Liberal TV Presenter Ousted From KBS

[shanny-w.livejournal.com]

TV presenter Kim Je-dong was dismissed Saturday from KBS weekend primetime show "Star Golden Bell," drawing speculation that the state-run broadcaster was pushed to sack the man well-known for liberal political ideas.

A KBS production director was quoted as saying that Kim, in charge since 2004, had been in his position too long.

Kim's recording on Tuesday will be aired as the last edition, the broadcaster said.

Since Kim stepped down from hosting KBS2's "Entertainment Weekly" last December, he has lost all his posts at the nation's largest broadcaster.

"Star Golden Bell" is a highly rated quiz show, which airs on Saturday at 5:15 p.m. Twenty celebrity guests compete to win money for charity. Kim was said to be the right fit for the job.

His agent Kim Young-jun said that the host is more than baffled.



"The ratings were always good enough to secure his position, and Kim maintained a good reputation on and off the show," he explained.

However, he also acknowledged that Kim has been handling the situation quite well. "He had a couple of drinks with friends last night. He said he is sorry for everything," he said.

Suspicions are rising over what pushed KBS to sack the host.

Internet user Ttoliappa said, "It seems that the ruling camp has already graded Kim as anti-Lee Myung-bak. This could be a backlash against Kim and a warning to fellow liberalist entertainers."

Kim hosted a ceremony for the late former President Roh Moo-hyun back in May. He also led an event Friday marking the launch of Roh's foundation.

Kim was also forthright in expressing his political views. In response to unionists of Ssangyong Motor being dragged out from a plant by police after days of protests against reported downsizing, he twittered, "Let's not forget Ssangyong. We all can become the weaker one someday."

This is not the first time a celebrity has been suspected of being dismissed due to liberal ideas. Rocker Yoon Do-hyun was suspended from his long-running KBS2 show "Love Letter" last November for alleged poor ratings. Yoon and Kim have the same agent.



Korea Times

Comments

[sup-homeskillet.livejournal.com]

wow. wow. nicely done, korea.

[unsospiro.livejournal.com]

Wow, Korean politics like to take giant leaps backwards don't they.

Big Brother, much?

[ari-meh.livejournal.com]

oh, seriously.
i can't believe they dismissed him due to his political views...
really.. what happened to freedom of belief?

[breathe-ai.livejournal.com]

KBS...you're gonna have a hard time if all the artists suddenly decide to start spouting their political beliefs, cause I have a funny feeling that it'll probably be the same case as it is in America...more celebrities and people in the arts or entertainment industry tend to have more liberal leaning views...

[baka-tenshi.livejournal.com]

whoops, his bad. :| stay classy, KBS.

[cynicalsnark.livejournal.com]

IDK if Korea has this, but I'm predicting Wrongful Termination Lawsuit. :/

[shincaru.livejournal.com]

Nope, they don't have that. Litigation in America is very unique to it, and Asian countries don't have a culture where the rights of the individual > rights of the group.

[carrotsandroses.livejournal.com]

No. Just...no.

[cityscripts.livejournal.com]

This is why they shouldn't have government-run television stations. :/ I mean, wtf?

WHAT......Seriously?

[angelonair.livejournal.com]

(http://nl.tinypic.com)

[shirafaye.livejournal.com]

T_T
SGB isn't going to be the same... D:

[iheartdarkblue.livejournal.com]

kbs sucks

[o-frick.livejournal.com]

I don't have words for how displeased I am. I love that dood.

[risabet.livejournal.com]

This. KBS, as classy as ever.

[baeraki.livejournal.com]

wow, KBS. how sexy.

give yourself a round of applause -_-"
i'm sure there's a lot of liberal celebrities, they just haven't made it completely known.

[neumi.livejournal.com]

*GASP* HOW DARE HE HAVE VALID OPINIONS?!?! DOESNT HE KNOW HE IS A KOREAN TV PERSONALITY, THEREFORE HE CANNOT SHOW EMOTION OR ORIGINAL THOUGHT?!?!

[aunts.livejournal.com]

GOD FORBID HE WAS AN IDOL AM I RIGHT OR AM I RIGHT!?

[treat.livejournal.com]

He's one of the very few well-read, intelligent hosts around. How disappointing and not very progressive of you, Korea.

[a-small-star.livejournal.com]

This. :|

[kokorabbit5.livejournal.com]

Good going, KBS. :\

[alphaeuspawns.livejournal.com]

I love criminal minds ~~~~

[risu-risu.livejournal.com]

so is KBS' justification for sacking him that he was in the position for too long? i wonder how they're going to justify it to the public since the show is successful & he seems to be well liked as the host.

[chiamharkem.livejournal.com]

SAY WUD. It was not like he was broadcasting his opinions on tv >=|

[maisoui.livejournal.com]

Unacceptable. :(

[distortedinpink.livejournal.com]

RRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[cityincolors.livejournal.com]

this. >.

[liberta-anima.livejournal.com]

.... FAIL.

[thenylonkid.livejournal.com]

This pisses me off!

(http://tinypic.com)

Yoon Do-hyun too? ;_;

[dominique-franc.livejournal.com]

ok thats it. I've seen gifs of this show floating around
I must know where it comes from

[fraash.livejournal.com]

what is this D:

[envoler.livejournal.com]

korea never ceases to amaze me.

[hoyah.livejournal.com]

8D so i guess they're really not big on freedom of speech/expression over there

:( poor jaedong. i like him. mashimaro~