CBS (Christian Broadcasting System)

Overview

CBS is a Protestant broadcaster and the first privately owned broadcasting station to open in Korea. Its legal name is the CBS Christian Broadcasting System Foundation. It is commonly called "CBS Christian Broadcasting System" to distinguish it from other Christian broadcasters. It operates radio (Standard FM and Music FM), television, and the online news outlet Nocut News. It describes its mission as "mission through the media," contributing to the spread of the gospel as well as to democracy, national reconciliation, and peaceful reunification.

Founding and History

CBS is reported to have been founded by Otto DeCamp (Korean name Gam Ui-do), an American Presbyterian missionary, with the support of American mission agencies. The official CBS profile states that it originated in the Audio-Visual Committee of the National Council of Churches in Korea.

• In April 1954 it received a broadcasting license, and on December 15 of that year it began radio broadcasting in Seoul under the call sign HLKY.
• In 1959 it opened regional stations in Daegu and Busan.
• In 1962 it was incorporated as the Christian Broadcasting System Foundation.
• In November 1980, under the media consolidation imposed by the new military leadership, CBS was barred from broadcasting news and advertising and was restricted to religious programming. It resumed news broadcasting on October 15, 1987, and journalists who had been dismissed were reinstated at that time.
• In 1992 it moved to its headquarters building in Mok-dong, Seoul.
• In 1998 it launched Standard FM, and on March 1, 2002, it began television broadcasting.

Major Activities

On radio and television, CBS airs missionary programming such as worship service broadcasts, sermons, and hymn and gospel song programs. Its flagship program is Renew Us (Saeropge Hasoseo), which features testimonies of faith. Because it also produces general news, current affairs, and music programs, it differs in character from other Christian broadcasters such as the Far East Broadcasting Company, CTS Christian TV, and CGNTV.

Member Denominations and Organization

CBS is governed by its board of trustees. According to its official website, the board consists of 19 trustees nominated by denominations and 2 auditors. The bodies that nominate trustees are as follows:

• Presbyterian Church of Korea (Tonghap)
• Korean Methodist Church
• Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea
• The Salvation Army Korea Territory
• Presbyterian Church in Korea (Hapdong)
• Korea Evangelical Holiness Church
• Presbyterian Church in Korea (Kosin)
• Lutheran Church in Korea
• Anglican Church of Korea
• Korea Baptist Convention
• Korea Evangelical Church
• National Council of Churches in Korea

The chairmanship of the board rotates among pastors from the member denominations. According to the official website, the chairman is the Rev. So Kang-seok (Presbyterian Church in Korea [Hapdong]).

Controversies and Assessment

Media consolidation of the 1980s. Many observers hold that the loss of CBS's news function was connected to its earlier involvement in the democratization movement. In the mid-1980s, a petition campaign was launched to restore its broadcasting functions. For this reason, CBS is frequently mentioned in discussions of the church and the democratization movement.

Management structure and identity debate. In 2001, after a prolonged strike by the labor union, the articles of incorporation were amended. Since then, the presidential search committee, which selects candidates for president, has included not only foundation trustees but also union-nominated members and outside experts. Some conservative church media outlets have criticized this structure, along with CBS's closeness to the denominations affiliated with the National Council of Churches in Korea, arguing that its identity as a missionary broadcaster has weakened. CBS, for its part, has maintained that it upholds both its evangelistic mission and its mission of fair journalism.

Board response to false claims. The board of trustees under Chairman So Kang-seok adopted a statement on September 18 (the year of the report has not been verified). Responding to a pastor's claims that "CBS is trying to erase the name 'Christian'" and that "Renew Us is bait for donations," the board rejected these claims as false and demanded a correction.