Seoul Council Speaker Im Man-gyun Vows to Resolve TBS Closure Crisis

Im Man-gyun, the youngest-ever speaker of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, has outlined an agenda focused on strengthening the council's oversight of the city government and tackling pressing issues like the potential closure of public broadcaster TBS.

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The city government's administration will continue even after the first trial ruling, so we must be more faithful to our role of monitoring and checking the executive branch (Seoul City).

"The city government's administration will continue even after the first trial ruling, so we must be more faithful to our role of monitoring and checking the executive branch (Seoul City)," Im stated in an interview. The council, now holding a significant majority with the Democratic Party, is poised to scrutinize policies enacted by Mayor Oh Se-hoon, whom Im criticized for unilateral decision-making.

A major challenge identified by Im is the fate of TBS, which faces a funding crisis after the city council's previous budget cuts. "The evaluation of TBS should be left to the citizens, not politicians or the city," Im argued, emphasizing the importance of public broadcasting and the livelihoods of its employees. However, resolving the issue is complex, requiring the mayor to re-designate TBS as a city-funded institution and allocate budget, a process Im plans to discuss directly with Mayor Oh.

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The evaluation of TBS should be left to the citizens, not politicians or the city.

The council will also re-examine financial support for Mayor Oh's flagship Han River bus project, questioning the projected deficit and long-term financial viability. Core council priorities include public welfare, youth, and safety. A special committee will be formed to review safety budgets, particularly after recent incidents like the Seosomun overpass collapse, to ensure adequate funding and proper execution.

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The city and the city council, and TBS must reach a certain level of consensus for normalization.

Im also addressed concerns about the council's public image and potential conflicts of interest, vowing to use his authority to uphold its trust and honor. He suggested measures such as changing committee assignments or recommending resignations for members with potential conflicts due to concurrent positions.

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We will carefully examine whether the 13.5 billion won in operating deficit is calculated correctly and if normal operation is possible without additional support after 2028.