Countries: South Korea. An ABU member country

South Korea is a country located in Eastern Asia, with a population of 43 millions of inhabitants. It's one of the most developed countries in all the continent and its cultural role in Asia has been growing rapidly due to the expansion of the K-pop culture.

National Broadcaster

The national TV station of Souht Korea is KBS (Korean Broadcasting Service).

The broadcaster was launched in 1927, wen started its radio service. Many years later in 1961, the company launched the television service with expermental broadcasts, then , the company turned officially into the public broadcaster of the country, but faced censorship from the government. 

In 1987 with the democratic reforms, the network was also reformed with the political freedom and the launch of the KBS international broadcasting service.

Nowadays, this network is one of the strongest media companies in Asia. 

Entertainment Industry.

Form the 1940's the south korean music was highly influenced by the western popular music, which was very popular in that era after the japanese occupation.

The local music industry started gaining popularity during the 1970's when the south korean economy started booming. The strength of the american trends was used by korean musicians some of whom turned into famous singers. Anyway, the K-pop was limited due to the heavy censorship.

From the first 1990's, and after a progressive growth, the Korean Pop Music transformed itself into a widespread phenomena, very popular among the youngest generations, not only in Korea, but also in the the rest of the asian countries and in some european countries. The influence of the new music styles and the appearance of some strong national record labels such as SM Entertainment and YG Entertaiment, turned have contributed to the strengh of K-pop.

Some artists that could represent this country in the ABU TV Song Festival or in the upcoming ABU TV Cup Song Contest, which will be, for first time, competitive and that will be celebrated for first time in early 2017.

From left to right: 

Girl's Day, SHINee, 

Girl's generation, TVXQ,

4 Minute, 2NE1 and Sistar.

South Korea in the ABU TV Song Festival

South Korea has taken part in every edition of the ABU TV Song Festival since its debut in 2012, when the show took place in Seoul. The Korean broadcaster has been sending some of the countrie's most famous bands and singes. Thanks to this interest, the Korean entries are among the most expected ones of the festival. It's still unknown if KBS will participate in the ABU TV Cup Song Contest, which will premiere in early 2017.

2012: TVXQ - Catch me.

2013: Sistar - Give it to me.

2014: Girl's Day - Something.

2015: CNBLUE - Cinderella.

South Korea in the ABU Radio Song Festival

In the ABU Radio Song Festival, which unlike the previous festival is focused in unsigned or amateur artists, the south korean broadcaster has been sending entries in the two editions taken place so far.

The first edition of this contest which innitially was a competitive event, was won by the south Korean artist, Billie Acoustie whith the song "For a rest".

2012: Afrodino - Pepperoni.

2012: Billie Acoustie - For a rest.

2014: Seokwan Ryu - A regular.

Venues

The KBS Hall was the first venue of the ABU TV Song Festival, which took place in Seoul in 2012, With a capacity of over 1200 seats.

The country has got many more venues in order to host any of the ABU Song Festivals even if it turned into a competitive event.