Kim Geun-sik "If elected Seoul Mayor, I will relinquish the appointment and dismissal rights of the TBS CEO"

"TBS Complete Independence Guarantee"

Professor Kim Geun-sik of Gyeongnam University, chairman of the Seoul Songpa-byeong district of the People Power Party. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Professor Kim Geunsik of Gyeongnam University, who declared his candidacy for the Seoul mayoral by-election in April, stated on the 7th, "If I become the mayor of Seoul, I will relinquish the appointment and dismissal rights of the Traffic Broadcasting (TBS) CEO."

Kim, who is the head of the People Power Party's Songpa-byeong district committee in Seoul, wrote on his Facebook that day, "I will guarantee the complete independence of TBS."

He said, "I will not exercise any appointment and dismissal rights over the chairman and CEO of Traffic Broadcasting that the mayor of Seoul currently holds," adding, "(If that happens) Traffic Broadcasting will be able to be managed independently by its members as an independent media outlet, and it will be free from some criticisms that the broadcasting schedule is influenced by whoever the mayor is."

He continued, "The political bias issues that have been problematic and concerns about the mayor's control over the broadcasting can also be dispelled. Controversies over the cancellation of programs hosted by specific individuals will disappear."

Additionally, Professor Kim explained, "Traffic Broadcasting's main purpose of establishment is to provide traffic and weather information. The Korea Communications Commission's establishment approval also designates it as a specialized broadcaster for traffic and weather. However, with the remarkable development of information and communication technology and the widespread distribution of smartphones, the necessity for the Seoul city government to operate a broadcasting station to provide traffic and weather information using citizens' substantial tax money has disappeared."

He emphasized, "The mayor of Seoul has the duty to save taxes spent unnecessarily and use them where new needs arise," adding, "(If elected) when budgeting the Seoul city budget, I will not allocate a single won of the city subsidy (about 40 billion KRW annually) given to Traffic Broadcasting. That money will be used for strengthening quarantine measures and supporting vulnerable groups affected by COVID-19, where citizens' demands are increasing."

Furthermore, Professor Kim said, "The basic policy of city administration is autonomy and creativity. Decisions should be made not by the mayor but by the citizens of Seoul. Seoul citizens are wise judges and smart consumers," adding, "Seoul does not need to operate a specialized traffic and weather broadcasting station by spending huge taxes every year. This is not the era for that anymore."

Photo by TBS, screenshot from YouTube video.

Earlier, the TBS PD Association issued a statement on the same day, criticizing, "The People Power Party's persecution and bias controversies targeting TBS programs and hosts, including 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory,' have not been a recent issue," adding, "They started proposing the expulsion of Kim Eo-jun and the dismantling of TBS as election pledges for the April by-election, and even mayoral candidates are engaging in disgraceful behavior."

They pointed out, "Since the Seoul city government partially supports TBS's finances, the logic is that if one becomes the mayor, they will abolish programs that do not suit their taste or dismantle the media company itself."

The association emphasized, "TBS is a citizens' broadcaster established based on independence from political power and production autonomy," and stated, "We will never tolerate political powers gagging and taking control of the newly established regional public broadcaster."

Meanwhile, on the 5th, the People Power Party filed a complaint against Kim Eo-jun, Joo Jin-woo, and others appearing in the promotional video of the TBS YouTube 1 million subscribers campaign '#Let'sBeOne,' alleging violations of the Public Official Election Act, claiming it resembles pre-election campaigning related to the April Seoul and Busan mayoral elections.