Weekly Kyunghyang Criticizes "Kim Eo-jun's Thoughts as Democratic Party Doctrine"
Sangun Kwak Shares Article on "Religious Participation in Politics"
Says, "It Aligns with My Long-Held Political Concerns"
Sangun Kwak, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, targeted broadcaster Kim Eo-jun, stating, "YouTube power is wielding political power." On September 7, Assemblyman Kwak shared a Weekly Kyunghyang article titled "Kim Eo-jun's Thoughts Become the Democratic Party's Doctrine... The Ruling Party That Has Even Surrendered Its Function as a Political Party" on social media, commenting, "They claim that following the thoughts of a particular individual constitutes a 'democratic' decision."
Assemblyman Kwak also shared an article he wrote 12 years ago titled "The Political Participation of Religion," stating, "It aligns with the political concerns I have held for a long time." In the article, he wrote, "There is nothing more frightening than the state's political actions being carried out 'in the name of God,'" and expressed his opposition to religion participating in politics.
At the time, Assemblyman Kwak stated, "I do not want a country ruled by the sacred bloodline of Baekdu, a country ruled by a demigod, or a country where political power with religious influence forces religious obedience," adding, "If our country were such a state, it would mean that religion has already participated in politics, and politics has already become religious." However, he clarified, "The content and intent of this article are not directed at the Weekly Kyunghyang article," and explained, "I am posting it as my opinion in place of a direct comment on the article."
According to Weekly Kyunghyang, from September of last year to August of this year, a total of 119 lawmakers from pro-government parties such as the Democratic Party of Korea and the Cho Kuk Innovation Party appeared on Kim Eo-jun's YouTube broadcast a total of 832 times, including phone interviews and in-person appearances. In the Democratic Party of Korea, the number of lawmakers fluctuated around 170 due to resignations to join the presidential office and changes in party affiliation. Over the past year, 65 lawmakers did not appear even once on Kim's broadcast. In contrast, not a single sitting lawmaker from the People Power Party or the Reform New Party appeared on the broadcast. Among those outside the National Assembly, former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Jae-won appeared. In addition, former lawmakers Heo Eun-ah and Kim Yong-nam also appeared, both of whom switched their party affiliation to the Democratic Party of Korea during the last presidential election.
Among individual lawmakers, Park Eun-jung of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party appeared the most frequently, with 58 appearances. In the Democratic Party of Korea, Kim Byung-joo (45 appearances) and Park Sun-won (42 appearances) appeared the most, and party leader Jung Chung-rae appeared 28 times. Among government officials, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok appeared a total of 32 times, and presidential office spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung appeared 39 times, though most of these appearances were before they assumed their positions. Additionally, Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Jeon Jae-soo, and Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon appeared on the broadcast in their capacity as ministers.
Kim Eo-jun leads "Kim Eo-jun's Humility Is Hard News Factory," which has 2.23 million subscribers, and also engages in political commentary with pro-government politicians on the "Ddanzi Broadcasting Station" channel, which has 1.49 million subscribers. He stirred controversy in 2011 with the podcast "Naneun Ggomsuda" and hosted TBS radio's "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory."
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