Song Young-gil: "'News Factory' May Disappear" vs Lee Jun-seok: "Is Kim Eo-jun the Core of Power?"

TBS 'News Factory' Controversy
Song Young-gil: "'News Factory' Achieves Highest Ratings Ever"
Lee Jun-seok: "First Time Seeing Appeal to Protect Radio Host"

Song Young-gil, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The political battle between the ruling and opposition parties over Traffic Broadcasting Service (TBS) is intensifying. Earlier, when Song Young-gil, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, appealed for support for Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party's Seoul mayoral candidate, to protect the TBS program 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' (News Factory), Lee Jun-seok, former Supreme Council member of the United Future Party (formerly People Power Party), sarcastically criticized it, saying, "This is the first time I've seen a lawmaker pleading to protect a radio host."

Previously, on the 24th, Song posted on his Facebook, stating, "'News Factory' could disappear. The highest-rated broadcast in history could vanish."

Earlier, Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral candidate, had raised concerns about the bias of TBS's 'News Factory,' hosted by broadcaster Kim Eo-jun.

In a recent interview with a media outlet, Oh also mentioned regarding TBS, "If I become mayor, I will correct what needs to be corrected," adding, "It could take the form of not providing budget support to TBS."

In response, Song said, "Are you afraid of a morning without Kim Eo-jun? The power to overcome this fear is our vote," emphasizing repeatedly, "Only Park Young-sun! It is Park Young-sun."

Former Lee Jun-seok, Supreme Council Member of the United Future Party (predecessor of the People Power Party). / Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding Song's remarks, former Supreme Council member Lee posted on Facebook on the 26th, saying, "During elections, 'Please protect the president' is a slogan commonly used by any ruling party," and pointed out, "This is the first time I've seen a lawmaker pleading to protect a radio host."

He sarcastically criticized, "Surprisingly, there is almost no plea to protect President Moon Jae-in."

He then remarked, "Who is at the core of power? Can't lose Kim Eo-jun. Can't lose democracy. Can't lose the Republic of Korea. Is that it?"

Meanwhile, on the 25th, candidate Park appeared on TBS's 'News Factory' and addressed Oh's statement about 'budget support suspension,' saying, "The issue of stopping TBS broadcast support is not something the mayor can do."

She added, "The issue of stopping TBS support requires amending ordinances in the Seoul Metropolitan Council," criticizing, "He is a candidate who still cannot distinguish between what the mayor can and cannot do."

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