Buddhist Broadcasting System

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Buddhist Broadcasting System
TypeRadio network (1989–present)
Television network (2002–present)
Country
South Korea
FoundedMarch 2, 1989; 36 years ago (1989-03-02)[1]
HeadquartersMapo District, Seoul[2]
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
Korean name
Hangul
불교방송
Hanja
佛敎放送
RRBulgyo bangsong
MRPulgyo pangsong

The Buddhist Broadcasting System (BBS) is a South Korean religious radio and television network. It commenced broadcasts in 1990 as the first Buddhist religious network in the country. It airs both religious and non-religious programming.

History

[edit]
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 South Korea were Christian.[3] Movements to improve access to Buddhist media and culture sprouted in response,[4] leading to the creation of Buddhist newspapers in the 1980s and 1990s.[5]

In late 1988, a steering committee for the establishment of the Buddhist Broadcasting System was created. After receiving an official license from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications in November the following year, the BBS commenced test broadcasts in March 1990,[2] and formally launched services on May 1.[6] At the time of its launching, it was the first completely Buddhist radio station in the world.[7]

Initially, the station broadcast exclusively to the Seoul area on 101.9 MHz in the FM band.[7] Later, broadcasts extended to other key cities. The BBS solicited eleven licenses to the government to build its national network, with Busan (89.9MHz; February 1, 1995) and Gwangju (89.7MHz; March 1, 1995) becoming the first regions with an affiliate station.[8] Daegu (94.5MHz; November 11, 1996) and Cheongju (96.7Mhz; April 25, 1997) followed suit.[6] When Jo Hae-hyung was appointed president of BBS in 1996, there were plans to expand the network to smaller cities, besides the five cities where it already had stations.[9]

Starting from 2006, BBS began eyeing the production of video content, but its implementation was slow. In March 2008 the broadcaster attempted 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 was 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.

During its early years of service, the BBS had been the target of anti-Buddhist incidents, during the first of which a letter was sent to the station threatening them to close services, with the writer labeling the broadcast "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.[12]

References

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  1. ^ 최창섭 (February 5, 2001). "방송과 종교이념 접점은 '공익성'". Journalists Association of Korea. Retrieved September 12, 2025. 1988년 11월에 불교방송 설립추진위원회가 발족되었으며 1989년 3월 2일에 재단법인 설립인가와 무선국 허가추천서가 발급되었다.
  2. ^ a b "불교방송 (佛敎放送)". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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. ProQuest 2417379121 – via ProQuest.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b 이재표 (April 18, 2007). "청주 불교방송 , 짧고도 긴 10년". 충북인뉴스.
  7. ^ a b "Asian Culture" [亞洲文化]. Google Books. Asian Cultural Center. 1991. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  8. ^ "불교방송 부산.광주지역국 가허가". 매일경제. April 12, 1994.
  9. ^ New President Aims at BBS Serving The Public. (1996, May 14). Korea Herald
  10. ^ 안선용 (March 14, 2008). "BBS, BTN에 통합 제안". 금강신문.
  11. ^ a b 불교연합회 (March 15, 2008). "불교계 소식 - BBS, BTN 통합 공식제안 "40억~50억원 예상"". 불교닷컴.
  12. ^ 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.