It is expected that the Seoul Metropolitan Government's budget support for TBS and traffic broadcasting will be discontinued as of January 1, 2024.
The Seoul Metropolitan Council held a plenary session in the afternoon of today (15th) and passed the 'Ordinance on the Abolition of the Seoul Media Foundation TBS Establishment and Operation'.
This ordinance, co-sponsored by all 76 members of the People's Power of the City Council, abolishes the current ordinance, which is the basis for Seoul's budget support for TBS, on January 1, 2024.
TBS relies on donations from Seoul City for more than 70% of its annual budget of about 50 billion won, and Seoul's contribution to TBS this year was 32 billion won.
The power of the people pushed for an ordinance to stop budget support, saying that many of TBS's programs, including 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory', were politically biased and lost fairness.
The power of the people argued that through the abolition of the support ordinance, TBS could restore fairness in broadcasting and walk the path of independent management as a private foundation.
However, the Democratic Party and TBS have protested that it is an act that violates the freedom of the press and the right to life of its members.
Despite the controversy, the ordinance passed through the plenary session following the standing committee today, led by the power of the people, who occupied the majority of the total 112 seats in the city council.
The Democratic Party protested against the ordinance processing at the standing committee and left without participating in the vote, and appealed for the injustice of the ordinance processing through opposition discussions at the plenary session.
The ordinance will be promulgated and enforced only after deliberation by the City Council on Ordinances and Rules.
(Photo = Yonhap News)