TV CHOSUN

TV CHOSUN is a South Korean nationwide generalist cable television network and broadcasting company associated with the Chosun Ilbo-led media consortium. It was created during a restructuring of South Korea's media environment that followed the relaxation of restrictions on generalist cable channels. The network was one of four newly authorized nationwide general programming channels selected at the end of 2010, alongside JTBC, Channel A, and MBN. These channels were intended to broaden the country's television market beyond the established terrestrial broadcasters, including KBS, MBC, and SBS. TV CHOSUN began broadcasting on December 1, 2011. Its programming model combines news, current-affairs coverage, entertainment, variety programming, drama, documentary-style content, and other general television formats. Its news operation is distributed under the TV CHOSUN brand, while its entertainment schedule has become particularly associated with music competitions and performance programs based on the Korean trot tradition. The Miss Trot and Mr. Trot franchises helped establish a recognizable programming identity and generated related formats such as Romantic Call Centre. The network also commissions and broadcasts scripted series, including historical, family, romantic, and contemporary dramas. The channel's positioning reflects the role of a nationwide generalist pay-TV network rather than a narrowly specialized cable service. It competes for audiences and advertising with South Korea's terrestrial networks and with the other generalist channels launched in 2011. News and political coverage remain central to its public identity, while entertainment formats provide audience growth, appointment viewing, and opportunities for music-related extensions. Its television schedule has included programs such as Taste of Love, Miss Trot, Mr. Trot, and a range of scripted series including Grand Prince, Babel, Queen: Love and War, Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce), Uncle, Red Balloon, and Durian's Affair. TV CHOSUN's operations are primarily domestic, although selected programs and formats may reach viewers outside South Korea through distribution or format partnerships. In November 2023, the Miss & Mr. Trot series signed a memorandum of understanding with Yoshimoto Entertainment in connection with expansion into Japan. The agreement indicates an effort to develop the franchise beyond its original Korean broadcast market, although the available reference material does not establish the scale or commercial results of that initiative. TV CHOSUN remains an active South Korean broadcasting brand with a portfolio spanning news, general entertainment, music competition, and scripted television.

TV CHOSUN emerged from South Korea's expansion of the generalist cable television sector. On July 22, 2009, the National Assembly passed an amendment to the country's media law that helped deregulate the media market and created the regulatory basis for additional general programming channels. The policy change was intended to increase competition and broaden the range of television operators beyond the established terrestrial broadcasters. On December 31, 2010, TV CHOSUN, JTBC, MBN, and Channel A were selected as general cable television channel broadcasters. Each was backed by a major South Korean newspaper or media organization, and together the four channels represented a significant new phase in the country's pay-TV market. TV CHOSUN was associated with a consortium led by Chosun Ilbo, one of South Korea's major newspaper groups. TV CHOSUN began broadcasting on December 1, 2011. From its launch, it operated as a nationwide generalist channel rather than as a specialist service. Its remit encompassed news, current affairs, entertainment, variety, drama, and other television formats. This broad programming model placed it in direct competition with both terrestrial networks such as KBS, MBC, and SBS and the other three new generalist cable channels. During its programming development, TV CHOSUN commissioned and aired a range of dramas. Early examples included Korean Peninsula, Operation Proposal, Ji Woon-soo's Stroke of Luck, Into the Flames, Bride of the Century, and The Greatest Marriage. Later scripted programming included Grand Prince, Babel, Joseon Survival Period, Queen: Love and War, Kingmaker: The Change of Destiny, Get Revenge, Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce), Uncle, Red Balloon, Durian's Affair, My Happy Ending, and DNA Lover. These titles covered contemporary, historical, romantic, family, and melodramatic genres, reflecting the network's generalist strategy. TV CHOSUN also developed a strong entertainment identity through music and relationship-oriented formats. Taste of Love was part of its entertainment output, while Miss Trot and Mr. Trot became central franchises associated with the modern revival and mass broadcasting of Korean trot music. Romantic Call Centre extended the appeal of the trot programming model into a viewer-participation and performance format. The network's variety portfolio continued to evolve with later programming such as King of Survival: Tribal War. The broadcaster has also pursued opportunities to extend its formats beyond South Korea. On November 29, 2023, the Miss & Mr. Trot series signed a memorandum of understanding with Yoshimoto Entertainment relating to entry into Japan. The agreement provides evidence of an international format-development ambition, although the available reference material does not specify subsequent launches, revenue, or audience results. TV CHOSUN remains an active South Korean cable broadcasting brand. Its operating identity combines a news-led public profile with entertainment franchises and scripted programming, while its ownership and institutional context remain connected to the Chosun Ilbo-led media group.

1. 2023Japan-related format partnership

   The Miss & Mr. Trot series signed an MOU with Yoshimoto Entertainment concerning entry into Japan.

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2. 2019Mr. Trot franchise begins

   Mr. Trot joined TV CHOSUN's music-competition portfolio and became part of the network's signature trot programming strategy.

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3. 2011Broadcast launch

   TV CHOSUN began nationwide broadcasting on December 1, 2011.

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4. 2010Selected as a general cable television channel broadcaster

   TV CHOSUN was selected on December 31 alongside JTBC, MBN, and Channel A as one of South Korea's new generalist cable broadcasters.

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5. 2009South Korea amends media law

   A July 22 amendment to South Korea's media law advanced deregulation of the media market and enabled the later expansion of generalist cable television.

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A nationwide South Korean generalist cable network combining news and current affairs with mass-market entertainment, trot-focused music franchises, and scripted television.

• TV CHOSUN news and current affairsNews broadcasting2011

  The network's news and current-affairs output is a core part of the TV CHOSUN identity. It provides scheduled television news and broader public-affairs coverage within the channel's generalist programming structure. The available reference material identifies TV CHOSUN as both a cable network and broadcasting company but does not provide a complete program list or audience data for its news division.

• Miss TrotMusic competition and variety2019

  Miss Trot is a TV CHOSUN music-competition franchise centered on Korean trot performers. It forms one of the network's most visible entertainment properties and helped make trot-oriented competition television a major part of the channel's programming identity. The franchise has also supported related performance and audience-participation programming.

• Mr. TrotMusic competition and variety2019

  Mr. Trot is the male-oriented counterpart to Miss Trot and a major TV CHOSUN entertainment franchise. Its format uses televised competition and performance to showcase trot singers, linking the network to a broad Korean popular-music audience. The reference material lists the franchise as running from 2019 to 2025.

• Romantic Call CentreMusic variety2020

  Romantic Call Centre is a TV CHOSUN variety program connected to the network's trot ecosystem. It extends music-show participation through performance and viewer interaction, building on the audience generated by the Miss Trot and Mr. Trot franchises. The reference material lists the program as airing from 2020 to 2021.

• TV CHOSUN scripted drama slateTelevision drama2012

  TV CHOSUN has commissioned and broadcast scripted series across historical, romantic, family, melodramatic, and contemporary genres. Identified titles include Grand Prince, Babel, Queen: Love and War, Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce), Uncle, Red Balloon, Durian's Affair, My Happy Ending, and DNA Lover. The drama slate complements the network's news and entertainment operations within its generalist channel model.

• 2023Miss & Mr. Trot Japan expansion

  South Korea · Japan

  TV CHOSUN's Miss & Mr. Trot series signed a memorandum of understanding with Yoshimoto Entertainment on November 29, 2023, relating to entry into Japan and the development of an overseas opportunity for the trot format.

  Outcome. The MOU established a Japan-related partnership, but the available source does not document a subsequent Japanese broadcast, audience result, or financial outcome.

  Source

• 2023Pursue Japanese expansion for the trot formatStrategy

  The popularity of the Miss & Mr. Trot properties provided a basis for exploring international format opportunities.

  What changed. The series signed an MOU with Yoshimoto Entertainment concerning entry into Japan.

  Aftermath. The agreement indicated an international expansion direction, but the available source does not establish the partnership's subsequent commercial or programming results.

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• 2011Launch as a nationwide generalist channelStrategy

  TV CHOSUN entered a newly expanded South Korean pay-TV market alongside JTBC, MBN, and Channel A.

  What changed. The network began broadcasting on December 1, 2011, with a schedule spanning news, entertainment, variety, drama, and other general television programming.

  Aftermath. The launch established TV CHOSUN as an active nationwide cable broadcaster and a competitor to established terrestrial networks.

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• 2010Enter the nationwide generalist cable marketStrategy

  Following South Korea's 2009 media-law amendment and the resulting deregulation, the Chosun Ilbo-led consortium pursued authorization for a nationwide generalist cable television channel.

  What changed. TV CHOSUN was selected on December 31, 2010 as one of four new general cable television channel broadcasters.

  Aftermath. The decision led to TV CHOSUN's broadcast launch in December 2011 and placed it in competition with terrestrial broadcasters and the other newly selected generalist channels.

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• 2023Miss & Mr. Trot signs Japan-related memorandum with Yoshimoto Entertainment

  The Miss & Mr. Trot series signed a memorandum of understanding with Yoshimoto Entertainment on November 29, 2023, in connection with entering the Japanese market.

  M&AOther
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• 2011TV CHOSUN begins nationwide generalist cable broadcasting

  TV CHOSUN commenced broadcasting on December 1, 2011, becoming one of four new South Korean nationwide generalist cable channels selected after media-market deregulation.

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1. TV Chosun
2. TV CHOSUN official news website