TV Channel Overview
Korean Broadcasting System (KBS / 한국방송공사) is South Korea’s national public
service broadcaster, headquartered in Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul. Its
institutional roots extend to radio broadcasting begun in 1927, while television
service started in 1961. KBS was established as a public service broadcaster
in 1973 and now operates national television, regional broadcasting, radio,
international services, and affiliated specialty channels.
KBS1 and KBS2 form the core of its domestic terrestrial television services. KBS1 emphasizes news, current affairs, education, documentaries, culture, and other public-service programming, while KBS2 gives greater space to drama, entertainment, variety, and family-oriented content. KBS NEWS 24 provides a continuous news and current-affairs service, with a separate schedule that includes KBS news bulletins, analysis, documentaries, economic information, and selected regional programs.
KBS also operates two television channels for overseas audiences. KBS WORLD TV, launched in 2003, presents KBS-produced Korean-language drama, entertainment, documentaries, cultural programs, and other content for international viewers, using multilingual subtitles in many markets. KBS KOREA, relaunched under its current name in 2021, is directed primarily toward Koreans living abroad and carries Korean-language news, current affairs, documentaries, culture, drama, and entertainment. KBS WORLD Radio complements these television services with multilingual international radio programming. KBS America and KBS Japan are KBS affiliates that support the distribution and development of KBS channels and content in the Americas and Japan; KBS Japan also operates a Japan-focused KBS World service.
Beyond KBS’s directly operated television services, affiliate KBS N runs a group of specialized cable channels. These include KBS Drama for drama, KBS Joy for entertainment, KBS N Sports for sports, KBS Story, KBS Kids for children’s programming, and KBS LIFE for documentaries, culture, history, and information.
As a public broadcaster, KBS also has responsibilities for universal service, public-interest programming, national culture, and emergency communication. It serves as South Korea’s designated broadcaster for disasters and national crises, providing information through its television, radio, and digital services.
Basic Information
- Official Website
- Korean Broadcasting System (KBS / 한국방송공사)
- Genre
- General / Public Broadcasting (News, Current Affairs, Education, Documentaries, Culture, Drama, Entertainment, Sports)
- Language
- Korean (KBS WORLD TV uses multilingual subtitles; KBS WORLD Radio provides multilingual international services)
- Country / Location
- Home > Asia > South Korea > TV (1)
- Headquarters
- Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul Special Metropolitan City
(서울특별시 영등포구)
Sister Channel
