Seoul Metropolitan Council Chairman Kim Hyun-gi Appoints Council Member Park Yoo-jin as Additional Spokesperson

[Seoul Metropolitan Council News] Chairman Kim Hyun-gi of the Council: "We will strengthen communication with citizens by expanding the spokesperson system" ... Statement by Choi Ho-jeong, Floor Leader of the People Power Party in Seoul Council, criticizing TBS branch for obstructing legitimate council activities

◆Seoul Metropolitan Council Chairman Kim Hyun-ki Appoints Lee Seung-bok and Yoon Young-hee as Spokespersons, Adds Park Yoo-jin

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Kim Hyun-ki, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council (People Power Party, Gangnam District 3rd Constituency), appointed Lee Seung-bok and Yoon Young-hee as the 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council spokespersons last month to strengthen communication with citizens. On the 6th, he additionally appointed Park Yoo-jin (Democratic Party, Eunpyeong District 3rd Constituency) and held a certificate awarding ceremony in the Chairman’s reception room.

The spokespersons are responsible for promoting major legislative activities of the Seoul Metropolitan Council and announcing official external positions, serving as a communication channel with citizens based on the Seoul Metropolitan Council spokesperson installation regulations.

Last month, the Seoul Metropolitan Council amended these regulations to expand the number of spokespersons from a maximum of two to a maximum of three.

Chairman Kim Hyun-ki stated, “To create changes in Seoul as citizens desire, communication with citizens is paramount, which is why we have strengthened the spokesperson system. The council will not only support the executive agency’s policies but also actively lead policies according to citizens’ demands, and we will demonstrate this process through the spokespersons.”

Park Yoo-jin, appointed as spokesperson, expressed, “I will become a humble and kind spokesperson who listens to and uses the ‘language of sovereignty’ of the 10 million citizens.”

◆People Power Party Floor Leader Choi Ho-jung Criticizes TBS Union Statement for Obstructing Legitimate Legislative Activities of Council Members

Meanwhile, on the 7th, Choi Ho-jung, Floor Leader of the People Power Party in the Seoul Metropolitan Council, issued a statement saying, “The National Union of Mediaworkers TBS Branch (hereafter TBS Branch) expressed regret over the audit request related to TBS raised by Councilor Lee Jong-bae, calling for its withdrawal in a statement on the 6th. This obstructs the legitimate legislative activities of elected council members.”

Leader Choi said, “The TBS Branch’s statement reveals factual errors to the extent that it is hard to see it as a claim from media workers. As media, they should adhere to facts. The TBS Branch called Councilor Lee Jong-bae’s audit request ‘anti-constitutional censorship.’ Censorship of freedom of expression is an unacceptable act in a democratic country. The Constitutional Court defines censorship as ‘an impermissible prior restraint on media content.’”

He added, “Has the People Power Party Seoul Metropolitan Council ever censored TBS’s selection of guests, hosting, or broadcast content in advance? If there had been even the slightest attempt, it would have been pointed out dozens of times in the problematic broadcast programs, and the production team, which values media freedom, would have issued multiple statements. We have never had the idea of censorship against the media. The TBS Branch should present evidence of censorship. If they cannot, they must take appropriate responsibility for spreading false claims of ‘anti-constitutional censorship.’”

Furthermore, the TBS Branch claimed in their statement that the People Power Party Seoul Metropolitan Council’s ordinance to abolish tax support for TBS “lacks legal grounds and ignores procedures.” However, the ordinance was submitted with the signatures of more than two-thirds of Seoul council members, totaling 76. What kind of absurd claim is it to say it lacks legal grounds? Also, they should clarify what procedures were ignored and how.

Finally, Leader Choi stated, “As a representative of the People Power Party Seoul Metropolitan Council members, I will thoroughly protect the sacred legislative activities of council members elected by citizens and will never tolerate any attempts to obstruct them.”

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