Kim Eo-jun: "Asked to leave 'News Factory'? ... I plan to continue for another 20 years"

"Must Decide on Position" Criticism Met with "Just Watch for Now" Response

Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun (left) and Kim Jae-won, Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party / Photo by TBS Broadcasting Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun engaged in a heated exchange with Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party. When Kim Jae-won asked whether the TBS radio program 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' (News Factory), hosted by Kim, should be removed, Kim responded, "It won't be easy."

On the 16th, Kim Jae-won appeared on TBS's 'News Factory' and said, "The factory manager (Kim Eo-jun) should also vacate the room. It seems to have little effect now. Even if various issues and suspicions are raised, there is no impact," criticizing the program. He also jabbed, "Professor Jin Joong-kwon said it would be advantageous for the Democratic Party if he quits soon."

In response, Kim said, "I've heard that the prosecution is diligently monitoring News Factory," adding, "Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also tried to shut it down, but it didn't work out. It won't be easy." He further said, "Let's see if things go as intended."

When Kim Jae-won said, "You worked so hard in this presidential election, but if you lost, you should voluntarily decide your position," Kim replied, "I plan to continue for another 20 years."

TBS Radio's "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory," hosted by Kim, has sparked controversy over bias, mainly centered on the People Power Party. / Photo by Yonhap News

Kim also told Kim Jae-won, "If you can't enter the Blue House, don't run in local elections, and have no special position, my lawsuits will pile up, so please be my lawyer." Kim Jae-won joked, "I'm a quack lawyer, so don't expect too much. Anyone will do it if the fee is high enough."

The People Power Party recently placed Kim on a list of complaints for alleged violations including false information disclosure under the Public Official Election Act, defamation of candidates, and defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act. The issue was related to the January 14 broadcast of Kim's 'News Factory.' A journalist from a certain media outlet who appeared on the program claimed that "shamans frequented Yoon Seok-youl's campaign," and "Kim Geon-hee was visiting shamans," and Kim did not stop the journalist's remarks during the interview.

Meanwhile, Kim's broadcasts have repeatedly clashed with the People Power Party. During the April 7 by-elections for Seoul and Busan mayoral seats last year, then Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon criticized 'News Factory' as a "biased broadcast," and even after being elected mayor, he pointed out its partiality.

In January, Mayor Oh also targeted 'News Factory' in a Facebook post, saying, "It has continuously sparked controversy over fairness and is even mocked as a personal broadcast," adding, "Nevertheless, it ignores citizens' criticism under the pretext of broadcast independence."

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, appeared on "News Factory" last November (right) / Photo by TBS Broadcasting Capture

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, also wrote on Facebook last April, "(The ruling party's) prosecution reform is essentially protecting Cho Kuk, and media reform is essentially protecting Eo-jun," adding, "Kim Eo-jun is indispensable, democracy is indispensable, South Korea is indispensable ? it's a level of deification. If they argue that (News Factory) is number one in listenership and thus a basis for trust, then is the broadcast that ranks number one in 'Super Chat' (paid support from subscribers on YouTube, etc.) truly a credible media?"

Meanwhile, some argue that the Democratic Party should sever ties with Kim and others to restore voters' trust.

Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon wrote on Facebook on the 11th, "For the Democratic Party to survive, it must restore abnormal political communication," and said, "They need to cut ties with Kim Eo-jun, Yoo Si-min, and some foolish small-scale influencers."

He added, "The problem is that there is no exorcist to perform this exorcism," and strongly criticized, "Supporters have been brainwashed by them for over ten years, their souls completely consumed, so if those evil spirits are removed from their bodies, they would be unable to live at all."