Kim Eo-jun criticizes Oh Se-hoon for cutting TBS budget: "Despite being No.1 in listenership... it's like cutting off oxygen supply"

Oh Se-hoon Cuts TBS Appearance Fees by 12.3 Billion Won... "Financial Independence Is True Autonomy"

Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun. Photo by TBS Radio, screenshot from 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory'.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun criticized Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's proposal to cut the budget for TBS Traffic Broadcasting on the 9th, saying it is "like stopping oxygen supply first."

On the same day, Kim opened his remarks on his TBS radio show 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' by saying, "'News Factory' once again ranked first with a larger margin than before in this year's final audience rating survey."

He continued, "'News Factory' has maintained the overall number one spot since 2018, but the Seoul city government submitted a budget plan that cuts the TBS radio headquarters budget by 96.1%," adding, "This news is making the already rare hair of the TBS president even lonelier."

He said, "Mayor Oh claims the cuts are for 'TBS's financial independence and media independence,'" and criticized, "If that is the case, the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) should first support allowing commercial advertisements on TBS, but how can independence be achieved by cutting the budget first?" Kim pointed out, "It's like the logic of stopping oxygen supply first to increase lung capacity."

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is announcing the 2022 Seoul city budget at the Seoul City Hall briefing room on the morning of the 1st.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Seoul City formulated the TBS contribution for next year at about 25.2 billion won, cutting approximately 12.3 billion won from this year's 37.5 billion won, and submitted the budget plan to the city council on the 1st.

When announcing Seoul City's budget plan for next year, Mayor Oh explained the background of the TBS contribution cut, saying, "The meaning of independent media, independent broadcasting, and independence itself is that rights and authority must come with corresponding obligations and responsibilities to be truly independent." He added, "Financial independence, being able to stand alone, is the true independence, which has been a consistent point raised by the KCC and broadcasting-related organizations."

He also said, "In that sense, since TBS declared independence two years ago, this budget cut was set with the intention that it should become truly independent in name and reality."

However, it is uncertain whether the TBS contribution cut will pass as is. The Seoul City Council is currently dominated by the Democratic Party of Korea, holding 99 out of 110 seats, making budget review and approval difficult.

Meanwhile, TBS, which started in 1990 as the Traffic Broadcasting Headquarters under Seoul City, became independent from Seoul City by establishing a separate foundation in February last year, but still relies on Seoul City's contributions for more than 70% of its revenue.

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