"Media Reform" Won Hee-ryong Targets Kim Eui-gyeom: "If You Touch with Dirty Hands, It Gets Dirtier"

On November 17 last year, at the 2nd regular session of the 389th Jeju Provincial Council, Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong is responding to questions during the provincial administration inquiry. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Won Heeryong, Governor of Jeju Province, expressed a negative stance toward Kim Eui-gyeom, a member of the Open Democratic Party, who proposed "creating a news portal funded by the government, supported by the government but without interference," alongside the ruling party's push for media reform.

On the morning of the 30th, Governor Won appeared on YTN Radio's 'Hwang Boseon's Starting New Morning' and responded to the host's question, "Do you agree with the overall direction of media reform being pursued by the ruling party?" by saying, "I cannot agree at all," revealing his position.

When the host directly mentioned Kim Eui-gyeom of the Open Democratic Party and asked about him, he criticized, "If you want to talk about reform, that person or their hands must be clean," adding, "If you keep touching it with dirty hands, it only gets dirtier."

He continued, "When someone who openly claims that Kim Eo-jun's broadcasts are balanced talks about media reform, no matter what content they discuss, it reads as 'takeover' rather than 'reform,'" emphasizing, "True media reform should not be about controlling media that criticize oneself but rather about allowing and strengthening criticism against oneself."

He then declared, "Currently, both the intention and the trust in the people making these claims are lacking, so such media reform is neither appropriate nor can it succeed."

Earlier, on the 27th, Representative Kim argued at a media reform policy forum that "the headlines of major conservative media are relatively more exposed," and proposed, "The government should only provide support and create an 'Open News Portal' that does not interfere with operation and editing."

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