Kim Eo-jun · Ju Jin-woo to Appear as Witnesses at Seoul Metropolitan Council?

Seoul City Councilor Lee Jong-bae "Kim Eo-jun, Shin Jang-sik, Joo Jin-woo Must Attend Administrative Audit" Witness Adoption
Seoul City Council Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee Approves Witness Attendance Request for Administrative Audit
Former TBS CEO Lee Kang-taek and Union Branch Chief Song Ji-yeon Also Adopted as Witnesses Related to TBS Biased Broadcasting

Seoul Metropolitan Council member Lee Jong-bae (People Power Party, proportional representation· photo) requested the attendance of witnesses Kim Eo-jun, Shin Jang-sik, and Joo Jin-woo regarding the TBS biased broadcasting issue. They were adopted as witnesses for the administrative audit at the 1st meeting of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee during the closing of the 326th extraordinary session held on the afternoon of October 24.

In addition to them, former CEO Lee Kang-taek and union branch chief Song Ji-yeon were also adopted as witnesses related to the TBS incident.

Thus, these five individuals are obligated to appear as witnesses at the administrative audit of the Public Relations Planning Officer under the jurisdiction of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee scheduled for November 5, and respond to the inquiries of the city council members.

According to the 'Ordinance on Administrative Audit and Investigation of the Seoul Metropolitan Council,' "If a witness who has been requested to appear fails to attend without justifiable reason or refuses to take an oath or testify, a fine of not less than 3 million won and not more than 5 million won may be imposed."

TBS has been criticized for political bias and unfairness during the tenure of former Mayor Park Won-soon, particularly for programs such as "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory." In response, Council member Lee Jong-bae pointed out operational issues of TBS through city administration questions and holding debate sessions at the council level, raising public awareness of the need to secure fairness and neutrality as a public broadcaster. However, since no clear corrective or improvement measures were presented regarding TBS's biased broadcasting, the Seoul Metropolitan Council passed a repeal bill for the "Ordinance on the Establishment and Operation of the Seoul Media Foundation TBS," resulting in the suspension of Seoul City's funding support from June 2024.

Lee Jong-bae, who led the resolution demanding the attendance of Kim Eo-jun, Shin Jang-sik, and Joo Jin-woo as witnesses for the administrative audit, stated, "Kim Eo-jun, Shin Jang-sik, and Joo Jin-woo are the culprits who have driven TBS into crisis. If they have any conscience, they should appear as witnesses, sincerely apologize with a repentant heart for the atrocities of conducting biased fake news that caused severe suffering to Seoul citizens, and earnestly seek forgiveness from the members who were harmed by the destruction of TBS."