Korean court fines photojournalist over unauthorized Ukraine trip

A Korean court has imposed a fine of 5 million won ($3,530) on freelance photojournalist Jang Jin-young for traveling to Ukraine without government authorization following Russia's invasion in 2022, which sparked a protracted military conflict. According to legal sources, Jang, 46, received a 5 million won ($3,530) fine from the Goyang branch of the Uijeongbu District Court on Wednesday for breaching the Passport Act.

Jang entered Ukraine in March 2022 to document the war, spending around two weeks there before returning to South Korea. The court contended that Jang neglected to apply for the foreign ministry's exceptional passport use approval, asserting that the personal safety risks associated with traveling to a war zone outweighed his right to report news.

Jang's legal team promptly contested the ruling, vowing to appeal the decision. His lawyer contended that the process for obtaining special permission from the ministry is exclusively reserved for journalists affiliated with accredited media organizations by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, excluding freelance journalists and reporters from smaller independent outlets. The existing travel ban system, in which the foreign ministry holds authority, remains in effect.