Heo Eun-ah: "Kim Eo-jun Received Nearly 2.3 Billion Won in Appearance Fees... Biggest Beneficiary of Left-Wing Coin"

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

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] The opposition party has raised suspicions that Kim Eo-jun, the host of TBS Radio's 'News Factory,' received more than 2 billion KRW in appearance fees during the tenure of the late Park Won-soon, former mayor of Seoul. TBS has stated that it cannot disclose the appearance fees citing the 'Personal Information Protection Act.'

According to the office of Heo Eun-ah, a member of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Broadcasting and Communications Committee from the People Power Party, Kim hosted a total of 1,137 episodes of 'News Factory' during Park's term.

If Kim's appearance fee per episode was approximately 2 million KRW, it is estimated that he received nearly 2.3 billion KRW in appearance fees during Park's tenure alone.

TBS reportedly responded to Heo's office's request for the exact total and average payment amounts by stating that, due to the 'Personal Information Protection Act,' they "cannot disclose the information without the consent of the data subject."

Regarding this, Representative Heo criticized, "If Kim's appearance fee is indeed 2 million KRW per episode, that amounts to 40 million KRW per month and 480 million KRW annually. Kim is earning in less than a month what young people who have struggled to find jobs earn in a whole year." He added, "At this point, Kim can be considered the biggest beneficiary of the 'left-wing coin.'

Previously, at the National Assembly audit last October, People Power Party lawmaker Hwang Bo-seung-hee claimed that "Kim's appearance fee is 2 million KRW per episode."

Subsequent demands for disclosure of Kim's appearance fees continued, but TBS reportedly did not reveal the information, citing violations of the 'Personal Information Protection Act.'