Joo Jin-woo "Told to Step Down from Buddhist Broadcasting Radio for Opposing Martial Law Troops"

"New CEO Arriving Puts Burden on Company," Claim
Broadcaster States "Notification Given the Day Before Martial Law"

Photo by Joo Jin-woo. Asia Economy DB

Reporter Joo Jin-woo claimed that he was notified to step down from his radio program after broadcasting a YouTube live stream in which he fought against the martial law troops at the National Assembly following President Yoon Seok-yeol's declaration of emergency martial law on the 3rd.

On the December 9th episode of BBS Buddhist Broadcasting radio music program 'Pops Nine,' Reporter Joo said, "It was the night of December 3rd. I was at the National Assembly. The martial law troops stormed in. It was frightening. But I fought back." He continued, "It was the night of the 6th. A senior official at the broadcasting station said they had seen my broadcast confronting the martial law troops. Then they told me that the place I should be is there, not on Pops Nine."

He added, "I pleaded that I would fix any problems if there were any. But they did not accept it and told me to quit. They said I was a burden to the company. Until recently, they asked me to host a two-hour main broadcast. But after the new president came, they said I was a burden. I overcame the martial law troops, but I could not survive at the broadcasting station," he said.

Reporter Joo claimed that after the sudden declaration of emergency martial law, he live-streamed on YouTube his efforts to block the martial law troops at the National Assembly, and the broadcasting company notified him to step down, citing discomfort with the situation.

BBS Buddhist Broadcasting radio music program 'Pops Nine' screenshot

Park Jae-hyun, head of the BBS Buddhist Broadcasting radio production department, told Media Today, "We have been considering the issue regarding Joo Jin-woo's broadcast for some time." He explained, "We notified the responsible PD last week, and the final notice of Joo's departure (through the PD) was given the day before the martial law was declared." He also said, "We are a Buddhist broadcasting station. When Joo started broadcasting, there were people who protested, and there were also protests upon hearing the news of his departure. We have no choice but to weigh the severity of these."

Reporter Joo worked as a journalist for Ilyo Shinmun, Sisa Journal, and SisaIN, covering cases such as the Lee Myung-bak BBK stock manipulation incident and the 2012 Park Geun-hye's 5th cousin murder case. In 2019, he began as a DJ with TBS FM's 'Anin Bamjung-e Joo Jin-woo Imnida' (It's Joo Jin-woo in the Middle of the Night).

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