  korean broadcasting system (kbs) (, ) is the national broadcaster of south korea. it was founded in 1927, and operates radio, television and online services, being one of the biggest south korean television networks.  == history == === beginnings in radio === thumb|right|200px|kbs headquarters in seoul kbs began as kyeongseong broadcasting corporation (jodk, ê²½ì±ë°©ì¡êµ­, äº¬åæ¾éå±) that was established by the governor-general of korea in korea on february 16, 1927. this second radio station started using the call sign hlka in 1947 after the republic of korea got the call sign hl of the international telecommunication union. after doing a national broadcast, the radio was renamed seoul central broadcasting station in 1948. === 50s / 60s - move into television === television broadcasts in south korea began on 12 may 1956 with the first television station hlkz-tv. it was sold to kbs in 1961. === 1970s - expansion === kbs station status changed from government to public broadcasting station on march 3, 1973. construction of kbs headquarters in yeouido started in 1976. in 1979, kbs radio began broadcasting on the fm wave with the launch of kbs stereo (now kbs 1fm). === 1980s - advertising starts after controversial merger === kbs began accepting advertising in 1980, differing from the norm of advert-free broadcasting by public broadcasters, after the forced merger of several private broadcasters into kbs by the military government of chun doo-hwan, (see controversies). === 1990s - spinoff of ebs === in 1981, kbs launched kbs 3tv and educational fm in 1981, and on december 27, 1990, the channels split 
Companies_established_in_1927 Korean-language_television_stations Korean_Broadcasting_System Media_companies_of_South_Korea Publicly_funded_broadcasters South_Korean_television_networks Television_channels_and_stations_established_in_1961