Korean Broadcasting System
The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS; Korean: 한국방송공사; Hanja: 韓國放送公社; RR: Han-guk Bangsong Gongsa; MR: Han’guk Pangsong Kongsa) is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters.
Native name
Han-guk Bangsong Gongsa
Han'guk Pangsong Kongsa
- Kyeongseong/Keijō Broadcasting Station (1927–1932)
- Chōsen Broadcasting Corporation (1932–1945)
- 16 February 1927 (as Kyeongseong/Keijō Broadcasting Station) (Radio)
- May 1956 (television)
- 3 March 1973 (as Public Broadcasting organization)
Governor-General of Korea
Worldwide
Park Min (President and CEO)
4,701 (As of 1 June 2020)
- KBS Media
- KBS Art Vision
- KBS Business
- KBS N
- KBS i (closed in 2011)
- KBS Security
- E-KBS
- KBS America
- KBS Japan
- Monster Union
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 KBS1 sister channel 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 twelve different languages.
First KBS logo (from 15 October 1961 until 2 March 1973)
Second KBS logo (from 2 March 1973 until 28 October 1984)
Third and current KBS text logo (from 29 October 1984 to present)
1984-1985 logo
Third and current KBS logo (from 15 August 1985 to present)
1985-2001 logo
2001 logo
Fourth and future KBS logo (tentatively used from 2024 onwards)
Operational status[edit]
Headquarters[edit]
KBS carried out a large-scale organizational reform on 1 March 2019. The focus of the reform is to; further strengthen the KBS's capabilities of content creation; enhance the organization's digital work flow; and improve audience services. As part of the new strategy, KBS created Content Production 2 Division, a new integral body, responsible for a highly efficient operation of production, marketing, as well as content businesses. The new division ultimately aims to bring outstanding dramas and entertainment programming by boosting creative nature of the production function, and minimizing its decision-making process.[16]
The new reform strategy introduced Public Service Media Strategy team under Strategy and Planning Division. Public Service Media Strategy is mainly responsible for developing KBS's digital strategies for different audiences to enjoy KBS content via assorted digital media platforms. The reform brought changes in Programming Division as Digital Media department has further expanded its roles under the division. Digital News department attached to News and Sports Division has also strengthened its functions in line with the recent reform initiative. Another significant change in the reform is that new 'Audience Relations Center' has become an executive department, to be operated directly by KBS President and CEO. The Audience Relations Center will dedicate its resources to further enhance audience services, and create more opportunities for audiences to take part in various initiatives developed by KBS. And Local Stations Management has been reorganized to be supervised under KBS Executive Vice President, as KBS has a plan to build a regional broadcasting system in response to a growing demand for greater regional autonomy.