"TBS Should Be Expelled", "Fake News Factory" Kim Eo-jun Expulsion 청원 Continues

"Traffic Broadcasting Has Long Been a Political Broadcast Supporting a Specific Party"

Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun recently claimed that "it is impossible for the Seoul mayor to interfere with TBS (Traffic Broadcasting), an independent foundation," while petitions demanding Kim's removal from TBS have been continuously posted on the Blue House's public petition board.

On the 9th, a petition titled "Please remove biased political broadcaster Kim Eo-jun from Traffic Broadcasting" was posted on the Blue House petition board. As of 3:30 PM on the 11th, the petition had received over 78,510 signatures.

The petitioner pointed out, "Traffic Broadcasting exists to monitor Seoul's traffic flow in real time and prevent chaos. However, Kim Eo-jun openly supports only a specific political party while blatantly disparaging opposing parties and politicians, deeply involving himself in elections and politics. This is a fact known to all citizens."

They continued, "Although Traffic Broadcasting has long become a political broadcast supporting a particular party, is it discrimination to try to correct this distorted Traffic Broadcasting? Kim Eo-jun should step down from his position at Traffic Broadcasting."

Earlier, on the 8th, when the results of the April 7 by-election were announced, Kim said on TBS Radio's "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory," "Many people probably hope this will be the last broadcast, but that will be difficult."

He explained, "When Oh Se-hoon was mayor of Seoul in the past, he perceived TBS as a promotional broadcast for the Seoul city government and intervened in the broadcasts frequently. Since then, a structure has been steadily established to ensure TBS's independence from the mayor's influence, and TBS has become an independent foundation."

He added, "Even the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon could not freely appear on broadcasts; he had to request appearances and was sometimes rejected. The TBS president also cannot dictate 'Make the broadcast like this' or 'Invite this guest,'" emphasizing the independence.

Kim said, "Those conservative supporters who hope this is the last broadcast should question Mayor Oh Se-hoon," and also expressed, "I thank Mayor Oh Se-hoon."

Recently, petitions demanding the removal of broadcaster Kim Eo-jun from TBS Traffic Broadcasting have been continuously posted on the Blue House National Petition Board. Photo by Blue House National Petition Board capture.

In response, another petitioner urged Kim's removal through a petition titled "Remove Kim Eo-jun, who has taken over Traffic Broadcasting."

The petitioner criticized, "Traffic Broadcasting was created to facilitate Seoul's traffic flow and provide traffic information to citizens. However, since Kim Eo-jun took control of Traffic Broadcasting, it has become a mouthpiece for the left-wing regime."

They continued, "He has fabricated all kinds of fake news to incite the public and steer public opinion in a left-leaning direction favorable to them. How much has he incited the people?"

The petitioner claimed, "Broadcasting should maintain neutrality, especially Traffic Broadcasting. However, Kim Eo-jun has invited people from the left-wing camp, made disparaging remarks about opposing parties and figures, and created fictitious incidents to produce fake news for the public. I believe it has become a factory producing fake news."

Furthermore, the petitioner stated, "It is only natural that Kim Eo-jun should step down so that Traffic Broadcasting can return to fulfilling its original mission. If he insists on holding onto his position, a day may come when he is dragged out by the hands of the people or beaten and pulled out. I believe it would be a wise decision for him to step down voluntarily before facing such a miserable end."