Arirang TV

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Arirang TV is a South Korean international broadcaster owned by the Korea International Broadcasting Foundation. It shares current news, business, culture and other programs from a Korean point of view to viewers around the world. The channel is based in Seoul and reaches people in 134 countries, with live streaming on YouTube. It broadcasts in eight languages.

History and background
- Arirang TV began locally in 1996 and officially launched overseas broadcasting in 1997, with early overseas work starting in Asia in 1999. The name comes from the traditional Korean folk song Arirang.
- In 2010, the channel split its programming into two main categories: news and non-news, adding more current affairs and cultural content over time.
- In 2011, Arirang TV was involved in an embezzlement investigation by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission after employees were underpaid and funds were diverted to fake payroll accounts. Two senior officials were jailed, raising questions about costs and management.

Growth and changes
- Despite past problems, Arirang TV expanded its reach. In 2016, it became one of the first Korean channels to air 24/7 on UK platforms like Sky UK and Freesat, and it also expanded to the United States via DirecTV and to the United Nations network.
- In 2015, the channel launched an English-language interface for the United Nations headquarters in New York to promote Korean culture internationally.

Budget and staffing challenges
- The network faced ongoing funding issues. In 2018, budget cuts reduced programs from 36 to 18, and about 190 freelancers and contract workers lost their jobs. The parent foundation also cut its overall budget by about 5.2 billion won, contributing to staffing and programming reductions.

Overview
- Arirang TV aims to present Korea to the world and to bring global viewers closer to Korean news, culture and economy. It operates from Seoul and serves audiences worldwide, including through online and international channels.