Busan is good

Busan opens 24-hour English FM service

Contents

City to set up station by October for opening next Jan. 1

Busan City will provide 24-hour English FM broadcasting service beginning next Jan. 1.

The city has entered into preparations for introducing English FM broadcasting, as the Korea Communications Commission recently decided to allow the services for three regions - Seoul-Gyeonggi, Busan and Gwangju - to help satisfy the information demands of foreign residents in Korea as well as promote their understanding about Korean society.

 

Busan is facilitating preparations to establish a broadcasting station with the aim of opening service by next Jan. 1. It is planning to complete all preparations, including the establishment of a foundation, enacting related ordinances and working out project plans, to win approval by October at the latest.

 

Once approval is given, the city will introduce equipment and secure manpower to start test broadcasting around the year-end and enter into regular service beginning Jan. 1, 2009.

 

Considering initial investment would amount to 4 billion won($4 million) if the city establishes an independent broadcaster with municipal budget alone plus the annual operating costs of 700 million won($700,000) to 800 million won($800,000), it plans to establish a 1.5-billion won($1.5 million) foundation jointly with the existing networks and regional businesses, while making the most of the existing contents, including those of Arirang TV.

 

Busan has secured 470 million won($470,000) from its supplementary budget to this end. If no businesses take part in the proposed foundation, the city plans to set up a whollyowned broadcaster.

 

Should the English FM station be established, the city plans to produce about 15 percent of total contents on its own and, gradually expand the portion to offer more information.

 

The source of news : Dynamic Busan