Kim Geun-sik to Kim Eo-jun: "Don't be scared, keep broadcasting. Not political broadcasting, but traffic broadcasting"

Kim Geun-sik, Director of Vision Strategy at the People Power Party, is presenting at the Vision Storytelling PT held on January 29 in Baekbeom Kim Koo Memorial Hall, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Kim Geunsik, head of the Vision Strategy Office of the People Power Party, recently addressed Kim Eo-jun regarding the political circle's 'TBS budget support suspension,' saying, "Don't be scared and continue broadcasting. But instead of political broadcasting, broadcast traffic information."

On the 28th, Kim posted on his Facebook, stating, "(TBS) clearly falls under the category of being unable to achieve its founding purpose, so dissolution is possible, but employee job succession can be guaranteed," making these remarks.

He criticized, "Traffic Broadcasting (TBS) deviated from its founding purpose of 'providing traffic information and other lifestyle information' by conducting politically biased current affairs programs, thereby inviting disputes over fairness."

He continued, "Therefore, the new mayor can demand that TBS return to its original founding purpose without interfering in any broadcasting programming or programs," adding, "If the demand is not met, the mayor can naturally suspend the budget allocation for the annual subsidies as an inherent authority."

He added, "The correct answer is for TBS to either devise self-help measures without Seoul City's support or return to broadcasting that fits its original founding purpose."

However, he explained, "According to the Broadcasting Act, TBS's independence must be guaranteed," but "if it is judged that achieving the original broadcasting founding purpose of 'providing traffic conditions and lifestyle information' is impossible, the new mayor can also consider the long-term dissolution of the Traffic Broadcasting Foundation."

He cited relevant provisions of the 'Ordinance on the Operation of Seoul Metropolitan City's Invested and Affiliated Institutions,' claiming, "(TBS) clearly falls under 'inability to achieve founding purpose' as stipulated in Seoul City's ordinance."

Meanwhile, he said, "Since TBS is an independent foundation corporation under civil law, it can seek self-help measures on its own or, if recovery is impossible, the board of directors can resolve to dissolve itself," adding, "In case of dissolution, the new mayor can guarantee the employment succession of TBS employees in line with the reorganization of Seoul City's affiliated institutions."

On the 28th, ten days before the Seoul mayoral by-election, Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul mayor, and Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, greeted supporters at focused rallies held at the Seocho District Express Bus Terminal and the Gangnam District COEX East Gate Plaza, respectively. [Image source=Yonhap News]

This has been at the center of heated disputes among Seoul mayoral candidates. Earlier on the 28th, Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral candidate, said in an interview with Yonhap News, "TBS has a founding purpose. It is to provide traffic and lifestyle information," adding, "Kim can continue, but please provide traffic information. Now TBS must be operated according to its founding purpose."

In response, Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party's Seoul mayoral candidate, criticized, "It is truly an arrogant attitude to threaten on what grounds," and said, "Instead of calling the current government a dictatorship, Oh should reflect on whether his own behavior is the real face of 'censorship' and 'dictatorship.'" She added, "He is already acting as if he is the mayor."

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