Experience Korea through KBS World Radio

KBS World Radio is Korea’s flagship public international broadcaster.
Its maiden transmission was aired in a 15-minute English broadcast on August 15th, 1953, under the station name "The Voice of Free Korea". KBS WORLD Radio now broadcasts in Korean, Japanese, French, Russian, Chinese, Spanish, Indonesian, Arabic, Vietnamese and German. The station was renamed Radio Korea in April 1973, Radio Korea International in August 1994 and KBS World Radio in March 2005 in a bid to better reflect the station's increasingly globalized mission.

 

 

By providing a variety of accurate and up-to-date programs and news on Korea's politics, economy, society, culture and traditions to our audience and netizens, KBS and KBS WORLD Radio seek to strengthen friendly ties and an understanding of Korea among people in the global community. In addition, we provide a bridge between Korea and the some seven million overseas Koreans who are missed by their loved ones back home.

KBS WORLD Radio will be with you

KBS WORLD Radio programs are carefully designed for an international audience - from accurate and up to date news to programs that portray the full spectrum of emotions and instill pride in Koreans all over the world.

 

  • Spearheading efforts for peace and a unified Korean peninsula through in-depth programs that address the relationship between the two Koreas.
  • Broadening the understanding of Korea through programs that introduce its tradition, culture and natural beauty.
  • Publicizing Korea to the world through our music.
  • Conveying real experiences in and around the country through interviews with foreign visitors to Korea.
  • Initiating active participation with the audience to achieve an interactive program model.

 

Clear sound quality is a top priority

In order to provide the best possible reception to our audience, KBS WORLD Radio transmits directly from domestic facilities, as well as through program exchange with Canada and the U.K. and through relays to Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

 

KBS WORLD Radio also concluded program exchange agreements in April 1990 with RCI (Radio Canada International) and with the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) in May 1995 in order to provide clear and reliable reception to our audience in both the Americas and Europe.

 

As of October 2011, we leased facilities in Dhabaya, UAE to continue the relay transmission of our Arabic-language broadcasting, initially commenced in Rampisham, England in June 2003. We will continue our efforts to expand our broadcasting capacity over the Middle East and northern Africa and improve Korea's relations in region.

KBS World Radio Goals
  • To provide news and information on the political, economic and cultural fields
  • To reflect the viewpoints of Koreans on major issues at home and abroad
  • To deliver Korea's stance and news on inter-Korean affairs
  • To promote cultural exchanges and friendly relations with other nations
  • To build a bond between the 7 million Korean expatriates overseas
  • To provide information for overseas Koreans in times of disaster or emergency

 

KBS World Radio is advancing into a wider variety of media outlets. Beginning in August 2003, four of our services (English, Russian, French and German)started serving listeners in Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa through the World Radio Network for 30 minutes a day. Our 30-minute Arabic service also joined the WRN platform beginning in July of 2006.

 

KBS World Radio's Russian and Indonesian language programming is now available on local AM and FM frequencies in Russia, Indonesia and Argentina. In September 2006, the Russian language service started broadcasting on 738 kHz AM in Moscow. In March 2007, the Indonesian service began programming on 102.6 MHz, Camajaya FM, in Jakarta. And the Spanish language service is brought to our audience in Argentina on Radio Palermo 94.7 MHz FM in Buenos Aires as of January 2011. The Korean language service is available on a number of Korean expatriate radio stations in the United States, and Australia.

 

Internet Homepage

KBS World Radio has been working to improve and expand our Internet service. Since its inception in 1997, the KBS World Radio Internet homepage has provided the world's netizens with a variety of audio and video contents in 11 different languages.

 

Our programming is available on two real audio stream channels around the clock, and music lovers can enjoy the latest K-pop hits any time of day through our Music player. Our site offers an endless array of rich information about Korea's history, culture, tourism and more.

 

We continually renew our website to maximize interaction with visitors all around the world. We're expanding and strengthening our blogs, UCC contents, podcasts, and message boards to meet the ever-increasing demands for those multi-media services.

 

Mobile & Social Networking Services

We are actively embracing new digital media platforms. Our Mobile Website provides you with easier and faster access to our latest programs in 11 different languages on your mobile devices. And our Facebook Page and Twitter account help you stay better connected with us online.

 

KBS World Radio is breaking down the barriers between various media formats. We will continue to provide more and more multi-media contents on new online platforms to stay at the forefront of the rapidly evolving broadcast industry.

 

KBS WORLD Radio chronology

1950

1953. 08. 15

1955. 12. 01

1957. 09. 02

1958. 04. 10

First English broadcast for resident foreigners (Voice of Free Korea)

First Japanese broadcast

First Korean broadcast

First French broadcast

1960

1960. 03. 01

1961. 02. 13

1961. 07. 01

1961. 08. 10

1962. 08. 19

1968. 07. 25

 

 

First English and French broadcast to Europe

First Russian broadcast

'Voice of Free Korea' renamed 'Seoul International Broadcast (HLCA)'

First Chinese broadcast

First Spanish broadcast

'Jung-Ang Broadcasting' established

(Merger between Seoul Jung-Ang Broadcasting, Seoul TV Broadcasting and Seoul International Broadcasting)

1970

1973. 04. 01

1975. 06. 02

1975. 09. 10

‘Voice of Free Korea’ renamed ‘Radio Korea’

First Indonesian broadcast

First Arabic broadcast

1980

1981. 05. 01

1983. 06. 01

1985. 06. 01

First German broadcast

First Portuguese broadcast

First Italian broadcast

1990

1994. 03. 31

1994. 08. 15

1994. 10. 31

1997. 11. 03

Final Portuguese broadcast

‘Radio Korea’ renamed ‘Radio Korea International’

Final Italian broadcast

First KBS international internet broadcast

2000

2003. 08. 15

2003. 08. 15

2005. 03. 03

2005. 03. 03

2005. 12. 19

2006. 07

2006. 09. 18

2007. 03. 01

2007. 10

2007. 10

2008. 09. 01

- 2009. 02. 28

2008. 10. 09

2009. 10. 20

2009. 10. 22

2009. 11. 01

- 2011. 10. 31

2009. 11. 01

2009. 11. 18

2009. 12. 01

50th anniversary of KBS international broadcasting

Commencement of WRN Service

Radio Korea International renamed KBS World Radio.

First Vietnamese broadcast

Korean Service provides its programming to American broadcasters for Korean expats

Arabic Service starts satellite radio broadcast through WRN

Russian Service starts Moscow AM (738kHz)service

Indonesian Service starts Camajaya FM(102,6 MHz) service in Jakarta, Indonesia

Arabic Service expands broadcast through WRN

English Service expands satellite radio broadcast through WRN

German Service airs on RTL AM radio in Luxemburg

 

Establishes Let's Learn Korean homepage in 10 different languages

11 language services made available on iPhone and iPod touch

English news made available on Naver, Korea's biggest portal site

English Service begins broadcast on RTL AM radio in Luxemburg

 

Let's Learn Korean (English version) audio files provided to Asiana Airlines

Begins services in 11 different languages on Nokia internet radio

Let's Learn Korean (English version) audio files provided to Korean Air

2010

2010. 01. 29

2010. 02. 01

2010. 06. 09

2010. 08. 02

2010. 08. 06

2010. 09. 07

2011. 01. 01

2011. 01

2011. 03

2011. 07. 11

English and Japanese Service begin providing news to Nikkei Telecom

Japanese and Chinese Service begin providing news stories to Naver

Let’s Learn Korean with KBS App made available for Samsung Bada phones

24-hour internet streaming service began in 11 languages

Korean Cuisine App made available for iPhones

KBS World Radio App made available for Samsung Bada phones

Spanish Service begins broadcast on Radio Palermo 94.7 MHz FM in Buenos Aires

Let’s Learn Korean with KBS App made available for iPhones

KBS World Radio News App made available for Android phones

11 Language Services made available via Mobile Web Service