DaouKiwoom-CJ consortium to sign deal to acquire JoongAng Ilbo this week

The DaouKiwoom-CJ consortium will sign an agreement Thursday in South Korea to buy 520 billion won worth of new shares in JoongAng Ilbo, making it the newspaper publisher’s largest shareholder. Daou Technology, CJ, Shinsegae and Saramin will contribute 36.5 percent, 35.7 percent, 14.1 percent and 13.7 percent, respectively. JoongAng Ilbo will use the proceeds to improve its financial health and address debt risks. The consortium said it would retain all current employees and guarantee press freedom and editorial independence.

JoongAng Ilbo entered a debt workout program led by Hana Bank and other lenders in July amid liquidity problems at its parent, JoongAng Group.

The share sale proceeds will go to JoongAng Ilbo, rather than to existing shareholders.

The consortium said it plans to provide a stable working environment without layoffs.

JoongAng Ilbo President Park Chang-hee said the company would work to normalize its business while protecting creditors’ and investors’ rights.

Published Nov 4, 2026 8:13 pm KST

JoongAng Ilbo headquarters in Seoul. Korea Times photo by Yun Gi-hun

A consortium comprising CJ, Shinsegae and two other companies will sign a deal Thursday to acquire debt-laden South Korean newspaper publisher JoongAng Ilbo, the company said Wednesday.

Under the deal, the DaouKiwoom-CJ consortium will purchase 520 billion won ($388 million) worth of new shares in JoongAng Ilbo, with Daou Technology, CJ, Shinsegae and Saramin contributing 36.5 percent, 35.7 percent, 14.1 percent and 13.7 percent, respectively.

The agreement, set to be signed Thursday, would make the consortium JoongAng Ilbo's largest shareholder.

In July, JoongAng Ilbo entered a debt workout program led by its main creditor, Hana Bank, and other lenders amid liquidity problems at its parent, JoongAng Group.

JoongAng Ilbo said it will receive all proceeds from the share sale and use the funds to improve its financial health and address risks associated with its debt.

The consortium said it plans to retain all current employees and provide a stable working environment without layoffs.

JoongAng Ilbo also said the consortium pledged to guarantee press freedom and editorial independence.

"We will make efforts to promptly normalize business while faithfully protecting the rights of creditors and investors," Park Chang-hee, president of JoongAng Ilbo, said. "If the new governance structure takes root, we will elevate the competitiveness of our content and our management efficiency by another level."

由DaouKiwoom和CJ组成的财团将于周四在韩国签署协议，以5200亿韩元的价格收购《中央日报》的新股，成为该报社的最大股东。Daou Technology、CJ、新世界集团和Saramin将分别出资36.5%、35.7%、14.1%和13.7%。《中央日报》将利用此次收购所得资金改善财务状况并应对债务风险。该财团表示，将保留所有现有员工，并保障新闻自由和编辑独立性。

由于母公司中央集团出现流动性问题，《中央日报》于7月进入由韩亚银行和其他贷款机构牵头的债务重组计划。

此次股份出售所得款项将归《中央日报》所有，而不是分配给现有股东。

该财团表示，计划提供稳定的工作环境，不会裁员。

《中央日报》社长朴昌熙表示，公司将在保护债权人和投资者权益的同时，努力使业务正常化。

发布于2026年11月4日晚上8:13（韩国标准时间）

《中央日报》首尔总部。韩国时报摄影师尹基勋摄。

该公司周三表示，由 CJ、新世界集团和其他两家公司组成的财团将于周四签署协议，收购负债累累的韩国报业出版商《中央日报》。

根据协议，DaouKiwoom-CJ财团将购买价值5200亿韩元（3.88亿美元）的《中央日报》新股，其中Daou Technology、CJ、新世界和Saramin分别出资36.5%、35.7%、14.1%和13.7%。

该协议将于周四签署，届时该财团将成为《中央日报》的最大股东。

7 月，由于母公司中央集团出现流动性问题，《中央日报》与其主要债权人韩亚银行和其他贷款机构一起进入了债务重组计划。

《中央日报》表示，将收到此次股票出售的所有收益，并将这些资金用于改善其财务状况，并解决与其债务相关的风险。

该财团表示，计划保留所有现有员工，并提供稳定的工作环境，不会裁员。

《中央日报》还表示，该联盟承诺保障新闻自由和编辑独立性。

《中央日报》社长朴昌熙表示：“我们将努力尽快恢复正常运营，同时忠实维护债权人和投资者的权益。如果新的管理架构能够顺利实施，我们将把内容竞争力和管理效率提升到一个新的水平。”