TBS PD Association Issues Statement Condemning People Power Party's 'Regime Taming'

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The Korea PD Association TBS Association criticized on the 7th that the People Power Party's persecution and bias disputes targeting TBS programs and hosts, including "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory," have not been recent occurrences. They condemned the fact that some opposition candidates for Seoul mayor have even begun to propose the expulsion of program host Kim Eo-jun and the dismantling of TBS as pledges for the April by-election, calling it a disgraceful act of media control.

The association stated, "This is an act that reveals a narrow-minded and unqualified view of the media as a political party and politician. Since Seoul City partially supports TBS's finances, their logic is that if they become mayor, they will abolish programs they dislike or dismantle the media company itself."

They added, "It is an intention to strangle the media under the pretext of budget. It is not about guaranteeing the independence of broadcasting, but the mayor of Seoul pledging to harm it. They have clearly shown themselves to be a group with no concept of broadcasting independence and publicness."

Below is the full statement:

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[Statement] We Condemn the Political Sphere's Attempt to Tame Citizen's Broadcasting TBS

A political party has intimidated the media. This happened in South Korea in 2021.

The People Power Party's persecution and bias disputes targeting TBS programs and hosts, including "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory," have not been recent occurrences. Subsequently, they began proposing the expulsion of program host Kim Eo-jun and the dismantling of TBS as pledges for the April by-election. Furthermore, some opposition candidates who declared their candidacy for Seoul mayor have joined in this disgraceful act of media control.

This is an act that reveals a narrow-minded and unqualified view of the media as a political party and politician. Since Seoul City partially supports TBS's finances, their logic is that if they become mayor, they will abolish programs they dislike or dismantle the media company itself.

It is an intention to strangle the media under the pretext of budget. It is not about guaranteeing the independence of broadcasting, but the mayor of Seoul pledging to harm it. They have clearly shown themselves to be a group with no concept of broadcasting independence and publicness.

Moreover, on the 5th, the People Power Party filed a complaint against TBS hosts for violating the Public Official Election Act. The reason was their participation in TBS's <1합시다> campaign. <1합시다> is a campaign by the broadcaster to increase TBS YouTube subscribers. However, the People Power Party claimed that this campaign symbolized the ruling party, citing the number 1 and the mint color as evidence of impure intentions.

However, this is an idea beyond common sense. YouTube subscriptions can only be done once per person. The mint color is TBS's CI color. If citizens subscribe, TBS will work. That is why it is called <1합시다>. The People Power Party has degraded its own dignity and prestige as a political party by obstructing a sincere and innovative campaign prepared by TBS. The People Power Party should be ashamed for imposing a political frame on a promotional campaign with absurd logic. This is a terrible interference in the media by power and an illegal act of politically exploiting broadcasting.

During their time as the ruling party, many journalists were dismissed. The Blue House's public relations chief called the director of the public broadcaster's news department to block coverage of the Sewol ferry disaster and shackled entertainment programs that even slightly satirized the government. They eradicated satire. Instead, they rewarded compliant media. They nurtured newspapers into broadcasters and brought journalists into the Blue House. They were the originators of media taming that continued from the military regime's media consolidation 40 years ago. Therefore, the People Power Party's crackdown on TBS is not unfamiliar.

TBS is a citizen's broadcaster established based on independence from political power and production autonomy. We will never tolerate political attempts to muzzle and control newly established regional public broadcasting. Freedom of the press and independence of broadcasting must not be violated.

The People Power Party must immediately stop its shameless attempt to seize control of TBS.

January 7, 2021

Korea PD Association TBS Association

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.