"Kim Eo-jun Taming" vs "Financial Independence Needed" What Do You Think About Seoul City's TBS Budget Cuts?

Seoul City Faces Controversy Over 12.3 Billion KRW Cut in Next Year's TBS Budget
Claims of 'Political Retaliation' Targeting Pro-Government Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun Emerge
Oh Se-hoon: "Media Suppression? No Legal Issues... TBS Must Achieve Financial Independence"

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon (left) and broadcaster Kim Eo-jun. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] The Seoul Metropolitan Government's significant cut to next year's TBS funding has sparked controversy. Some argue that this is a case of media suppression by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon targeting pro-government broadcaster Kim Eo-jun.

Mayor Oh explained that "since TBS has become independent from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, its finances should also become independent," but city council members from the Democratic Party of Korea are opposing the move, calling it a hasty budget cut made without a material foundation such as allowing commercial advertisements.

Mayor Oh and Kim previously clashed during the April by-election. Kim focused on reporting the 'Naegok-dong allegations' surrounding Mayor Oh on his TBS radio show "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory," while Mayor Oh criticized the program's biased reporting. Because of this, some believe the Seoul government's budget cut for TBS was premeditated.

◆ TBS Radio Headquarters Budget Cut by 96.1%... "If You Want to Criticize Policy, Achieve Financial Independence First" vs. "Commercial Ads Should Be Allowed"

On the 1st, the Seoul Metropolitan Government submitted a budget proposal to the city council that cuts next year's TBS funding from 37.5 billion won this year by about 12.3 billion won to approximately 25.2 billion won. Among this, the radio headquarters budget, which produces and broadcasts the radio show "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory," was cut by 96.1%. Thus, next year's radio headquarters budget was reduced from 6.25574 billion won by 6.01076 billion won to 244.98 million won.

Some claim the TBS funding cut is political retaliation targeting Kim. The 'FM broadcasting production and operation expenses,' which include fees for radio program hosts, were slashed from 3.94636 billion won to 152.92 million won. Since Kim is known to receive about 500 million won in appearance fees, this is seen as effectively cutting his entire salary.

However, Mayor Oh insists there is no problem with the funding cut. At a briefing on the 1st, he said, "The meaning of independent media, independent broadcasting, and independence is that rights and authority must come with corresponding obligations and responsibilities to be truly independent," adding, "(TBS) declared independence two years ago, so this budget cut is to firmly establish that independence."

Starting in 1990 as the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Traffic Broadcasting Headquarters, TBS became independent from the city last February by establishing a separate foundation, but it still relies on Seoul's funding for over 70% of its revenue.

Regarding criticisms that the TBS funding cut constitutes media suppression or violates broadcasting laws, Mayor Oh responded, "Media suppression occurs when the freedom to program content is infringed upon," and said, "If you overinterpret budget allocation as suppression, that is purely a political claim and there is no legal problem."

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is explaining the 2022 Seoul city budget plan at the Seoul City Hall briefing room on the 1st./Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the other hand, Democratic Party city council members have opposed Seoul's TBS funding cuts. Kim In-ho, chairman of the Seoul City Council, appeared on "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory" on the 2nd and said, "There are many claims that this is a retaliatory, political, or biased budget. We will examine this thoroughly and carefully."

Council member Gyeong Man-seon also appeared on YTN Radio's "Hwang Bo-seon's Starting Morning" and criticized, "Mayor Oh intends to tame the media to suit his preferences," adding, "It should be seen that Mayor Oh was uncomfortable because of Kim's broadcasts. The reason for this budget cut was not based on specific content or discussions but was a unilateral notice to support only half of the necessary budget as a punitive measure."

The controversy intensified on the 2nd, the day after the budget cut announcement, when Kim was about 20 minutes late to the live broadcast of "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory." Supporters of Kim expressed reactions on YouTube comments such as "Did Mayor Oh's pressure cause the sudden absence?" and "Reinstate Kim Eo-jun."

Kim arrived late at the studio that day and continued the radio broadcast. He explained, "I will not be late anymore this year," and addressed Mayor Oh, saying, "Mayor, I would greatly welcome it if you allow commercial advertisements and cut the budget."

◆ Oh Se-hoon and Kim Eo-jun Also Clashed During the April 7 By-Election... Budget Decision to Be Made at the Plenary Session on the 16th

The conflict between the two began during the Seoul mayoral by-election in April. Kim focused on reporting the 'Naegok-dong allegations' surrounding Mayor Oh on his radio show "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory." On March 29, he aired an interview with a farmer cultivating land owned by Mayor Oh's in-laws, and on April 2, an interview with the father and son who ran an ecological soup restaurant near the Naegok-dong land in 2005.

In an interview with Shindonga in March, Mayor Oh criticized the bias of "News Factory," saying, "If I become mayor, I will fix what needs to be fixed. It might mean cutting budget support (to TBS)," and added, "The most principled response is to create an environment where the media can report neutrally and objectively." At the time, there was speculation that if he won the mayoral election, he might stop funding TBS.

On April 2nd, TBS Radio's "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory" aired an exclusive interview regarding the so-called "Naegok-dong controversy" surrounding Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. Photo by TBS Radio's "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory" YouTube video capture

Kim's "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory" has long been criticized for its pro-government bias. Kim, considered a representative pro-government broadcaster, appealed for support for Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung in a video posted on the YouTube channel "Ddanzi Broadcasting Station" on the 24th of last month, saying, "Lee Jae-myung is someone who came this far on his own," and "It is difficult and lonely for someone who breaks through on their own without help from money, connections, or backing. So you should help him."

Meanwhile, the tension between Mayor Oh and the city council over the budget proposal is expected to continue. The next year's budget proposal submitted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to the city council must pass the plenary session scheduled for the 16th of next month to be finalized.

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