Photo Caption: Reference photo
The internal backlash at KBS is growing after Park Jang-beom, the KBS ‘News 9′ anchor, was selected as the final candidate for the KBS president position.
The KBS Journalists’ Association released a statement today declaring, “We cannot acknowledge Park Jang-beom as a candidate for president.”
Referring to the controversy surrounding Park’s comments from his interview with President Yoon Suk-yeol last February, where he described Kim Gun-hee’s luxury bag as a “small pouch,” the KBS Journalists’ Association criticized, “If Park takes office as president, the word ‘pouch’ will forever be associated with his name.”
They further commented, “No matter what news broadcasts or programs are produced, links with Yongsan will follow like a scarlet letter,” and questioned, “Why must KBS, as a public broadcaster, and its members endure such disgrace?”
Journalists from KBS 45th class, who joined in 2018, also issued a statement urging Park to withdraw from his candidacy.
They expressed, “Although Park claimed to aim for ‘objective and balanced news’ and to restore ‘viewers’ trust,’ a year later, news ignoring current powers has brought daily shame to field reporters.”
They added, “It’s disgraceful and devastating,” and commented that “Park’s nomination as a candidate for president has further plummeted KBS’s credibility.”
They analyzed the situation by stating, “No matter the effort put into reporting, viewers now interpret it as a message aimed at Yongsan,” and concluded it is a “clear crisis.”
They urged Park, stating, “A candidate solely focused on Yongsan is truly ‘unqualified'” and demanded that he “step down.”