Oh Se-hoon, letter to Seoul City Council members… “We sincerely request extension of TBS support”

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon sent a letter to Seoul City Council members appealing for an extension of support for TBS, a media foundation under the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

According to the city and city council on the 25th, a high-ranking city official visited the city council member’s office the afternoon before and delivered a letter from Mayor Oh stating, “We earnestly request an extension of TBS support.”

Mayor Oh said in the letter, “It is a well-known fact that TBS has lost its way,” and “Public broadcasting should be impartial, but over the years, it has degenerated into a trumpet for a specific political faction.”

He said, “I was the biggest victim of politically biased broadcasts during the election period.” He added, “During the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election, many people predicted, ‘If Oh Se-hoon becomes mayor, the first thing he will do is get rid of Kim Eo-jun’s news factory,’ but he did not do that.” said.

He continued, “I persevered and persevered with extreme patience. “We waited for the broadcasting station to make midnight efforts,” he said, pointing out, “In the end, TBS refused to change itself and brought today’s difficulties upon itself.”

Mayor Oh said, “Nevertheless, catastrophe must be prevented,” and “The council responded to my earnest request for cooperation and the support was extended until the end of May, but we are not yet ready for self-reliance.”

He emphasized, “TBS has more than 250 employees, and many of them are employees who have nothing to do with bias,” and added, “Our neighbors and ordinary citizens who make their home there must be protected as much as possible.”

Lastly, Mayor Oh added, “I believe that politics should follow the right path with faith, but the wounds in the process should be healed with tolerance,” adding, “I look forward to your wise judgment.”

Previously, Mayor Oh also called for an extension of support for TBS during a municipal administration question at the 322nd extraordinary session of the Seoul Metropolitan Council on the 22nd, saying, “We are doing our best to help with the path of privatization that we have chosen.”

Kim So-young, Donga.com reporter [email protected]