🌏 Introduction: Staying Connected in a Korean World
If you’re living in Korea or planning a long stay,
one of the biggest challenges is finding reliable information in English.
Sure, you can rely on YouTube or translation apps,
but what if you want local news — explained clearly, accurately, and from a Korean perspective?
Good news: you don’t have to struggle.
Korea actually has a surprisingly strong English-language media scene — from TV channels and radio programs to newspapers and digital outlets.
Many of these were created specifically for foreigners, expats, and international students.
Here’s your complete 2025 guide to English media in Korea —
how to watch, listen, and stay connected wherever you are.
📺 1. Arirang TV — Korea’s Global English Channel
If you’ve ever searched “Korean news in English,”
you’ve probably seen Arirang TV.
Launched in 1997, Arirang TV is Korea’s official English-language broadcaster.
It airs 24 hours a day and covers everything from current affairs and entertainment to travel and K-pop.
🛰️ What to Expect
- Programs: Arirang News, After School Club, Heart to Heart, Korea Now
- Focus: Korean culture, business, tourism, and diplomacy
- Languages: 100% English
You’ll often see Korean anchors speaking fluent English with guests from all over the world — professors, artists, even diplomats.
“Our mission is to connect Korea with the world,”
said one producer in a 2024 interview. “We want people abroad to understand Korea from Korea’s own voice.”
📺 How to Watch
- In Korea: Channel 34 (KT Olleh TV) or Channel 147 (LG U+)
- Abroad:
- 🌐 www.arirang.com
- 📱 YouTube: Arirang News, Arirang K-pop
- 📺 Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and local cable in over 100 countries
💡 Pro Tip: Subscribe to the Arirang News YouTube channel —
they upload short daily summaries perfect for studying current issues or practicing English comprehension.
📻 2. KBS World Radio — The Voice of Korea in English
If Arirang TV is the visual voice,
then KBS World Radio is the sound of Korea’s connection to the world.
KBS (Korean Broadcasting System) has been broadcasting internationally since 1953,
and its English service remains one of the best ways to hear daily Korean news and culture — live or on demand.
🎧 What to Expect
- Programs: Korea 24, News Today, The Korea File, Seoul Calling
- Format: News, interviews, cultural stories, and even live music
- Hosts: Korean and international broadcasters fluent in English
You’ll hear everything from political updates to segments on Korean cuisine, pop culture, and everyday life.
“We don’t just translate Korean news,” one KBS World producer said.
“We explain it — so listeners understand why it matters.”
📻 How to Listen
- FM in Korea:
- Seoul area: 103.1 MHz (KBS World 24)
- Online:
- 🌐 world.kbs.co.kr
- 📱 Mobile App: KBS World Radio (iOS / Android)
- Podcast: KBS World English Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts
🎧 Pro Tip: “Korea 24” is one of the most informative shows — it covers major headlines with cultural commentary and guest experts.
🗞️ 3. The Korea Herald — English Newspaper for Global Readers
Founded in 1953, The Korea Herald is Korea’s largest English-language daily newspaper.
It’s the go-to source for business, politics, and lifestyle news — read by diplomats, professors, and expats alike.
📰 What You’ll Find
- Sections: News / Business / Life / Opinion / K-culture
- Special Series: “Korean Language Column,” “Startup Scene,” and “K-lifestyle”
- Print + Online: Daily newspaper and updated website
The writing is crisp, professional, and easier to understand than translated Korean news.
💻 Where to Read
- 🌐 www.koreaherald.com
- 📱 Social Media: @TheKoreaHerald (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook)
- 💌 Newsletter: “Morning Briefing” (subscribe on the site)
💡 Tip for Expats: Their ‘K-lifestyle’ section covers dining, art exhibitions, and trends in Seoul — perfect for planning your weekends.
📰 4. The Korea Times — Oldest English Newspaper in Korea
If you want in-depth reporting with a local touch,
The Korea Times offers thoughtful journalism — sometimes with opinions that even locals debate.
📰 Overview
- Founded in 1950
- Focuses on national affairs, society, and culture
- Often features op-eds from foreign correspondents and professors living in Korea
🌐 How to Read
- Website: www.koreatimes.co.kr
- Twitter: @koreatimes
- YouTube: The Korea Times English News
They also run “Korean Studies Forum” and “Letters to the Editor”, where foreigners can contribute their opinions about life in Korea.
“We try to show that Korea is not a headline — it’s a story,” said one longtime editor.
🎬 5. Yonhap News Agency (English Service)
If you prefer straight facts and updates,
go to Yonhap News — Korea’s national news agency.
They supply content to nearly all Korean media outlets, including CNN and Reuters.
📰 What’s Covered
- Real-time updates on politics, economy, society, and diplomacy
- English service verified by Korean government agencies
- Credible source for journalists and researchers
🌐 Where to Find
- en.yna.co.kr
- Twitter: @YonhapNews
- Mobile App: Yonhap News English
💡 Pro Tip: If you’re using Yonhap for research, check their “English Headlines” tab — it’s updated minute-by-minute.
🎧 6. TBS eFM (101.3 MHz) — Everyday Life in Seoul
TBS eFM is Seoul’s first all-English FM radio station,
and it’s the most useful for foreigners living in the city day-to-day.
They talk about subway etiquette, traffic rules, restaurant culture, and current city events — all in English.
🎙️ Popular Programs
- This Morning — news and interviews
- Korea Escape — daily life stories from expats
- Roundtable Korea — discussions on current issues
- Drive Time — relaxed evening radio
“We want to make foreigners feel at home in Seoul,” said a host of Korea Escape.
📻 How to Listen
- FM: 101.3 MHz (Seoul & metropolitan area)
- Online: www.tbs.seoul.kr/efm
- App: TBS eFM (available worldwide)
- YouTube: TBS eFM LIVE (real-time stream)
🎧 Fan Tip: Tune in at 7:00 AM for This Morning — hosts often discuss top Korean headlines and explain cultural references clearly.
📱 7. YouTube Channels — English Voices About Korea
Sometimes you don’t want formal news —
you want real stories, told by people who live here.
That’s where YouTube steps in.
Several English channels produced in Korea give both entertainment and information value.
🔥 Recommended Channels
| Channel | Focus | Why It’s Useful |
|---|---|---|
| KBS World TV | K-dramas & culture | Full episodes of popular shows with English subtitles |
| Arirang K-pop | Music & idols | Live stages, interviews, and behind-the-scenes |
| Korean Englishman | Food & lifestyle | Shows foreigners experiencing Korean culture |
| A Cup of Korea | News commentary | Explains current affairs in simple English |
| Korea Now (by Arirang) | Daily updates | 5-min English news recaps on YouTube Shorts |
💡 Pro Tip:
Combine Korea Now + TBS eFM Live for a perfect English-language info mix while in Korea.
🗞️ 8. Magazines & Online Outlets for Expats
If you’re looking for lighter reading or lifestyle content,
there are plenty of English digital magazines written by expats living in Korea.
🌿 Popular Choices
- Seoul Magazine (SEOUL Selection) — Art, food, exhibitions
- 10 Magazine Korea — What’s on this month / travel tips
- The Diplomat Korea Edition — Regional analysis
- Korea JoongAng Daily (English Edition) — Sister to the main Korean paper
Most are available free online or in PDF format at cafés and embassies.
🌍 9. Podcasts for English Speakers in Korea
Want something you can listen to while on the subway?
Try these podcasts — all recorded in Seoul.
🎧 Top Picks:
- The Korea File — cultural discussions and interviews
- Seoul Podcast — expat humor and city news
- K-pop Daebak Show (by Eric Nam) — music and entertainment
- Naver Audio Clip English Corner — short language lessons with current news context
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.
💡 10. Bonus: Learn Korean Through English News
Several of these platforms — especially Arirang and KBS —
have special programs that help you learn Korean through English explanations.
- Arirang’s “Catch the Wave” — teaches Korean slang and idioms
- KBS World’s “Korean Studies Special” — explains traditions and language
- TBS eFM “Real Mom Real Talk” — perfect for expat families raising bilingual kids
You can treat them as both language lessons and cultural windows.
🧭 Conclusion: You’re Never Really Out of the Loop
In a country where nearly everything runs in Korean,
it’s easy to feel isolated as a foreigner —
but thanks to Arirang, KBS, TBS, and a dozen other English media outlets,
you can stay connected, informed, and inspired.
So next time someone says, “How do you understand what’s happening in Korea?”
you can smile and say —
“I’ve got my own English news crew right here.”
