Im Man-kyun, Chair of the Seoul City Council, expressed a strong commitment to the normalization of Traffic Broadcasting System (TBS). However, he emphasized that the city council should not immediately enact support legislation but rather follow a process for the city to restore TBS's status as a public institution, after which the council can establish the financial support basis.
In an interview with Aju Economy on September 2, Im stated, "The first step in normalizing TBS is restoring its status as a public institution. This must be initiated by the city, not the council, and once the status is restored, the council can create the necessary legislation for financial support."
A lawsuit filed by TBS's labor union and some employees against the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to cancel the designation removal was dismissed in July due to lack of standing. Im anticipates that once a new executive team is formed at TBS, a consultative body involving the city, the council, and TBS can be established to discuss normalization plans.
He noted, "Mayor Oh Se-hoon also agrees with the fundamental direction of TBS normalization and is considering ways to ensure fairness," adding that normalization is essential not only for the survival rights of the staff but also to restore the functions of public broadcasting and disaster safety broadcasting. He further stated, "The fairness of the media cannot be judged by the subjective opinion of one individual," stressing the need for objective mechanisms involving internal members and external experts.
Regarding Mayor Oh's key projects, Im took a case-by-case approach. He pointed out potential issues with the Han River Bus's punctuality, accessibility, and weather constraints on its public transport function, but stated, "We cannot stop a project that is already in operation," emphasizing the need to enhance its utility for both weekday transportation and weekend tourism.
Im criticized the lack of communication during the audit process, stating, "For projects that are highly divisive, we should have listened to citizen opinions and persuaded the council." However, he distanced himself from calls to demolish already completed facilities, citing the additional costs that would incur.
Im remarked on the operational principles of the council, which has 80 seats for the Democratic Party and 38 for the People Power Party, saying, "It is not about choosing between confrontation and cooperation." He asserted that policies lacking procedural legitimacy and public consensus would be firmly checked, while bipartisan cooperation would be pursued for livelihood and safety policies. Despite his flexible rhetoric, he clearly delineated the principles of TBS normalization and the council's oversight.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.