International Newspaper Committee and National Press Union urge major shareholders to agree to severe punishment and rehabilitation

(Busan = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Jae-hong = The Kukje Newspaper Emergency Response Committee and the National Press Union held a press conference in front of the Blue House Sarangchae on the 22nd and called for the severe punishment of Neungin Seonwon President Lee Jeong-seop (legal name Ji Gwang), the majority shareholder of Kukje Newspaper, and the consent of the rehabilitation plan.

The wages and severance pay that current and former employees of International Newspaper did not receive amount to 10.2 billion won.

Kukje Newspaper applied for corporate rehabilitation in December 2024 and found a new buyer, but Neungin Seonwon is not agreeing.

The deadline for rehabilitation is November 20th, and a meeting of stakeholders, which is in fact the final procedure for rehabilitation, is scheduled to take place on the 10th of the same month.

Lee Ho-chan, president of the press union, said, “The person who drove Kukje Newspaper into catastrophe and who is actually responsible for the non-payment of wages is acting as a creditor and is hindering the survival of Kukje Newspaper,” and added, “The government must step forward and hold them accountable.”

Ha Song-i, head of the Kukje Newspaper branch of the media union, appealed, “Please do not let Kukje Newspaper collapse into the hands of immoral instigators.”