KBS Seoul General Assembly: Leaders from 40 Countries and 120 Institutions Gather to Discuss the Future of Public Media

∎ Discussions on the role of public media for cultural development ∎ 300 participants from 120 institutions in 40 countries registered, including representatives from the UK's BBC, Japan's NHK, France's Télévisions, and Canada's CBC/Radio-Canada ∎ From special lectures by singer PSY and National Museum of Korea Director Yu Hong-jun to a special exhibition of the KBS K-Pop Archive and a special live broadcast of Music Bank

The '2026 Public Broadcasters International Seoul General Assembly', hosted by South Korea's representative public broadcaster KBS, is being held for three days from this afternoon (14th) to the 16th at the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul in Yeouido, Seoul, and the National Museum of Korea.

Established in 1990, PBI is a consultative body where heads of major public broadcasters around the world gather to discuss the role and future of public media and to strengthen international solidarity and cooperation. KBS, the only full member and steering committee member in South Korea, is hosting the general assembly for the third time this year, following 2007 and 2018.

In particular, this general assembly is being conducted with KBS President Park Jang-beom serving as the chair, and under the theme 'The Role of Public Service Media in National Culture', it seeks to explore the cultural responsibilities and sustainable development directions of public broadcasting amidst the rapidly changing global media environment.

So far, approximately 300 people from about 120 institutions in 40 countries worldwide have registered for this general assembly. In particular, CEOs and key officials from about 30 public broadcasters around the world, such as the UK's BBC, Japan's NHK, France's Télévisions, Canada's CBC/Radio-Canada, and the US's NPR, along with diplomatic envoys from 18 countries residing in South Korea, are expected to attend.

World public broadcasting leaders discuss the future of public media in Seoul

On the first day of the assembly today (14th) at 4:00 PM, the 1st Steering Committee will be held under the chairmanship of PBI Chair Park Jang-beom, and a reception to welcome participants will be held at 7:00 PM. The main general assembly will begin tomorrow (15th) with an opening ceremony at 9:30 AM. At the opening ceremony, Park Jang-beom, President of KBS and Chair of the 2026 Public Broadcasters International Seoul General Assembly, will deliver the opening remarks, and Song Ki-hun, Chairman of the National Assembly Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, and Kim Jong-cheol, Chairman of the Broadcasting, Media and Communications Committee, will deliver congratulatory remarks. Subsequently, David Jordan, representing PBI, will deliver a response. The opening ceremony will be broadcast live worldwide through KBS 1TV and the app 'KBS+'.

From cultural identity to digital platforms... exploring the role of public media in 5 sessions

From tomorrow (15th) to the day after tomorrow (16th), five thematic sessions will follow to discuss the role public media has played in preserving and developing the unique cultures of participating countries and the direction it should take in the future. In particular, tomorrow (15th) afternoon, special sessions will be held in succession, starting with Coupang Play CEO Kim Seong-han, followed by National Museum of Korea Director Yu Hong-jun, and singer PSY.

'Protecting National Identity in the Global Media Environment' will discuss the role of public media in preserving the languages, traditions, and cultural diversity of each country amidst the spread of global OTT and digital platforms. Bay Fang, President of the US's RFA, will moderate, and participants include Marie-Philippe Bouchard, President of Canada's CBC/Radio-Canada, Rosa Romà i Monfà, President of Spain's 3Cat, and Monsor Nyamdavaa, Chairperson of Mongolia's MNB.

'Digital Platforms and the Future of Public Media' will discuss new strategies for public media to communicate with viewers in a situation where global OTT and AI-based algorithms are changing the media ecosystem. Professor Kim Yong-chan of Yonsei University will moderate, and participants include Rhodri Talfan Davies, Vice President of the UK's BBC, Gaurav Dwivedi, President of India's PB, and Loke Kheng Tham, President of Singapore's Mediacorp. Before the start of the session, Coupang Play CEO Kim Seong-han will appear as a special speaker to share perspectives on changes in the global digital content market.

'Public Media for the Transmission of Cultural Heritage' will highlight the role of public broadcasting as a cultural institution that protects a nation's collective memory, such as the preservation and digitalization of broadcasting archives and the transmission of historical records. National Museum of Korea Director Yu Hong-jun will give a special lecture, and participants include David Sutton from Australia's ABC, Robert Šveb, President of Croatia's HRT, Milen Mitev, President of Bulgaria's BNR, and KBS Content Strategy Division Head Choi Seong-min.

Held the day after tomorrow (16th), 'Public Media for the Global Spread of Unique Culture' will discuss the role public media can perform as a cultural bridge and an agent of cultural diplomacy to promote its country's culture to the world. Delphine Ernotte Cunci, President of France's Télévisions, Lee Hwang-seon, Head of the KBS Entertainment Center, and Mika Ojamies, representing Finland's public broadcaster Yle, will participate, and Ryan Merkley, COO of the US's NPR, will moderate.

'Public Media Leading the Creation of Future Culture' will discuss the future of public media, focusing on securing sustainable funding for public broadcasting, independence of editorial rights, support for new creators, and technological innovation. Participants include Katherine Maher, President of the US's NPR, Karen Donders of Belgium's VRT, and Claude Galipeau, Vice President of Canada's CBC/Radio-Canada, with Christian Porter, Chair of PMA, moderating.

'Gangnam Style' PSY shares K-Pop success experience with world public broadcasting leaders

In particular, this Seoul General Assembly will also focus on the success case of K-Pop, which led the global spread of Korean popular culture. From 5:30 PM tomorrow (15th), singer and producer PSY will take the stage to hold a special session on the theme 'The Past, Present and Future of K-Pop'.

Based on the global spread of K-POP that he personally experienced through 'Gangnam Style', PSY is expected to introduce the secrets of how Korean popular music was able to gain sympathy from people around the world by overcoming barriers of language and culture.

KBS K-POP Archive special exhibition and Music Bank live broadcast at the National Museum of Korea

KBS has also prepared special programs to introduce Korea's cultural capabilities and broadcasting content to world public media leaders through this general assembly.

On the last day of the assembly, the day after tomorrow (16th), participants are scheduled to visit the National Museum of Korea to view the 'KBS K-Pop Archive Special Exhibition'. Subsequently, from 5:00 PM, they will directly enjoy the 'Music Bank PBI Seoul General Assembly Commemorative Special Live Broadcast' at the outdoor special stage of the National Museum of Korea. It is expected to be an opportunity for public broadcasting officials from around the world to directly experience Korea's history and cultural heritage and to witness the scene of K-POP, which has grown into global cultural content.

KBS contributes to strengthening global public media cooperation and the global spread of Korean culture

This general assembly is significant in that it serves as a venue to discuss the common tasks of global public media and seek future development directions amidst rapid changes in the global media environment and financial and institutional challenges surrounding public broadcasting. In particular, it will highlight the role of public media in preserving a nation's cultural identity and sharing it with the world, while simultaneously seeking ways for international solidarity and cooperation for digital transformation and securing sustainability. Through this Seoul General Assembly, KBS plans to strengthen its cooperation network with world public broadcasters and use it as an opportunity to promote the international status of South Korea's public broadcasting and the competitiveness of Korean cultural content to the world.

Major schedule of '2026 PBI Seoul General Assembly'

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