The Democratic Party of Korea has revamped its official YouTube channel and scheduled its broadcasts for the exact same time slot as pro-government YouTuber Kim Eo-jun's program, prompting analysis that the party leadership may be making a concerted move to distance itself from Kim.
The Democratic Party expanded and reorganized its official YouTube channel, "Delli Minjoo," into "Minjoo Party TV," launching its first live broadcast at 7:00 a.m. today.
The broadcast featured party leader Kim Min-seok directly explaining party agendas and holding a discussion with lawmakers such as Jeon Eun-soo, lasting about 40 minutes and recording approximately 310,000 cumulative views as of 10:00 a.m.
Regarding the media expansion and reorganization, the party leadership maintained a stance that it intends to coexist with other media outlets.
Previously, Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok stated, "Minjoo Party TV is a textbook, while other media are study guides," adding, "There will be no competition and plenty of cooperation." Chief Spokesperson Kim Nam-joon also said, "Rather than being in a competitive relationship with progressive channels, we will build solidarity and cooperate."
However, voices within the party suggest that Minjoo Party TV is intended to keep Kim Eo-jun in check.
Kim Eo-jun's program, "Kim Eo-jun's Humility is Hard: News Factory," airs every day at 7:00 a.m., and critics note that "Minjoo Party TV" has scheduled its broadcasts for the same time slot to launch a direct challenge.
A first-term lawmaker from the capital area said, "It is true that Kim Eo-jun's broadcast was a source of strength when the party was going through difficult times in the past, but now Kim himself has become a vested interest and a massive media power," adding, "Minjoo Party TV must become an alternative."
Friction between the new leadership and Kim Eo-jun has continued.
On the 28th, Spokesperson Lee Yong-woo rebutted Kim after Kim asserted on his broadcast that "there is no administration where a president's approval rating dropped to the 30% range and then rebounded," citing rebound cases involving former Presidents Kim Young-sam, Kim Dae-jung, and Moon Jae-in to state that Kim was "wrong."
Conflicts between supporting factions have also persisted.
Reactions on a message board gathered by supporters of former party leader Jung Chung-rae included comments such as, "Let's not be curious about or visit Minjoo Party TV." Meanwhile, in a community supporting President Lee Jae-myung, supporters pushed back, stating, "Kim Eo-jun's broadcast is subjective speculation, while Minjoo Party TV is official."
(Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Choi Kang-san | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News | Video Source: YouTube channels "Minjoo Party TV" and "Kim Eo-jun's Humility is Hard: News Factory")
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