KBS President and CEO Park Jang-beom has been appointed as Chair of Public Broadcasters International Seoul 2026. This appointment was confirmed during the PBI Annual Conference in Sofia, Bulgaria, from October 21-22, 2025. It highlights KBS’s acknowledged global standing, marking the third time KBS will host the high-profile annual gathering, building on its successful stewardship of the events in 2007 and 2018.
David Jordan, Secretary General of PBI and Director of Editorial Policy and Standards at the BBC, praised KBS at the Sofia conference. He remarked: “KBS’s significant role in expanding the Hallyu wave—the global popularity of Korean popular culture—serves as a compelling model for public service broadcasting worldwide.” Jordan further noted: “KBS’s advanced strategies in global content production and distribution, alongside its innovative operational expertise using AI technology, offer an invaluable resource for public service broadcasters globally seeking collaborative growth.”
Accepting his appointment, President and CEO Park conveyed his honor. “It is a profound privilege to be appointed as Chair for the PBI Conference, representing public broadcasters across the globe,” he stated. “KBS has been central to igniting the Hallyu phenomenon through diverse content, including K-Pop and K-Dramas. Programs like the weekly ‘Music Bank’ and its ‘Music Bank World Tour’ have consistently fostered dynamic global platforms for fan and artist engagement.” He affirmed KBS’s commitment: “KBS aims to share new successful models and insights in public service broadcasting, working with broadcasters worldwide to build a brighter future together.”
Meanwhile, in a bilateral meeting held at the Sofia event with KBS President and CEO Park Jang-beom, Hugh Marks, Managing Director of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, expressed keen interest. “As an enthusiastic fan of Korean dramas, ABC looks forward to exploring co-production and collaborations with KBS,” Marks conveyed. He emphasized a critical need: “Global solidarity and cooperation are vital to address the challenges currently facing public service broadcasters.”
Established in 1990 by KBS, the BBC (United Kingdom), and NHK (Japan), Public Broadcasters International (PBI) stands as the world’s foremost international association for public service broadcasters. Its membership includes leading organizations such as France Télévisions (France), ZDF (Germany), CBC/Radio-Canada (Canada), and ABC (Australia). PBI convenes its annual conferences across continents, serving as a key platform for global public media leaders to discuss public values, editorial independence, and sustainable strategies for the sector.