KBS chief warns of W10b deficit this year, calls for new survival strategy

KBS is activating a crisis management system aimed at returning to profitability, as the broader broadcasting industry faces mounting survival concerns amid a shrinking TV advertising market.

The public broadcaster has posted losses for four consecutive years — 80 billion won ($53.2 million) last year and 70 billion won the year before — and is now projected to record a deficit of around 10 billion won this year.

KBS President Park Chang-bum made the remarks Tuesday at the "2026 Third Quarter Affiliate Cooperation Meeting," saying "the deficit has narrowed compared to last year, but this is no time to feel at ease." He added that "just as KBS has overcome critical challenges — including the IMF crisis and the separation of the license fee collection system — through relentless structural reform, we must now establish a new survival strategy and return to the black."

Park also took aim at the organization's internal culture, saying: "The entire broadcasting industry is in an extremely difficult situation due to recent changes in the media environment, yet there seems to be no sense of urgency here — perhaps because we operate in an environment where we almost exclusively rely on the license fee as a funding source."

Under the crisis management system, KBS will pursue budget austerity and revenue expansion through a company-wide financial risk management framework.

Park particularly highlighted KBS's recent content achievements, saying a return to profitability is entirely achievable through AI innovation. He also urged staff to make active use of Kairos, the broadcaster's independently developed AI model.

In this regard, KBS on July 1 unveiled Kairos internally — a proprietary AI portal combining the public broadcaster's production expertise with AI technology.

The name is drawn from the ancient Greek word meaning "the opportune moment" or "the decisive instant." Kairos embodies KBS's intent to seize the right opportunity amid the shift toward AI and respond proactively to the future media environment. Its flagship feature is a customizable work chatbot designed for practical use across the organization.