[Edaily Starin Reporter KIM HYUNSIK ] The opening ceremony for the “2026 Public Broadcasting International (PBI) Seoul General Assembly” was held on the 15th at the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul in Yeouido, Seoul.

Park Jang-beom, President of KBS and Chair of the General Assembly, emphasized the need for international solidarity in his opening remarks, citing the leadership crisis facing public broadcasters worldwide due to financial pressures and changes in the political and institutional environment.
President Park stated, “The reality facing public broadcasters around the world is extremely difficult,” citing budget shortages, rising production costs, external pressures, and the challenges posed by new technologies as common crisis factors. He went on to express the difficulties faced by public broadcasters, citing the fact that the domestic TV license fee has been frozen at 2,500 won per month for over 45 years as a prime example of financial pressure.
In a congratulatory message read on his behalf, President Lee Jae-myung stated, “Public media serves as a bridge that communicates with the world while preserving and developing its own culture.” Regarding the theme of this General Assembly, “The Role of Public Media in National Cultural Development,” he remarked that it was “highly timely” and added, “I hope this Seoul General Assembly will serve as a forum for communication and cooperation to jointly address the challenges facing public media worldwide.”
In a subsequent congratulatory address, Song Ki-heon, Chair of the National Assembly’s Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee, emphasized, “For public broadcasting to uphold its role effectively and play an even greater part amid the tide of commercialization, the governments and legislatures of each country must devote deeper attention and greater effort than they do now.” Kim Jong-cheol, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, stated, “Public broadcasting is a vital public asset that records the history of our communities and shapes the new values a society should strive for,” adding, “I hope this Seoul General Assembly will serve as a meaningful opportunity to jointly explore new roles for public media.”
Established in 1990, PBI is a consultative body where leaders of major public broadcasters worldwide gather to discuss the role and future of public media and to strengthen international solidarity and cooperation. KBS, as the country’s sole full member and a member of the Executive Committee, hosted the General Assembly for the third time this year, following previous events in 2007 and 2018.
The General Assembly was attended by approximately 300 participants from over 120 organizations across some 40 countries, including CEOs and key officials from more than 30 public broadcasters worldwide—such as the BBC (UK), NHK (Japan), Télévision France, CBC/Radio-Canada (Canada), and NPR (U.S.)—as well as diplomatic envoys from 18 countries accredited to South Korea.
David Jordan, Secretary General of PBI, stated on the day, “KBS has played a vital role in promoting Korean culture widely, from dramas to K-pop. In that regard, Seoul is the perfect venue to discuss the theme of this year’s General Assembly.” He emphasized, “While the environments in which public broadcasters operate may differ, their goals are the same: to uphold editorial independence and fairness, build trust, and serve the public.”