Wikipedia

Draft:Buddhist Broadcasting System

  • Comment: This radio station is clearly notable, and I found and added several peer-reviewed sources. So this should be a Wikipedia article. However the draft was mostly a list of events and didn't give much context. I added a section on "background" based on the small amount of research I did, but this is not a topic I know a lot about so please make sure it's correct. Could you add a bit more context for readers who do know know much about Buddhism in Korea? For instance, read the other Wikipedia articles I've linked from the Background section - could this be better integrated? Or perhaps there are other articles that it would be helpful for non-expert readers to know about? You may also see ways you could improve the other articles, like Korean Buddhism or Mass media in South Korea. When you've revised the article, I'll be happy to review it again - just leave a message on my talk page! Lijil (talk) 11:25, 15 August 2025 (UTC)
  • Comment: Too many of the cited sources comes from the organization itself. Please remove them and replace with independent coverage. Tutwakhamoe (talk) 23:23, 17 March 2024 (UTC)
Buddhist Broadcasting System
TypeRadio network (1989–present)
Television network (2002–present)
Country
South Korea
FoundedMarch 2, 1989; 36 years ago (1989-03-02)
HeadquartersMapo District
Broadcast area
South Korea
Launch date
  • Radio: May 1, 1990; 35 years ago (1990-05-01)
  • Television: December 2, 2008; 16 years ago (2008-12-02)
Official website
bbsi.co.kr

The Buddhist Broadcasting System (BBS; Korean: 불교방송; Hanja: 佛敎放送; RR: Bulgyo Bangsong) is a South Korean Buddhist radio and television broadcaster that began broadcasting in 1990.

Background

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See also: Korean Buddhism and Mass media in South Korea

Before the Buddhist Broadcasting System went on air in 1990, the only religious radio stations in Korea were Christian.[1] The BBS was part of a movement to improve access to Buddhist media and culture in Korea known as Buddhist propagation, seen as a response to the prioritisation of the Christianity over Buddhism after Korean liberation.[2] In the 1980s and 1990s Buddhist weekly newspapers were also established, and the Buddhist Cable TV network was established in 1995.[3]

The BBS has been the target of anti-Buddhist violence, with the first incident in May 1990, shortly after they went on air.[4]

History

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On January 15, 1987, the Jogye Order promoted establishment of BBS. Fundraising for the building took place on May 22, 1989, with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications approving the station (HLSG-FM, 101.9MHz) on July 3.[5] The first test broadcast was conducted on March 2, 1990, followed by the first regular broadcast on May 1, 1990, broadcasting a 22-hour schedule from 5am to 2am, with thirty programs divided into five categories: lifestyle, music, news, culture and religious programming.[6] Initially, the station broadcast exclusively to the Seoul area on 101.9 MHz in the FM band. It was the first completely Buddhist radio station in the world at the time of launching. Unusual for such a station, its programming offer was wide and also played tracks ranging from Korean folk to American rock. The company also pledged to expand its network in the coming years and serve as a model for potential Buddhist stations in other Asian countries.[7] Until then, the only religious radio stations in Korea were Christian.[1]

After the start of FM broadcasts in Seoul, broadcasts extended to other key cities. BBS solicited eleven licenses to the government in order to build its national network, with Busan and Gwangju being the first to do so.[8] Starting in Busan (89.9, February 1, 1995), Gwangju (89.7, March 1, 1995), Daegu (94.5, November 11, 1996) and Cheongju (96.7, April 25, 1997).[9]

The launch of BBS coincided with the launch of the Pyunghwa Broadcasting Company and the Traffic Broadcasting System. These new radio stations aimed at combating the long-established radio networks (KBS, CBS and MBC). However, these networks, including BBS, failed to receive good first impressions at launch, despite being the most successful of the three.[5]

BBS began broadcasting its service online on November 1, 2001 and relocated its transmitter from Namsan to Gwanaksan on December 26 the same year. A station in Chuncheon opened on 1 November 2002, subsequently the Daegu station opened relayers in 2003. Digitization of operations started at the main Seoul station in April 2004 and spread to the regional branches in September 2005. A new FM station opened in Ulsan (105.3) on June 30, 2008.

In 2006, BBS eyed the production of video content, but its implementation was slow. One of the alternatives in March 2008 was an attempt to acquire the existing Buddhist cable network BTN.[10] If approved, BBS would use 4 to 5 billion won (out of a total budget of 8 billion) to integrate its operations and, post-merger, strengthen BBS's position in the Buddhist media sector in Korea.[11] BBS registered for a television license on August 2, 2008 and started television broadcasts on subscription television operators on December 2, 2008, starting with KT's IPTV operator. The service later extended to LG's U+ on January 1, 2009 and SK's IPTV service on April 1, 2009. The broadcaster opted for IPTV rather than conventional cable and satellite at first.[11] BBS TV started broadcasting on cable networks in the 2012–2013 period, as well as the satellite television operator Skylife.

In 2017, BBS gained a license to broadcast in Jeju.[citation needed]

In November 2019, Lee Seon-jae, former head of KBS' news department, became its tenth president.[12]

BBS held a special ceremony on April 27, 2020, three days ahead of its third anniversary. In the remote conference, the monk of the Jogye Order and president Moon Jae-in exchanged video messages. This was to be followed by a special season of commemorative programs on May 1.[13] In 2021, BBS was the most-watched Buddhist channel with an audience share of 0,202%, but was the second religious channel overall behind CTS at 0,232%. During 2022, it concluded its conversion to high definition.[14]

Monk Deokmun, abbot of Hwaeomsa Temple in Gurye, Jeollanam-do, became the chairman of BBS on November 15, 2022.[15]

BBS celebrated its 33rd anniversary at Dabowon Library on May 2, 2023, pledging to restore its building. It also received recognition from the Korean Record Institute for its program, Holy Encounter (거룩한 만남), as the longest-running community service program on Korean radio, which from April 5, 1991 to the date of the event, had 1,654 editions so far.[16] On July 30, 2023, BBS's Gwangju station appointed Kim Dae-won as its third regional president. His plans include a relocation of the local headquarters building and strengthening its news reporting content on terrestrial radio and online platforms as a "content media company".[17]

On April 30, 2024, during the annual corporate anniversary event, BBS announced that it would increase the amount of content uploaded to its YouTube account as well as reaching noteworthy results for the creation of its own building.[18] On September 9, its fall schedule was revealed, with the expansion of religious programming and the realignment of its presenters.[19] The television channel followed on October 28.[20] The Gwangju station inaugurated its new building on March 28, 2025, coinciding with its 30th anniversary.[21]

Controversies

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When BBS launched, it had been the target of anti-Buddhist incidents, the first of which being a letter sent to the station, threatening them to close down, as the writer labelled it "the sound of the devil", however, no arrests were made. In May 1990, two men assaulted the station's facilities, threw the bronze Buddha statue away from its facilities and damaged US$100,000 worth of equipment, rendering it inoperable for a few months.[4]

In 2025, the court determined that the firing of the CEO of its Gwangju branch was justified per a legal decision, as he had used abusive language and gave incorrect instructions to other staff members.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b Koo, John H.; Nahm, Andrew C. (1997). An Introduction to Korean Culture. Hollym. p. 163. ISBN 978-1-56591-086-7. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  2. ^ Lee, J. (2020). "Review of FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE CITIES: A history of buddhist propagation in modern korea". Pacific Affairs. 93 (2): 451–453 – via ProQuest.
  3. ^ Travagnin, Stefania (2016-11-10). Religion and Media in China: Insights and Case Studies from the Mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Taylor & Francis. p. 54. ISBN 978-1-317-53452-5.
  4. ^ a b Yoon, Young-Hae; Jones, Sherwin (2018-01-19). "Broken Buddhas and Burning Temples: A Re-examination of Anti-Buddhist Violence and Harassment in South Korea". Buddhist Studies Review. 34 (2): 239–258. doi:10.1558/bsrv.35393. ISSN 1747-9681.
  5. ^ a b "月刊 海印". haein.or.kr.
  6. ^ a b "광주불교방송 전 사장 면직 처분 정당". 매일경제. January 17, 2025.
  7. ^ "亞洲文化". Google Books. Asian Cultural Center. 1991. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  8. ^ "불교방송 부산.광주지역국 가허가". 매일경제. April 12, 1994.
  9. ^ "청주 불교방송 , 짧고도 긴 10년". April 18, 2007.
  10. ^ "BBS, BTN에 통합 제안 < 뉴스 < 기사본문 - 금강신문".
  11. ^ a b "불교계 소식 - BBS, BTN 통합 공식제안 "40억~50억원 예상"". www.bba.or.kr.
  12. ^ "BBS불교방송 사장에 이선재 전 KBS 보도본부장". Yonhap News Agency. 2 December 2019. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  13. ^ "BBS 불교방송 30주년…"부처님 가르침 실천 공익방송 역할 최선"". Yonhap News Agency. 27 April 2020. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  14. ^ "BBS 불교방송, 방통위 조사 시청점유율 불교계 '1위' < 핫이슈 < 매체 < 문화 < 기사본문 - 불교저널".
  15. ^ 장아름 (15 November 2022). "화엄사 주지 덕문스님, BBS 불교방송 이사장 취임". Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  16. ^ "BBS불교방송, 개국 33주년 기념식 성료 < 신행 < 뉴스 < 기사본문 - 금강신문".
  17. ^ 형민우 (30 July 2023). "김대원 광주BBS 사장 취임…"뉴스 보도 기능 강화"". Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  18. ^ "BBS불교방송, 개국 34주년 기념식 개최". May 2, 2024.
  19. ^ "BBS불교방송, 가을맞이 라디오 프로그램 개편 < 핫이슈 < 매체 < 문화 < 기사본문 - 불교저널".
  20. ^ "BBS불교방송, 28일부터 TV 가을 개편 시행 < 핫이슈 < 매체 < 문화 < 기사본문 - 불교저널".
  21. ^ "광주불교방송, 창립 30주년 기념 및 최갑열 사장 취임식 봉행 < 지역 < 종합 < 기사본문 - 현대불교".
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