View source for Television in South Korea

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{{more citations needed|date=January 2021}}
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In [[South Korea]], there are a number of national [[television network]]s, the three largest of which are [[Korean Broadcasting System|KBS]], [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation|MBC]], and [[Seoul Broadcasting System|SBS]]. Most of the major television studios are located on [[Yeouido]] and [[Sangam-dong]], [[Seoul]]. South Korea became the fourth adopter in Asia when television broadcasting began on 12 May 1956 with the opening of HLKZ-TV, a commercially operated television station. HLKZ-TV was established by the RCA Distribution Company (KORCAD) in Seoul with 186–192&nbsp;MHz, 100-watt output, and 525 scanning lines.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php?entrycode=southkorea |title=SOUTH KOREA - the Museum of Broadcast Communications |access-date=19 December 2011 |archive-date=13 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513033011/http://www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php?entrycode=southkorea |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Important genres of television shows include serial dramas, historical dramas, [[Korean variety show|variety shows]], game shows, news programs, and documentaries. All three networks have produced increasingly lavish historical dramas in recent years. Some South Korean television programs are available on [[artificial satellite|satellite]] and [[multicultural]] channels in foreign countries. [[Korean drama|South Korean television dramas]] have been [[Korean wave|widely popular]] in other [[East Asia]]n, [[South Asia]]n and [[Southeast Asia]]n countries, and became popularized internationally at a later stage, with whole sets of videotapes or DVDs of series available with completed subtitles in different languages, online subtitle websites are also created by numerous fan clubs to cater to a global audience. Shopping channels have become quite popular in recent years as well, and the models sometimes put on entertaining acts during product pitches.

Most cable operators in South Korea were consolidated into 3 major telecommunication companies, [[KT Corporation|KT]], [[SK Telecom]], and [[LG Uplus]]. They also operates [[Internet Protocol television]] services. There are approximately 14 million cable TV subscribers nationwide. The cable operator provides TPS to its subscribers. (with the exception of Arirang which is free).

== History ==
Since the beginning of the 1950s, television was introduced to Korea by [[RCA Corporation|RCA]] to sell second-hand black & white TV sets as a marketing scheme. Some TV sets were strategically set up at Pagoda Park, others at the Seoul Station and Gwanghwamun during this time.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://withs2.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/The-Rise-and-Fall-of-the-K-Drama-Empire-Chapter-2-Mad-Men.pdf | title=A Journey Through Australia's Individual Support Education System | website=withs2.com}}</ref> However it was not until 1956 when South Korea began its own television broadcasting station, the HLKZ-TV, part of the KORCAD (RCA Distribution Company). The first ever Korean television drama, 천국의 문 (The Gates of Heaven) debuted the same year, planning director Choi Chang-Bong spent two and a half months continuously fixing the script, preparing sets and even the first instance of special effects, all for a drama that lasted no longer than fifteen minutes.

The early 1960s saw a phenomenal growth in television broadcasting. On 1 October 1961 the first full-scale television station, HLKA-TV (now known as KBS 1TV), was established and began operation under the Ministry of Culture and Public Information.

Following KBS was [[Tongyang Broadcasting Corporation]]'s TBC-TV which was launched in 1964, and ran until merged in 1980. It was the first private television network in [[South Korea]].

The second commercial television system, MBC-TV, made its debut in 1969. The advent of MBC-TV brought significant development to the television industry in Korea and after 1969 the television industry was characterized by furious competition among the three networks.

The 1970s were highlighted by government intervention into the media system in Korea. In 1972, President [[Park Chung Hee]] government imposed censorship upon media through the [[1972 South Korean constitutional referendum|Martial Law Decree]]. The government revised the Broadcasting Law under the pretext of improving the quality of television programming. After the revision of the law, the government expanded its control of media content by requiring all television and radio stations to review programming before and after transmission. Although the government argued that its action was taken as a result of growing public criticism of broadcasting media practices, many accused the government of wanting to establish a monopoly over television broadcasting.

The 1980s were the golden years for South Korea's television industry. Growth was phenomenal in every dimension: the number of programming hours per week rose from 56 in 1979 to nearly 88.5 in 1989; the number of television stations increased from 12 in 1979 to 78 by 1989; and the number of television sets grew from four million in 1979 to nearly six million in the same period. Despite producing color televisions for export, color television was not officially introduced in the country until late 1980.<ref>[https://www.csmonitor.com/1981/0317/031746.html Color television finally comes to South Korea market -- with a rush], ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', 17 March 1981</ref> Color broadcasting, however, occasioned a renewal of strong competition among the networks. However, the South Korean TV industry was also suffered huge blows in this decade. During [[Chun Doo-hwan]]'s regime, several newspapers, broadcasters and publications were forcibly closed, or were merged into a single organization. One of which is TBC-TV which was awarded to KBS. TBC-TV was then replaced by KBS 2TV. After the country's 1987 democratic reforms, several regulations were imposed to insulate broadcasters from political influence. For example, the National Assembly established [[the Foundation of Broadcast Culture|the Foundation for Broadcast Culture]] to insulate MBC from political influence and KBS.

At the beginning of the 1990s, with the introduction of cable television, the government initiated an experimental multi-channel and multi-purpose cable television service. In addition, South Korea launched its first broadcasting/communication satellite, [[Koreasat 1|Mugungwha 1]], to 36,000&nbsp;km above the equator in 1995. The development of an integrated broadband network took the form of [[B-ISDN]] immediately after the turn of the century. This decade was a period of great technological change in the South Korean broadcasting industry, which made broadcast media even more important than in the past. In this decade the South Korean broadcasting industry added to the service with new technological developments such as DBS, satellites, and interactive cable systems, all of which have allowed South Korea to participate fully in the information society.

On 22 July 2009, after heated political debates, an amendment of the Media Law passed the National Assembly of South Korea to deregulate the media market of South Korea. On 31 December 2010, four general Cable Television networks were licensed.

Analogue television services ended on 31 December 2012.

== National networks ==
In [[South Korea]], there are four nationwide television networks, three general networks and one educational network as follows:

{| class="wikitable"
! width="300"| Name
! width="230"| Channels<br />([[Seoul Capital Area]])
! width="230"| Channels<br />(Busan region)
! width="230"| Channels<br />(Jeju region)
! width="150"| Launch
! width="250"| Type & Owner
|-
|[[Korean Broadcasting System]] (KBS)<br />한국방송공사<br />韓國放送公社
|
*[[KBS1|KBS1 Seoul]]<br />HLKA-DTV/UHDTV <small>(Channel 9–1)</small>
*[[KBS2|KBS2 Seoul]]<br />HLKC-DTV <small>(Channel 7–1)</small>
*[[KBS News 24|KBS News 24 Seoul]]<br />HLKA-UHDTV <small>(Channel 9–2)</small>
|
*[[KBS1|KBS1 Busan]]<br />HLKB-DTV <small>(Channel 9–1)</small>
*[[KBS2|KBS2 Busan]]<br />HLKE-DTV <small>(Channel 7–1)</small>
*[[KBS News 24|KBS News 24 Jeju]]<br />HLKS-DTV <small>(Channel 9–2)</small>
|
*[[KBS1|KBS1 Jeju]]<br />HLKS-DTV <small>(Channel 9–1)</small>
*[[KBS2|KBS2 Jeju]]<br />HLCF-DTV <small>(Channel 7–1)</small>
*[[KBS News 24|KBS News 24 Jeju]]<br />HLCF-DTV <small>(Channel 9–2)</small>
|
*{{start date and age|1961|12|31|df=yes}} ([[KBS1]]) 
*{{start date and age|1980|12|1|df=yes}} ([[KBS2]])
*{{start date and age|2010|3|3|df=yes}} ([[KBS News 24]])
|[[Public broadcasting]]<br />[[Government of South Korea]]
|-
|[[Educational Broadcasting System]] (EBS)<br />한국교육방송공사<br />韓國敎育放送公社
|
*[[EBS 1|EBS1 TV l]]<br />HLQL-DTV <small>(Channel 10–1)</small>
*[[EBS 2|EBS2 TV l]]<br />HLQL-DTV <small>(Channel 10–2)</small>
|
*[[EBS 1|EBS1 TV l]]<br />HLQL-DTV <small>(Channel 10–1)</small>
*[[EBS 2|EBS2 TV l]]<br />HLQL-DTV <small>(Channel 10–2)</small>
|
*[[EBS 1|EBS1 TV l]]<br />HLQL-DTV <small>(Channel 10–1)</small>
*[[EBS 2|EBS2 TV l]]<br />HLQL-DTV <small>(Channel 10–2)</small>
|
*{{start date and age|1990|12|27|df=yes}} ([[EBS 1]]) 
*{{start date and age|2015|2|11|df=yes}} ([[EBS 2]])
|[[Public broadcasting]]<br />[[Government of South Korea]]
|-
|[[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation]] (MBC)<br />MBC 네트워크<br />株式會社文化放送
|
*[[MBC TV (South Korean TV channel)|Seoul MBC TV]]<br />HLKV-DTV/UHDTV <small>(Channel 11–1)</small>
*[[MBC News NOW|Seoul MBC News NOW]]<br />HLKV-DTV/UHDTV <small>(Channel 11–2)</small>
|
*[[MBC TV (South Korean TV channel)|Busan MBC TV]]<br />HLKU-DTV/UHDTV <small>(Channel 11–1)</small>
*[[MBC News NOW|Busan MBC News NOW]]<br />HLKV-DTV/UHDTV <small>(Channel 11–2)</small>
|
*[[MBC TV (South Korean TV channel)|Jeju MBC TV]]<br />HLAJ-DTV/UHDTV <small>(Channel 11–1)</small>
*[[MBC News NOW|Jeju MBC News NOW]]<br />HLKV-DTV/UHDTV <small>(Channel 11–2)</small>
|
*{{start date and age|1969|8|8|df=yes}} ([[MBC TV (South Korean TV channel)|MBC TV]])
*{{start date and age|2020|2|4|df=yes}} ([[MBC News Now]])
|[[Public broadcasting|Public]]/[[Commercial broadcasting]]<br />[[The Foundation of Broadcast Culture]]<br />The Jeongsu Scholarship Foundation<br />
|-
|[[Seoul Broadcasting System]] (SBS Network)<br />한국민영방송연합 (SBS네트워크)
|
*[[SBS TV (South Korean TV channel)|SBS TV]]<br />HLSQ-DTV/UHDTV <small>(Channel 6–1)</small>
|
*[[Korea New Network|KNN TV]]<br />HLDG-DTV/UHDTV <small>(Channel 6–1)</small>
|
*[[Jeju Free International City Broadcasting System|JIBS TV]]<br />HLKJ-DTV <small>(Channel 6–1)</small>
|{{start date and age|1991|3|20|df=yes}}
|[[Commercial broadcasting]]<br />[[Seoul Broadcasting System]]<br />([[:ko:태영그룹|Taeyoung Group]])
|-
|[[YTN|YTN DMB]] Network<br />YTN DMB 네트워크
|
*[[YTN|mYTN]]<br />HLMA-TDMB <small>(Channel 8-B)</small>
*[[YTN|HD mYTN]]<br />HLMA-TDMB <small>(Channel 8-B)</small>
|
*[[Korea New Network|KNN DMB (ubc u)]]<br />HLDG-TDMB <small>(Channel 12-C)</small>
|
*[[Jeju Free International City Broadcasting System|JIBS DMB2]]<br />HLKJ-TDMB <small>(Channel 13-C)</small>
|{{start date and age|2005|12|1|df=yes}}
|[[Commercial broadcasting]]<br />[[YTN Group]]<br />
|}

== List of television channels ==
All of these are [[free-to-air]] channels. Furthermore, all of them are the official [[digital terrestrial television]] and [[ATSC]] providers of the nation (since 2005, approved by the [[Government of South Korea|Korean Government]]).


===Public broadcasting channels===
{| class="wikitable"
! Name
! Owner
! Launch
! Genre
! Description
|-
| [[KBS1]]
| [[Korean Broadcasting System|KBS]]
| {{start date and age|1961|10|1|df=yes}}
| News, drama, culture, kids and sports
| The channel's callsign is '''HLKA-DTV''' and '''HLKA-UHDTV'''.
|-
| [[KBS2]]
| [[Korean Broadcasting System|KBS]]
| {{start date and age|1964|12|1|df=yes}}
| Variety, sports and entertainment
| Formerly known as '''[[Tongyang Broadcasting Company|TBC]]''', renamed to KBS 2TV in 1980. <br /> The channel's callsign is '''HLSA-DTV'''. 
|-
| [[KBS News 24]]
| [[Korean Broadcasting System|KBS]]
| {{start date and age|2010|3|3|df=yes}}
| News, live events, emergency alerts
| [[ATSC 3.0]] only channel, broadcasting in HD format. <br /> The channel's callsign is '''HLKA-UHDTV'''.
|-
| [[EBS1]]
| [[Educational Broadcasting System|EBS]]
| {{start date and age|1990|12|27|df=yes}}
| Education, News, Kids Entertainment
| Formerly known as '''KBS 3TV''', renamed to EBS in 1990. <br /> The channel's callsign is '''HLQL-DTV'''.
|-
| [[EBS2]]
| [[Educational Broadcasting System|EBS]]
| {{start date and age|2015|2|11|df=yes}}
| Education
| [[ATSC 3.0]] only channel, broadcasting in HD format. <br /> The channel's callsign is '''HLQL-DTV'''.
|-
| [[MBC TV (South Korean TV channel)|MBC TV]]
| [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation|MBC]]
| {{start date and age|1969|8|8|df=yes}}
| News and entertainment
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLKV-DTV''' and '''HLKV-UHDTV'''
|-
| [[MBC News Now]]
| [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation|MBC]]
| {{start date and age|2020|2|4|df=yes}}
| News and entertainment
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLKV-DTV''' and '''HLKV-UHDTV'''
|}

===Commercial broadcasting channels===
In South Korea, many commercial television networks have been created after the deregulation taken in 1961 till 1990.<ref>[http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/S/htmlS/southkorea/southkorea.htm South Korea] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507211720/http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/S/htmlS/southkorea/southkorea.htm |date=7 May 2009 }}, The Museum of Broadcast Communications, Retrieved on 21 March 2009</ref>
SBS is responsible in distributing its programming content nationally, but is not responsible for producing local content aired by their affiliates.

==== MBC Networks Channel ====
Local broadcasting companies affiliated with MBC Networks originally started as affiliated broadcasting stations in the same way as SBS Networks.

After [[Policy for Merger and Abolition of the Press]], [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation]] took over 50% of the shares in local broadcasting stations, and all local broadcasting stations became subsidiaries of [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation]].

Due to this background, MBC Networks is currently operating simultaneously with the characteristics of public broadcasting and commercial broadcasting.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name
! Owner
! Launch
! Covers
! Genre
! Description
|-
| [[MBC TV (South Korean TV channel)|MBC TV]]
| [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation]]
| {{start date and age|1969|8|1|df=yes}}
| Seoul Metropolitan Area
| [[Seoul Capital Area|City]] news and entertainment
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLKV-DTV''' and '''HLKV-UHDTV'''.<br />MBC Network Headquarters
|-
| [[MBC News Now]]
| [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation]]
| {{start date and age|2020|1|28|df=yes}}
| Seoul Metropolitan Area
| [[Seoul Capital Area|City]] news and entertainment
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLKV-DTV''' and '''HLKV-UHDTV'''.<br />MBC Network Headquarters
|-
| Chuncheon MBC TV
| Chuncheon Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
| {{start date and age|1983|1|20|df=yes}}
| Northern [[Yeongseo]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLAN-DTV'''.
|-
| Wonju MBC TV
| Wonju Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
| {{start date and age|1987|11|26|df=yes}}
| Southern [[Yeongseo]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLSB-DTV''' and '''HLSB-UHDTV'''.
|-
| MBC Gangwon-yeongdong TV (Gangneung)
|rowspan="2" | MBC Gangwon-yeongdong Broadcasting Corporation
| {{start date and age|1985|9|6|df=yes}}
| Northern [[Yeongdong (region)|Yeongdong]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLAF-DTV''' and '''HLAF-UHDTV'''.<br />Formerly known as Gangneung MBC, renamed to MBC Gangwon-yeongdong (Gangneung) in 2015.
|-
| MBC Gangwon-yeongdong TV (Samcheok)
| {{start date and age|1987|11|27|df=yes}}
| Southern [[Yeongdong (region)|Yeongdong]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLAQ-DTV'''.<br />Formerly known as Samcheok MBC, renamed to MBC Gangwon-yeongdong (Samcheok) in 2015.
|-
| Daejeon MBC TV
| Daejeon Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
| {{start date and age|1971|4|24|df=yes}}
| [[Daejeon]], [[Sejong City]] and [[Chungcheongnam-do|Chungnam]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLCQ-DTV''' and '''HLCQ-UHDTV'''.
|-
| MBC Chungbuk TV (Cheongju)
|rowspan="2" | MBC Chungbuk Broadcasting Corporation
| {{start date and age|1983|4|1|df=yes}}
| Southern [[Chungbuk]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLAX-DTV'''.<br />Formerly known as Cheongju MBC, renamed to MBC Chungbuk (Cheongju) in 2016.
|-
| MBC Chungbuk TV (Chungju)
| {{start date and age|1987|11|17|df=yes}}
| Northern [[Chungbuk]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLAO-DTV'''.<br />Formerly known as Chungju MBC, renamed to MBC Chungbuk (Chungju) in 2016.
|-
| Gwangju MBC TV
| Gwangju Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
| {{start date and age|1970|8|29|df=yes}}
| [[Gwangju]] and Central Northern [[Jeonnam]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLCN-DTV''' and '''HLCN-UHDTV'''.
|-
| Mokpo MBC TV
| Mokpo Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
| {{start date and age|1987|11|16|df=yes}}
| Southwest [[Jeonnam]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLAM-DTV'''.
|-
| Yeosu MBC TV
| Yeosu Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
| {{start date and age|1987|11|21|df=yes}}
| Eastern [[Jeonnam]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLAT-DTV'''.
|-
| Jeonju MBC TV
| Jeonju Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
| {{start date and age|1971|4|23|df=yes}}
| [[Jeonbuk]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLCX-DTV'''.
|-
| Daegu MBC TV
| Daegu Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
| {{start date and age|1970|7|18|df=yes}}
| [[Daegu]], Midwest Southern [[Gyeongbuk]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLCT-DTV''' and '''HLCT-UHDTV'''.
|-
| Andong MBC TV
| Andong Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
| {{start date and age|1987|11|23|df=yes}}
| Northern [[Gyeongbuk]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLAW-DTV'''.
|-
| Pohang MBC TV
| Pohang Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
| {{start date and age|1987|11|24|df=yes}}
| East Coast [[Gyeongbuk]].
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLAV-DTV'''.
|-
| Busan MBC TV
| Busan Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
| {{start date and age|1970|1|24|df=yes}}
| [[Busan]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLKU-DTV''' and '''HLKU-UHDTV'''.
|-
| Ulsan MBC TV
| Ulsan Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
| {{start date and age|1971|1|25|df=yes}}
| [[Ulsan]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLAU-DTV''' and '''HLAU-UHDTV'''.
|-
| MBC Gyeongnam TV (Jinju)
|rowspan="2" | MBC Gyeongnam Broadcasting Corporation
| {{start date and age|1987|11|20|df=yes}}
| Western [[Gyeongnam]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLAK-DTV'''<br />Formerly known as Jinju MBC, renamed to MBC Gyeongnam (Jinju) in 2011.
|-
| MBC Gyeongnam TV (Changwon)
| {{start date and age|1972|10|5|df=yes}}
| Eastern [[Gyeongnam]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLAP-DTV'''<br />Formerly known as Masan MBC(1971-2010) / Changwon MBC(2010-2011), renamed to MBC Gyeongnam (Changwon) in 2011.
|-
| Jeju MBC TV
| Jeju Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
| {{start date and age|1970|8|1|df=yes}}
| [[Jeju Province|Jeju]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLAU-DTV'''.<br />Formerly known as Namyang MBC, renamed to Jeju MBC in 1984.
|}

==== SBS Networks Channel ====
SBS, which was originally established as an independent broadcasting station, was established in 1995 by PSB (Currently, KNN), CJB, TBC, and TJB, and SBS Networks was created around SBS.

Currently, 9 broadcasting stations are affiliated.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name
! Owner
! Launch
! Covers
! Genre
! Description
|-
| [[SBS TV (South Korean TV channel)|SBS TV]]
| [[Seoul Broadcasting System|SBS Media Holdings]]
| {{start date and age|1991|12|9|df=yes}}
| [[Seoul Capital Area]]
| [[Seoul Capital Area|City]] news and entertainment
| The Channel's callsign is '''[[HLSQ-TV|HLSQ-DTV]]''' and '''[[HLSQ-TV|HLSQ-UHDTV]]'''<br />SBS Network Headquarters
|-
| [[Korea New Network|KNN]]
| [[Korea New Network]]
| {{start date and age|1995|3|14|df=yes}}
| [[Busan]] and [[Gyeongsangnam-do|Gyeongnam]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLDG-DTV''' and '''HLDG-UHDTV'''.<br />Formerly known as PSB Pusan Broadcasting, renamed to KNN in 2006.
|-
| [[Daegu Broadcasting Corporation|TBC]]
| [[Daegu Broadcasting Corporation]]
| {{start date and age|1995|3|14|df=yes}}
| [[Daegu]] and [[Gyeongsangbuk-do|Gyeongbuk]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLDE-DTV''' and '''HLDE-UHDTV'''.
|-
| [[Kwangju Broadcasting Corporation|KBC]]
| [[Kwangju Broadcasting Corporation]]
| {{start date and age|1995|3|14|df=yes}}
| [[Gwangju]] and [[Jeollanam-do|Jeonnam]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLDH-DTV''' and '''HLDH-UHDTV'''.
|-
| [[Taejon Broadcasting Corporation|TJB]]
| [[Taejon Broadcasting Corporation]]
| {{start date and age|1995|3|14|df=yes}}
| [[Daejeon]], [[Sejong City]] and [[Chungcheongnam-do|Chungnam]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLDF-DTV''' and '''HLDF-UHDTV'''.
|-
| [[Ulsan Broadcasting Corporation|UBC]]
| [[Ulsan Broadcasting Corporation]]
| {{start date and age|1997|9|1|df=yes}}
| [[Ulsan]], eastern part of [[South Gyeongsang Province|South Gyeongsang]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLDP-DTV''' and '''HLDP-UHDTV'''.
|-
| [[Jeonju Television|JTV]]
| [[Jeonju Television]]
| {{start date and age|1997|9|17|df=yes}}
| [[North Jeolla Province|North Jeolla]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLDQ-DTV'''.
|-
| [[Cheongju Broadcasting|CJB]]
| [[Cheongju Broadcasting]]
| {{start date and age|1997|10|18|df=yes}}
| [[North Chungcheong Province|North Chungcheong]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLDR-DTV'''.
|-
| [[Gangwon No.1 Broadcasting|G1]]
| [[Gangwon No.1 Broadcasting]]
| {{start date and age|2001|12|15|df=yes}}
| [[Gangwon Province (South Korea)|Gangwon]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLCG-DTV''' and '''HLCG-UHDTV'''.
|-
| [[Jeju International Broadcasting System|JIBS]]
| [[Jeju International Broadcasting System]]
| {{start date and age|2002|5|31|df=yes}}
| [[Jeju Province|Jeju]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLKJ-DTV'''. 
|}

==== YTN DMB Network ====
Founded in 2005, YTN DMB is a broadcasting station that relays the broadcasting of [[YTN]]'s channel.

In November 2006, a contract was signed with a local broadcasting station affiliated with the SBS network, and in June 2008, YTN DMB network was created, which began broadcasting to local areas.

All channels belonging to the network can only be viewed on devices that support [[T-DMB]].

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name
! Owner
! Launch
! Covers
! Genre
! Description
|-
| [[YTN|mYTN]]
| [[YTN|YTN DMB]]
| {{start date and age|2005|12|1|df=yes}}
| [[Seoul Capital Area]]
| Relays of [[YTN]]'s channels
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLMA-TDMB'''.<br />YTN DMB Headquarters
|-
| [[YTN|HD mYTN]]
| [[YTN|YTN DMB]]
| {{start date and age|2016|8|1|df=yes}}
| [[Seoul Capital Area]]
| Relays of [[YTN]]'s channels
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLMA-TDMB'''.<br />High-definition channel of mYTN.
|-
| [[Korea New Network|KNN DMB ubc u]]
| [[Korea New Network]] (Operator)<br>[[Ulsan Broadcasting Corporation]] (Scheduling)
| {{start date and age|2008|6|1|df=yes}}
| [[Busan]], [[Ulsan]] and [[Gyeongsangnam-do|Gyeongnam]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLDG-TDMB'''.
|-
| [[Daegu Broadcasting Corporation|TBC DMB mYTN]]
| [[Daegu Broadcasting Corporation]]
| {{start date and age|2008|6|1|df=yes}}
| [[Daegu]] and [[Gyeongsangbuk-do|Gyeongbuk]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLDE-TDMB'''.
|-
| [[Kwangju Broadcasting Corporation|KBC JTV-mYTN]]
| [[Kwangju Broadcasting Corporation]] (Operator)<br />[[Jeonju Television]] (Scheduling)
| {{start date and age|2008|6|1|df=yes}}
| [[Gwangju]], [[Jeollanam-do|Jeonnam]] and [[Jeonbuk]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLDH-TDMB'''.
|-
| [[Taejon Broadcasting Corporation|TJB u CJB-mYTN]]
| [[Taejon Broadcasting Corporation]] (Operator)<br />[[Cheongju Broadcasting]] (Scheduling)
| {{start date and age|2008|6|1|df=yes}}
| [[Daejeon]], [[Sejong City]], [[Chungcheongnam-do|Chungnam]] and [[Chungbuk]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLDF-TDMB'''.
|-
| [[Gangwon No.1 Broadcasting|G1DMB Go G1]]
| [[Gangwon No.1 Broadcasting]]
| {{start date and age|2008|6|1|df=yes}}
| [[Gangwon Province (South Korea)|Gangwon]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLCG-TDMB'''.
|-
| [[Jeju International Broadcasting System|JIBS DMB 2]]
| [[Jeju International Broadcasting System]]
| {{start date and age|2008|6|1|df=yes}}
| [[Jeju Province|Jeju]]
| Local entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLKJ-TDMB'''. 
|}

==== [[Independent station]] ====
After 1990, independent broadcasting stations excluding SBS include iTV Kyung-in Broadcasting (formerly iTV Incheon Broadcasting), which opened in 1997 and closed in 2004, and [[OBS Gyeongin TV]], which opened in 2007.

The viewing area of the two broadcasting stations was the same in [[Seoul Metropolitan Area]], and among them, iTV Kyung-in Broadcasting was broadcast to other regions through [[Pay television]] and served as a [[Superstation]].

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name
! Owner
! Launch
! Covers
! Genre
! Description
|-
| [[OBS Gyeongin TV|OBS]]
| Young An Hat Co., Ltd.
| {{start date and age|2007|12|28|df=yes}}
| Seoul Metropolitan Area
| [[Seoul Capital Area|Metropolitan]] entertainment and news
| The Channel's callsign is '''HLQS-DTV'''.
|}

== Cable TV networks/channels ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name
! Launch
! Group
|-
| [[National Assembly TV]]
| {{Date table sorting|2004|05|24|df=yes}}
| NATV
|-
| [[Arirang TV]]
| {{Date table sorting|1997|02|03|df=yes}}
| Arirang
|-
| [[Animax (South Korean TV channel)|Animax]]
| {{Date table sorting|2006|04|29|df=yes}}
| JJMediaWorks
|-
| [[AXN (South Korean TV channel)|AXN]]
| {{Date table sorting|2016|03|01|df=yes}}
| KC Global Media
|-
| B tv
|  {{Date table sorting|2009|01|12|df=yes}} 
| SK Broadband
|-
| [[BBC Earth (international TV channel)|BBC Earth]]
| 2013
| BBC Studios
|-
| [[BBC Lifestyle]]
| 2013
| BBC Studios
|-
| [[BBC News (international TV channel)|BBC News]]
| 2013
| BBC Studios
|-
| [[Cartoon Network (South Korea)|Cartoon Network]]
| {{Date table sorting|2006|11|11|df=yes}}
| Warner Bros. Discovery
|-
| [[Cartoonito (Asian TV channel)#South Korea|Cartoonito]]
| {{Date table sorting|2015|11|14|df=yes}}
| Warner Bros. Discovery
|-
| CATCH ON 1
| 1993
| CJ
|-
| CATCH ON 2
| 2000
| CJ
|-
| [[CBeebies]]
| 2013
| BBC Studios
|-
| [[Channel A (TV channel)|Channel A]]
| {{Date table sorting|2011|12|01|df=yes}} 
| Channel A
|-
| [[Channel A (TV channel)|Channel A Plus]]
| {{Date table sorting|2015|07|01|df=yes}} 
| Channel A
|-
| Channel Now
| {{Date table sorting|2006|04|01|df=yes}} 
| t.cast
|-
| Channel S
| {{Date table sorting|2021|04|08|df=yes}} 
| SK Broadband
|-
| [[Channel View]]
| {{Date table sorting|2009|02|01|df=yes}} 
| t.cast
|-
| Ching
| May, 2005
| SkyTV
|-
| [[Chunghwa TV]]
| {{Date table sorting|2009|09|01|df=yes}} 
| CJ
|-
| [[cineF]]
| {{Date table sorting|2010|08|01|df=yes}} 
| t.cast
|-
| [[Comedy TV]]
| {{Date table sorting|2000|10|01|df=yes}} 
| iHQ
|-
| [[DRAMAcube]]
| {{Date table sorting|2011|08|01|df=yes}} 
| t.cast
|-
| Dramax
| {{Date table sorting|2002|07|01|df=yes}} 
| iHQ
|-
| [[Discovery Channel]]
| {{Date table sorting|2020|09|01|df=yes}} 
| Warner Bros. Discovery
|-
| E Channel
| {{Date table sorting|2000|10|01|df=yes}} 
| t.cast
|-
| EBS English
| {{Date table sorting|2007|04|06|df=yes}} 
| EBS
|-
| EBS Kids
| {{Date table sorting|2018|01|01|df=yes}} 
| EBS
|-
| EBS Plus 1
| {{Date table sorting|2002|03|01|df=yes}} 
| EBS
|-
| EBS Plus 2
| {{Date table sorting|2002|03|01|df=yes}} 
| EBS
|-
| EDaily TV
| 2007
| KG Group
|-
| [[ENA (South Korean TV channel)|ENA]]
| {{Date table sorting|2003|09|29|df=yes}} 
| SkyTV
|-
| ENA Drama
| {{Date table sorting|2002|07|01|df=yes}} 
| SkyTV
|-
| ENA Play
| {{Date table sorting|2010|07|03|df=yes}} 
| SkyTV
|-
| ENA Story
| {{Date table sorting|2022|04|29|df=yes}} 
| SkyTV
|-
| Fashion N
| March, 2009
| t.cast
|-
| Golf & PBA
| 2010
| IB SPORTS
|-
| HealthMedi TV
| December, 2013
| SkyTV
|-
| [[History Channel|History]] (Korea)
| {{Date table sorting|2017|09|22|df=yes}} 
| iHQ, A+E
|-
| IB SPORTS
| {{Date table sorting|2009|07|01|df=yes}} 
| IB SPORTS
|-
| iHQ Play
| {{Date table sorting|2012|07|02|df=yes}} 
| iHQ
|-
| [[Cube TV|iHQ Show]]
| {{Date table sorting|2012|07|01|df=yes}} 
| iHQ
|-
| JEI English TV
| 2003
| 
|-
| JEI Kids TV
| {{Date table sorting|2007|10|01|df=yes}} 
| 
|-
| [[Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company|JTBC]]
| {{Date table sorting|2011|12|01|df=yes}} 
| JTBC
|-
| JTBC GOLF
| {{Date table sorting|2005|01|07|df=yes}} 
| JTBC
|-
| [[JTBC Golf&Sports|JTBC GOLF & SPORTS]]
| {{Date table sorting|2015|08|01|df=yes}} 
| JTBC
|-
| [[JTBC2]]
| {{Date table sorting|1995|03|01|df=yes}} 
| JTBC
|-
| [[JTBC4]]
| {{Date table sorting|2018|04|21|df=yes}} 
| JTBC
|-
| KBS drama
| {{Date table sorting|2002|02|02|df=yes}} 
| KBS 
|-
| KBS joy
| {{Date table sorting|2006|11|01|df=yes}} 
| KBS 
|-
| KBS Kids
| {{Date table sorting|2012|05|05|df=yes}} 
| KBS 
|-
| KBS LIFE
| {{Date table sorting|2002|02|27|df=yes}} 
| KBS 
|-
| KBS N Plus
| {{Date table sorting|2017|06|01|df=yes}} 
| KBS 
|-
| KBS N SPORTS
| {{Date table sorting|2002|02|02|df=yes}} 
| KBS 
|-
| KBS Story
| {{Date table sorting|2021|04|01|df=yes}} 
| KBS 
|-
| [[The Korea Economic Daily|KETV]]
| {{Date table sorting|1999|10|27|df=yes}} 
| The Korea Economic Daily
|-
| Kids Talk Talk Plus
| {{Date table sorting|2003|03|31|df=yes}} 
| SkyTV
|-
| [[K-STAR]]
| {{Date table sorting|1995|12|01|df=yes}} 
| K Holic
|-
| [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] (Korea)
| {{Date table sorting|2017|09|22|df=yes}} 
| iHQ, A+E
|-
| Lotte Home Shopping
| {{Date table sorting|2001|09|15|df=yes}} 
| Lotte Corporation
|-
| Maeil Business TV
| {{Date table sorting|2012|04|01|df=yes}}
| MBN
|-
| [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation|MBC Drama]]
| {{Date table sorting|2001|04|02|df=yes}} 
| MBC
|-
| [[MBC every1]]
| {{Date table sorting|2003|01|01|df=yes}} 
| MBC
|-
| [[MBC M]]
| {{Date table sorting|2012|02|01|df=yes}} 
| MBC
|-
| MBC ON
| {{Date table sorting|2019|02|18|df=yes}} 
| MBC
|-
| [[MBC Sports+]]
| {{Date table sorting|2001|04|02|df=yes}} 
| MBC
|-
| [[Maeil Broadcasting Network|MBN]]
| {{Date table sorting|1994|12|06|df=yes}}
| MBN
|-
| [[Maeil Broadcasting Network|MBN Plus]]
| {{Date table sorting|2016|04|27|df=yes}}
| MBN
|-
| [[Mnet (TV channel)|Mnet]]
| {{Date table sorting|1995|03|01|df=yes}}
| CJ
|-
| MTN
| 2008
| Money Today
|-
| MX
| {{Date table sorting|2022|11|01|df=yes}}
| t.cast
|-
| [[Orion Cinema Network|OCN]]
| {{Date table sorting|1995|03|01|df=yes}} 
| CJ
|-
| [[OCN Movies]]
| {{Date table sorting|2002|07|12|df=yes}} 
| CJ
|-
| [[OCN Thrills]]
| {{Date table sorting|2001|07|01|df=yes}} 
| CJ
|-
| [[OGN (TV channel)|OGN]]
| {{Date table sorting|2000|07|24|df=yes}} 
| OP.GG
|-
| OLIFE
| {{Date table sorting|2020|09|14|df=yes}} 
| SkyTV
|-
| ONCE
| {{Date table sorting|2020|03|16|df=yes}} 
| SkyTV
|-
| ONT
| January, 2011
| SkyTV
|-
| [[Pinkfong|Pinkfong TV]]
| {{Date table sorting|2020|06|16|df=yes}} 
| The Pinkfong Company
|-
| [[SBS Biz]]
| {{Date table sorting|2002|05|01|df=yes}} 
| SBS
|-
| SBS FiL UHD
| {{Date table sorting|2016|08|1|df=yes}}
| SBS
|-
| [[SBS funE]]
| {{Date table sorting|2005|08|16|df=yes}} 
| SBS
|-
| [[SBS Golf]]
| {{Date table sorting|1999|06|01|df=yes}} 
| SBS
|-
| [[SBS Golf 2]]
| {{Date table sorting|2023|04|01|df=yes}} 
| SBS
|-
| SBS Life
| {{Date table sorting|2024|12|02|df=yes}} 
| SBS
|-
| [[SBS M]]
| {{Date table sorting|2001|07|01|df=yes}} 
| SBS
|-
| [[SBS Plus]]
| {{Date table sorting|2000|09|01|df=yes}} 
| SBS
|-
| [[SBS Sports]]
| {{Date table sorting|1995|03|01|df=yes}} 
| SBS
|-
| SCREEN
| {{Date table sorting|2009|02|01|df=yes}} 
| t.cast
|-
| SENTV
| {{Date table sorting|2008|10|10|df=yes}} 
| 
|-
| SK Shopping
| {{Date table sorting|2015|01|06|df=yes}} 
| SK Broadband
|-
| Sky Sports
| {{Date table sorting|2014|08|01|df=yes}} 
| SkyTV
|-
| [[SPOTV]]
| {{Date table sorting|2010|05|01|df=yes}} 
| Eclat
|-
| SPOTV2
| {{Date table sorting|2012|01|01|df=yes}} 
| Eclat
|-
| SPOTV Golf & Health
| {{Date table sorting|2020|05|06|df=yes}} 
| Eclat
|-
| SPOTV K
| {{Date table sorting|2020|03|16|df=yes}} 
| Eclat
|-
| Tomato TV
| {{Date table sorting|2002|10|01|df=yes}} 
| 
|-
| [[Tooniverse]]
| {{Date table sorting|1995|12|01|df=yes}} 
| CJ
|-
| [[Chosun Broadcasting Company|TV CHOSUN]]
| {{Date table sorting|2011|12|01|df=yes}} 
| CHOSUN
|-
| [[Chosun Broadcasting Company|TV CHOSUN2]]
| {{Date table sorting|2007|02|12|df=yes}} 
| CHOSUN
|-
| [[Chosun Broadcasting Company|TV CHOSUN3]]
| {{Date table sorting|2021|04|01|df=yes}} 
| CHOSUN
|-
| [[TVN (South Korea)|tvN]]
| {{Date table sorting|2006|10|09|df=yes}}
| CJ
|-
| tvN DRAMA
| {{Date table sorting|2015|09|10|df=yes}} 
| CJ
|-
| [[tvN STORY]]
| {{Date table sorting|2000|06|01|df=yes}} 
| CJ
|-
| [[tvN Show|tvN SHOW]]
| {{Date table sorting|2021|09|01|df=yes}}
| CJ
|-
| tvN SPORTS
| {{Date table sorting|2022|05|20|df=yes}}
| CJ
|-
| [[Yonhap News TV]]
| {{Date table sorting|2011|12|01|df=yes}} 
| Yonhap News
|-
| [[YTN]]
| {{Date table sorting|1995|03|01|df=yes}} 
| YTN
|-
| [[YTN|YTN Science]]
| {{Date table sorting|2010|11|08|df=yes}} 
| YTN
|-
| [[YTN2]]
| {{Date table sorting|2021|03|01|df=yes}} 
| YTN
|}
== International channels ==
{{See also|International mass media of South Korea}}
* [[Arirang TV]]
* [[KBS World]]

==Most viewed channels==

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
|-
! Position !! Channel !! Share of total viewing (%)
|-
| 1 || [[KBS1|KBS 1TV]] || 9.1
|-
| 2 || [[KBS2|KBS 2TV]] || 9.2
|-
| 3 || [[MBC TV (South Korean TV channel)|MBC TV]] || 8.8
|-
| 4 || [[SBS TV (South Korean TV channel)|SBS TV]] || 6.0
|-
| 5 || [[Korean Broadcasting System|KBS Drama]] || 4.9
|-
| 6 || [[OBS Gyeongin TV|OBS]] || 4.4
|-
| 7 || [[tvN (South Korean TV channel)|tvN]] || 3.9
|-
| 8 || [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation|MBC Drama]] || 3.1
|-
| 9 || [[KBS News 24]] || 2.7
|-
| 10 || [[MBC News Now]] || 2.8
|-
| 11 || [[Mnet (TV channel)|Mnet]] || 1.9
|-
| 12 || [[EBS 1|EBS 1TV]] || 1.4
|-
| 13 || [[EBS 2|EBS 2TV]] || 0.9
|}

== Station ident ==
Station idents, or station IDs, are short videos that are broadcast before a show starts. It mostly features historical places or tourist attractions, in some cases the stations headquarters. It is popular in South Korea. 

Most feature animations of the logo, plus with a logo song. Advertisements are in the bottom in a small rectangle. 

The logo song is also used for "up next" videos.

[[File:KBS2 ID(1995년).webm|thumb|KBS ID 1995]]

== See also ==
{{Portal|South Korea|Television}}
* [[Outline of South Korea]]
* [[List of South Korean television series]]
* [[Television in North Korea]]

==References==
<references/>

{{South Korea television networks}}
{{Television in South Korea}}
{{Television in Asia}}

[[Category:Television in South Korea| ]]
[[Category:Television by country|South Korea]]