Seoul – Jin Jong-oh, a four-term lawmaker for the People Power Party and South Korea’s most decorated Olympian in shooting, has publicly accused the current administration of prioritizing funding for Olympic broadcasting rights held exclusively by JTBC, a television network, over broader promotional efforts for the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Winter Olympics. The accusation, made on February 22nd, came after the conclusion of the Games, which faced criticism for low domestic viewership.
According to a report by Sisa Journal, Jin, who holds four gold and two silver Olympic medals, criticized what he described as a lack of sufficient promotional efforts from the administration of President Yoon Suk-yeol. He specifically alleged that a disproportionate amount of the Olympic promotional budget was allocated to content produced exclusively for JTBC. “The government-level promotional measures were insufficient,” Jin stated, according to Sisa Journal.
Details released by Jin Jong-oh’s office and obtained through a request to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, reveal that 731,010,000 Korean won (approximately $540,000 USD) was allocated for video production and media spending related to the Olympics, as reported by Theqoo. The allocation of these funds to JTBC-exclusive content is at the center of Jin’s criticism.
The 2026 Winter Olympics, which concluded on February 23rd, was widely described as suffering from a lack of public interest both domestically and internationally, according to a report in the Weekly Hankook. The limited broadcasting rights held by JTBC were cited as a contributing factor to the low engagement. The Hankook report noted the absence of prominent Korean athletes also played a role in the lack of viewership.
Jin Jong-oh’s comments come as the nation prepares for future international sporting events. He is currently competing in his fifth Olympic Games, having previously won medals at the 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 Games, as reported by JTBC News. His continued participation and outspokenness on issues related to national sporting policy add weight to his critique of the current administration’s Olympic promotional strategy.
As of February 28, 2026, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has not issued a public response to Jin Jong-oh’s allegations regarding the allocation of Olympic promotional funds. The next Winter Olympics are scheduled to be held in 2030 in the French Alps.
