Korean Broadcasting System

The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS; ) is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters.

The KBS operates seven radio networks, ten television channels and multiple Internet-exclusive services. Its flagship terrestrial television station, KBS1, broadcasts on channel 9 while KBS2, an entertainment-oriented network, broadcasts on channel 7. KBS also operates the international service KBS World, which provides television, radio and online services in 12 languages.

Early radio broadcasts


The KBS began as Gyeongseong Broadcasting Station with call sign JODK, established by the Governor-General of Korea on 16 February 1927. It became the Chōsen Broadcasting Corporation (朝鮮放送協會) in 1932. After Korea was liberated from Japanese rule at the end of World War II, this station started using the call sign HLKA in 1947 after the US-occupied Korea was granted the ITU prefix HL. After a national broadcast, the station was renamed Seoul Central Broadcasting Station in 1948.

1950s–1960s – Television
Television broadcasts in South Korea began on 12 May 1956 on HLKZ-TV. After financial difficulties, it was acquired by KBS in 1961.

1970s – Expansion
KBS station status changed from government to broadcasting station on 3 March 1973. Construction of KBS headquarters in Yeouido started in 1976. In 1979 KBS radio began broadcasting on the FM band with the launch of KBS Stereo (now KBS 1FM). Colour television began that year.

1980s – Advertising
KBS began broadcasting advertising in 1980, differing from the norm of public broadcasters, after the forced merger of several private broadcasters into KBS by the military government of Chun Doo-hwan.

1990s – Spinoff of EBS
In 1981, KBS launched KBS 3TV and Educational FM and on 27 December 1990, the channels split from KBS to form the Educational Broadcasting System (EBS).

After a revision of the television licensing fee system in 1994, 1TV and Radio1 stopped broadcasting commercials.

2010s
After first broadcasting HD programmes in 2001, KBS completely switched to digital broadcasting in 2012.

On 3 March 2013, computer shutdowns hit South Korean television stations including KBS. The South Korean government asserted a North Korean link in the March cyberattacks, denied by Pyongyang.

In 2013, KBS World Radio commemorated its 60th anniversary, and KBS World TV celebrated 10 years of its foundation.

In 2014, KBS World 24 was launched, mainly for Koreans abroad.

In 2015, KBS was honoured to have its archives of the KBS Special Live Broadcast, Finding Dispersed Families, inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. This makes KBS only the world's second broadcaster to have a broadcast programme on the prestigious list.

The KBS network delivered the exclusive Special Live Broadcast, Finding Dispersed Families, via its primary channel, KBS1. KBS News was the program's producer. The program premiered on 10:15 pm KST on 30 June 1983. After more than 6 months, the special live programme ended at 4 am on 14 November 1983. This marks a total duration of 453 hours and 45 minutes of live broadcast over 138 days, aired nationwide on KBS1. The KBS's archives of Special Live Broadcast, Finding Dispersed Families include; 463 videotapes of the original recordings, and many associated materials, generated in the course of the broadcast, such as the posters carrying the participating dispersed family members' capsule stories, cue sheets, programming schedules, radio recording materials, and related photographs. A total of 20,522 such assorted materials are preserved in the archives. The program was the biggest public affairs program ever produced by KBS and was the first to tackle the issue of families separated because of the long Korean War (1950–1953), which garnered even international coverage.

In 2017, KBS launched the world's first terrestrial UHD broadcasting service.

In June 2018, KBS led the operation of the IBC (International Broadcasting Centre) inside the KINTEX (Korea International Exhibition Center), located in Goyang City, as Host Broadcaster for the April 2018 inter-Korean summit. During the summit, KBS successfully delivered all the moments associated with the historic summit for more than 3,000 local and overseas media representatives, gathered at the IBC. Throughout the day of the summit, KBS delivered live coverage through its continuous special news bulletins. Its prime-time news programmes, KBS News 9 and KBS Newsline provided audiences with highlights and implications of the historic summit through comprehensive reports. Also, KBS World TV delivered Live Coverage of April 2018 Inter-Korean summit with English subtitles for its audiences across 117 countries worldwide.

In May 2019, as the public service broadcaster in South Korea, KBS undertook a major reform in its Disaster Broadcast System in order to provide emergency services in times of emergency. To be headed by President and CEO of KBS, the renewed system allowed the use of maximum resources of the organization under emergency circumstances. Under the reform, KBS focused on: swift and efficient emergency broadcast and coverage; delivering essential information in innovative ways with the ultimate aim to minimise losses and damage; and strengthening its digital platforms to better serve wide-ranging audience groups. In particular, KBS signed contracts with sign language interpreters in an effort to enhance broadcast services for audiences with disabilities. In addition, KBS is committed to improve its English subtitle services for people from overseas.

Structure


KBS is an independently managed public corporation funded by the South Korean government and license fees. As part of the Constitution, the KBS president is chosen by the President of South Korea, as recommended by its board of directors. Political parties in South Korea have the right to name members of the KBS board of directors.

This system gives politicians effective control over choosing the president of KBS, as well as its board of directors. People who are critical of the system cite political intervention in KBS's governance as reason for revising the current system of recruiting.

In order to uphold and defend independence, KBS, since 2018, created a 'Public Advisory Group', as part of the selection process of new KBS President and CEO. Each President and CEO of KBS is recommended by the KBS Board of Governors. The Group examines Presidential candidates via a presentation, a panel discussion, and an interview. Each is ultimately appointed by the President.

Around 49% of KBS's revenue comes from a mandatory television licence fee of 2,500 won, on top of 18.7% from commercial advertisement sales.

In addition to 18 regional stations and 12 overseas branches, eight subsidiary companies such as KBSN, KBS Business and KBS Media manage KBS content.

Terrestrial television
KBS1 and KBS2 switched to digital, phasing out analogue services on 31 December 2012. However, both channels reportedly continued to be unofficially broadcast in analogue via UHF, presumably near the DMZ, albeit using the SECAM D/K standard.

Cable and satellite television

 * KBS Life – A culture and drama channel, it launched in 1995 as KBS Satellite 2. It was renamed KBS Korea in 2002, KBS Prime in 2006 and KBS N Life in 2015 before becoming KBS Life.
 * KBS Drama – Formerly KBS Sky Drama, launched in 2002.
 * KBS N Sports – Formerly KBS Sports/KBS Sky Sports, launched in 2002.
 * KBS Joy – A comedy and quiz show channel, launched in 2006.
 * KBS Kids – A children's channel, launched in 2012.
 * KBS Story – A channel aimed at a female audience, launched in 2021.

These channels are managed and operated by KBS N, a subsidiary of KBS. 100+ cable operators operate in the country while Skylife is the sole satellite television service provider.

KBS World
is the international television and radio service of KBS. It launched on 1 July 2003. It broadcasts on a 24-hour schedule with programs including news, sports, dramas, entertainment and children's shows. KBS World Television is broadcast locally and around the world. As of July 2007, around 65% of its programs are broadcast with English subtitles. It is available in 32 countries, and reportedly more than 40 million households around the world can access KBS World. It has two overseas subsidiaries: KBS America and KBS Japan. KBS Japan is independently operated by a KBS subsidiary in Japan, and most programs are provided with Japanese subtitles.

KBS World Television mainly broadcasts programs commissioned for KBS's 2 terrestrial networks: KBS1 and KBS2. KBS World Television is distributed over international communication and broadcasting satellites. Local cable and/or satellite operators receive the signal from one of these satellites and carry it to subscribers of their own networks. KBS does not allow individual viewers to receive the signal from most satellites. The signal from Badr 6 and Eutelsat Hotbird 13A is Free-to-Air.

KBS World TV commenced its service via YouTube in 2007. Its subscriber count reached 10 million in May 2019 and 13.5 million in July 2020. KBS World TV is available on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LINE. Its social media handles surpassed 20 million subscribers in April 2020.

KBS Korea (previously KBS World 24), a spin-off channel of KBS World, is targeted at Koreans living overseas.

Radio

 * KBS Radio 1 (711 kHz AM/97.3 MHz FM KBS Radio Seoul) – News, current affairs, drama, documentary, and culture. Launched in 1927 as Gyeongseong Broadcasting Corporation JODK, it became HLKA in 1947 and KBS Radio 1 in 1981.
 * KBS Radio 2 (603 kHz AM/106.1 MHz FM KBS Happy FM) – Popular music. Launched in 1948 as HLSA.
 * KBS Radio 3 (1134 kHz AM/104.9 MHz FM KBS Voice of Love FM) – Launched in 1980 and ceased broadcasting in 1981. It was later replaced by KBS Radio 2's regional radio service and Educational FM (now EBS FM). It was re-launched in 2000 as a spin-off from KBS Radio 2. For the first time in 2010, it was launched on FM and restructured as a radio station for the disabled.
 * KBS 1FM (93.1 MHz Classic FM) – Classical music and folk music. Launched in 1979 as KBS Stereo, adopted current name in 1980.
 * KBS 2FM (89.1 MHz/DMB CH 12B Cool FM) – Entertainment and news. Launched in 1966 as Radio Seoul Broadcasting (RSB), renamed TBC-FM in the 1970s and KBS Radio 4 in 1980 after TBC-FM forced merger to KBS. The current name was adopted in 2003.
 * KBS Hanminjok Radio (literal meaning: KBS Korean Nationality Radio) (6.015 MHz shortwave and 1170 kHz mediumwave) – Launched in 1975 as KBS Third Programme.
 * KBS World Radio – The South Korean international radio service, funded directly by the government.

Headquarters
KBS carried out organizational reform on 1 March 2019 to strengthen KBS capabilities of content creation; enhance digital work flow; and improve audience services. KBS created Content Production 2 Division that is responsible for production, marketing, as well as content businesses. The new division aims to bring outstanding dramas and entertainment programming by boosting creative nature of the production function, and minimizing its decision-making process.

The strategy introduced Public Service Media Strategy team under Strategy and Planning Division. Public Service Media Strategy is mainly responsible for developing KBS's digital programs via assorted digital media platforms. The reform brought changes in Programming Division as Digital Media department expanded its roles. Digital News department attached to News and Sports Division strengthened its functions. Another significant change is that the 'Audience Relations Center' has become an executive department, operated directly by KBS President and CEO. The Audience Relations Center dedicates its resources to enhance audience services, and create participation opportunities for audiences. Local Stations Management was reorganized to be supervised under KBS Executive Vice President, in response to a growing demand for greater regional autonomy.

1980 – Merger
During the Chun Doo-hwan regime, a new law forced public broadcasters to merge with KBS. These broadcasters had shown news stories against Chun, leading him to stifle their criticism. Victims included: Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) was also affected. MBC was, at first, a federation of 20 loosely affiliated member stations across South Korea. Although they shared programming, each station was privately owned. After the consolidation, however, affiliates were forced to give up a majority of shares to the MBC. MBC Seoul, in turn, was forced to give up 65% of its shares to KBS.
 * Tongyang Broadcasting Corporation (TBC)
 * Donga Broadcasting System (DBS)
 * Seohae Broadcasting Corporation (SBC)
 * Jeonil Broadcasting Corporation (VOC)
 * Hanguk-FM

Consequences
In 2009, president Lee Myung-bak said that the law was unconstitutional, and in 2011 TBC and DBS were revived as JTBC and Channel A, respectively.
 * TBC television became KBS2, and TBC Radio was split into two and became KBS 2FM and KBS Radio 3.
 * DBS became the now-defunct KBS Radio Seoul. The frequency later was used by SBS Love FM.
 * SBC became KBS Gunsan, later KBS Radio 3 Jeonju.
 * VOC became KBS Radio 3 Gwangju.
 * Hanguk-FM became KBS-Daegu-FM.

2002 – KBS 2FM advertisement scandal
KBS 2FM from 1980 until 2002 was prohibited to air commercial advertisements. In 2002 ads resumed airing. KBS Local FM (a radio station owned by KBS used to air selected programs of KBS 1FM and KBS 2FM) instead carried KBS 1FM programs even though only one KBS 2FM program Good Morning Pops aired because it was prohibited to air advertisements excluding those of KOBACO (Korea Broadcast Advertising Corporation). However, 15 years after the end of national broadcasts, Park Myeong-su's Radio Show aired on local KBS Happy FM stations in Busan, Changwon, Cheongju, Daejeon and Jeju starting April 2016 (in June 2019 the program aired in the Gangwon-do region) due to its popularity and virality on SNS (social media sites). This development marked the resumption of Cool FM's national broadcasts using the Local Happy FM network in the provinces. Afterwards KBS Gayo Plaza on all Local Happy FM stations starting September 2016. For the same reasons, Good Morning Pops moved to Local Happy FM stations in February 2017 and no longer aired on Local FM stations. On 31 August 2020, Fresh Morning started broadcasting on all Local Happy FM stations and finally A Good Day to Love appeared on selected Local Happy FM stations in Gangwon-do, Gwangju and Jeju due to its high ratings starting on 2 August 2021.

2011 – Wiretapping scandal at TV license fee meeting
In 2011, Sohn Hak-kyu, the chairman of the Democratic Party, accused KBS of wiretapping the party's closed-door meeting on TV subscription charges.

Sohn said, "We believe the firm bugged the meeting to secure information about our party's handling of the TV subscription policy. KBS should admit that it resorted to the deplorable method of gathering information."

The Grand National Party initially sought to put a bill concerning the TV subscription charge to a vote. However, it failed to do so amid strong opposition from the Democrats.

The National Assembly's subcommittee on culture, tourism, broadcasting and communication, was scheduled to deliberate on 28 June 2011, but the meeting was cancelled due to the Democrats' protest.

On 23 June Han Sun-kyo, chairman of the parliamentary subcommittee, criticised the Democrats' opposition to increasing the TV subscription charge during a subcommittee meeting.

GNP lawmakers eventually approved a bill raising the charge by 1,000 won to 3,500 won at a subcommittee meeting in the absence of Democrat lawmakers. That led to a Democrat boycott of a June extraordinary parliamentary session for half a day on 21 June 2011.

2011 – Praising Chinilpa
Bak Han-yong, head of the Institute for Research in Collaborationist Activities, criticised KBS for censoring negative remarks from a documentary about Chinilpa individuals, and Rhee Syngman, who had pardoned them. This includes the Chinilpa Paik Sun-yup.

2012 – KBS2 Carriage dispute
On 16 January 2012, a dispute broke out between KBS and the Korea Cable TV Association (KCTA) over carriage fees. KCTA sought to reduce fees from major national networks for carrying their feeds through subscription providers. KBS had demanded 280 won per subscriber, while the TV providers offered only 100 won per subscription. Negotiations reached a standstill, and so the providers decided to stop carrying KBS2. KBS2 experienced major decline in their ratings, affecting shows such as Brain at the time. Following the blackout, the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) ordered the TV providers to resume distributing the channel or face a hefty fine. They initially refused, but on 17 January, they agreed to resume the channel's carriage.

2012 – KBS journalists strikes and Reset KBS News 9
Journalists working for KBS (along with MBC, SBS and YTN) protested against journalism practices that favored the Lee Myung-bak government. The union for KBS released a video clip "Reset KBS News 9" (리셋 KBS 뉴스9) on the internet that discussed the Prime Minister's Office Civilian Surveillance Incident and the controversial money-spending on renovating President Lee's alleged birth house on 13 March 2012.

2013 – You Are The Best! name controversy
Global Youth League DN filed an injunction at Seoul Central District Court against KBS for using the name "Lee Soon-shin" in the title of the drama. The injunction requested KBS to (1) immediately stop the broadcast; (2) remove "Lee Soon-shin" from the title; and (3) change the name of one of its characters. The group claimed that historical figure Lee Soon-shin (or Yi Sun-sin), an admiral famed for his victories against the Japanese Navy in the Imjin War during the Joseon period, is an official national symbol whose status will "deteriorate" when associated with the "weak and clumsy" protagonist that lead actress IU plays. KBS and production company AStory responded that they had no plans of changing the title or character name. Instead, they altered the original drama poster where several cast members are sitting on a pile of 100 won coins that have an image of Admiral Yi, by digitally replacing the coins with a plain gold platform.

2014–2015 – The Return of Superman controversies

 * On 5 June 2014 netizens on the forum site Daum Agora started a petition to have Kim Jung-tae and his son Yakkung removed from the show due to their attendance at an election campaign on 1 June 2014, for Na Dong-yeon who was a candidate for Yangsan, South Gyeongsang's mayor. Na Dong-yeon later released a statement apologizing to Kim Jung-tae and his son Yakkung for the controversy and assured people that the actor and his son were not there to campaign for him. Kim Jung-tae and his son Yakkung left the show following the political controversy.
 * In June 2014, netizens complained of the show overly promoting YG Entertainment artists on Jang Hyun-sung and Tablo's segments, who are also under YG's management.
 * On episode 42 which aired on 31 August 2014, producers took a jab at rival show Dad! Where Are We Going? with captions shown during Tablo's segment.
 * Viewers complained of mothers showing up on the show too frequently. The complaints were targeted at Tablo's family due to his wife Hyejung appearing entirely during their segment from episodes 52 to 53.
 * Viewers complained about the editing of a scene in episode 53 where Song triplets Daehan and Manse are fighting over a toy. The viewers complained that the caption and editing didn't show the true facts of what happened.
 * On 22 April 2015, the owner of a venue that the show production team had scouted, posted on the show's official forum claiming staff from the show had reserved his venue last minute and then abruptly cancelled the shoot, disregarding his loss of profit in order to accommodate the show. After a formal apology was issued by the shows producers' the misunderstanding was settled.
 * In July 2015, the announcement of Lee Dong-gook and his family joining the show was met with complaints from fans of Song Il-kook and his triplet sons. Fans of Song and his sons saw it as a sign that Song and his family would be leaving the show, and complained on KBS's forum about adding the new family and KBS offering Song an upcoming drama role as a reason for Song to leave the variety show. KBS assured Song's fans that the decision for him and his family to leave the show was made entirely of their own accord.

2014 – 1st KBS strike against pro-government bias of its president
In early May 2014, Gil Hwan-young removed the KBS news chief after alleged improper remarks over the sinking of the ferry Sewol. The chief then accused Gil of interference with news editing, with an alleged pro-government bias.

After the board postponed a decision on whether or not to dismiss Gil, two of the broadcaster's largest unions went on strike.

As a result of the strike, most of the broadcaster's news output was affected. The hour-long KBS News 9 ran for just 20 minutes, and during local elections on 4 June 2014, KBS was unable to send reporters to interview candidates.

The strike ended after the board of directors voted to dismiss Gil. The board passed a motion on 5 June 2014 demanding the discharge of President Gil. The majority vote decision was sent to be approved by the country's president Park Geun-hye, who has the power to appoint the broadcaster's head.

2017 – 2nd KBS strike against pro-government bias of its president
KBS union struck on 4 September, due to allegedly influencing news coverage in favor of former president Park Geun-hye's administration. As a result of the strike, KBS news programs, culture programs, radio shows, and variety shows were delayed due to most staff members taking part in the strike. During the strike, the 2017 KBS Entertainment Awards was cancelled. After 141 days, the strike ended when the board of directors approved the dismissal of KBS president Ko Dae-young.