Kim Eo-jun "TBS is an Independent Foundation" vs Kim Geun-sik "It Will Close Itself"

Kim Eo-jun "System Changed After Oh Se-hoon... Independent Structure"
Kim Geun-sik "No Biased Broadcasting, Then Seoul City Budget Support"

Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] With Oh Se-hoon elected as mayor in the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, attention is turning to whether there will be a reorganization of Traffic Broadcasting (TBS). Previously, Mayor Oh repeatedly pointed out the bias of TBS's current affairs program 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory,' hosted by broadcaster Kim Eo-jun.

However, some expect that the Seoul mayor will not be able to interfere with TBS due to its status as an independent foundation. Kim stated, "Many people hope that 'News Factory' will be the last broadcast, but the system changed after Oh Se-hoon's term as mayor," expressing confidence. In response, Kim Geun-sik, head of the People Power Party's Vision Strategy Office, criticized, saying, "You are struggling with 'mental victory.'"

Earlier, on the 28th of last month, Mayor Oh said in an interview with 'Yonhap News' regarding the future of TBS's 'News Factory,' "The purpose of establishing TBS is to provide traffic and lifestyle information," adding, "It's fine if Kim Eo-jun hosts (News Factory), but please provide traffic information." This was interpreted as hinting at the possibility of reorganizing TBS.

Oh Se-hoon, elected as the 38th Mayor of Seoul, is arriving at Seoul City Hall on the morning of the 8th. / Photo by Yonhap News

In response, Kim argued that "it is impossible for the Seoul mayor to interfere with TBS, which is an independent foundation."

On the 8th, Kim said on TBS's 'News Factory,' "Some people thought yesterday (the 7th) was the last broadcast of News Factory, and many hoped for that," adding, "But it's a difficult matter. Thanks to the elected official during Oh Se-hoon's term as mayor, beyond my will, the production team's will, or TBS's will."

He continued, "During Mayor Oh's term, TBS was perceived as Seoul's 'promotional broadcast.' There was a lot of interference in broadcasting at that time, so we steadily built a structure to make TBS's broadcasting independent afterward," explaining, "Since then, TBS became an independent foundation, and even former Mayor Park Won-soon could not freely appear on broadcasts."

He emphasized, "Even the TBS president cannot dictate how to handle broadcast content," adding, "That kind of structure was created."

Geun-sik Kim, Director of Vision and Strategy at the People Power Party / Photo by Yonhap News

In response to Kim's claims, Kim Geun-sik sarcastically criticized, saying, "You are struggling with 'mental victory'."

In a post on his Facebook on the same day, Kim Geun-sik wrote, "Just because Mayor Oh Se-hoon was elected does not mean the program will be canceled or the host will step down," emphasizing, "However, it is unavoidable to normalize the independent foundation TBS so that it faithfully fulfills its founding purpose and original role."

He added, "'Providing traffic information and other lifestyle information' is the founding purpose, and there is no place for current affairs news or political broadcasting," criticizing, "If it improves and normalizes itself to fit the purpose of establishing Traffic Broadcasting, Seoul City could support it with 40 billion won annually."

He further stated, "If you continue to run a biased political broadcast that violates the law and goes against the founding purpose, please independently devise self-help measures with the 'Daeggae-moon listeners' without Seoul City budget support," adding, "If you cannot endure it yourself and end up shutting down, blame the late former Mayor Park Won-soon, not Mayor Oh Se-hoon."