wednesday for violating the Passport Act. Jang entered Ukraine in March 2022 to cover the war and worked there for about two weeks before returning to Korea.

The court said that Jang failed to apply for the foreign ministry's exceptional passport use approval, ruling that the personal safety risks from traveling to a conflict zone outweighed his right to gather news.

Jang's legal team immediately pushed back, announcing plans to appeal the ruling.

His lawyer argued that the process for receiving special permission from the ministry is restricted to journalists of media organizations accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and excludes freelance journalists and reporters from small independent outlets.

"The current travel ban system, where the foreign ministry determines whether a conflict zone is dangerous and then bans or permits entry, has many problems," Jang said. "Along with an appeal, I will also challenge the constitutionality of the law."

Media advocacy groups including the People's Coalition for Media Reform and Media Movement Center criticized the ruling, saying making access to conflict zones conditional on government approval restricts press freedom and undermines the public's right to know.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.

Media advocacy groups express concerns over restrictions to press freedom

Explore More