Kim Eo-jun "O Se-hoon Revived After 10 Years of Unemployment Struggles"

In His Own Broadcast, He Joked, "Isn't It at Risk of Being Shut Down?"

Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun, who hosts the TBS current affairs program 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' (News Factory), commented on the 4.7 re-election exit polls by the three major broadcasters showing People Power Party's Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon winning, saying, "After struggling unemployed for 10 years, he has returned after 10 years."

On that day, on his TBS 'News Factory' program, Kim said, "Although the by-election term is only one year, the numbers are impactful, which means the progressive supporters did not come out (to vote). This time, in terms of numerical mobilization, conservative supporters were very mobilized and increased the turnout, and the Democratic Party was favored only when the turnout was below 50%."

Kim also claimed, "Isn't our 'News Factory' at risk of extinction? If candidate Oh is elected, we will have to completely change the program's color and even the corners."

During the vote-counting broadcast on a YouTube channel that day, some netizens left sarcastic comments toward Kim, such as "You brought this on yourselves" and "I think I will stop watching Kim Eo-jun."

Meanwhile, candidate Oh mentioned the possibility of suspending budget support for TBS in an interview with a media outlet last February. At that time, he said, "If I become mayor, I will fix what needs to be fixed immediately," and added that it could take the form of not providing budget support to TBS.

Regarding this remark, candidate Oh explained at a National Assembly press conference on the 23rd of last month, "It was an expression made in the process of pointing out the bias of that program (News Factory)," and clarified, "I did not use the expression 'will do' but rather warned that it 'could be done.'"

In an interview with 'Yonhap News' on the 28th of last month, he said, "It is fine for Kim Eo-jun to continue hosting (News Factory)," but also pointed out, "However, he should provide traffic information (instead of a current affairs program)."

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