KBS
The public broadcaster's site with news, dramas, radio and live streaming.
KBS at a glance
KBS is an entertainment & streaming website and one of the most visited sites in South Korea, currently ranked #116 in the country. It was founded in 1973 by Government of South Korea and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. Today KBS is owned by Korean Broadcasting System. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 90 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through license fees, advertising. Its closest rivals include sbs.co.kr, imbc.com, jtbc.co.kr.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 84.6 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 87.3 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 90 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 95.4 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct63%
- Organic search21%
- Social8%
- Referral5%
- Paid3%
Audience & demographics
- Men54%
- Women46%
- Age 18-2428%
- Age 25-3429%
- Age 35-4421%
The audience is concentrated in South Korea, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- South Korea86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 27 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- South Korea
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| kbs | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| watch online | Top 10 | High | — |
| live stream | Top 10 | High | — |
| subscription price | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the South Korea web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 74% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading entertainment & streaming apps in South Korea
Company information
- Website
- kbs.co.kr
- Sector
- Entertainment & Streaming
- Owner
- Korean Broadcasting System
- Owner type
- Public broadcaster
- Founders
- Government of South Korea
- Founded
- 1973
- Headquarters
- Seoul, South Korea
- Employees
- 4,000+
- Ownership
- Korean Broadcasting System controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $1.3 billion annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- Korean, English, many others
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, social
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $1.3 billion annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Public broadcaster
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
KBS operates an entertainment and streaming service focused on South Korea. The public broadcaster's site with news, dramas, radio and live streaming. Revenue comes mainly from license fees, supported by the other lines listed below.
- License fees
- Advertising
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- South Korea
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (South Korea)
- #116 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading entertainment & streaming site in South Korea
- Global rank
- 1200
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| sbs.co.kr | ≈ 54 million / month | #117 class competitor | — |
| imbc.com | ≈ 40.5 million / month | #118 class competitor | — |
| jtbc.co.kr | ≈ 27 million / month | #119 class competitor | — |
What is KBS?
KBS (kbs.co.kr) is an entertainment and streaming service serving users in South Korea. The public broadcaster's site with news, dramas, radio and live streaming. It ranks #116 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the entertainment & streaming category.
Who owns KBS?
The site is operated by Korean Broadcasting System, founded by Government of South Korea. The company was established in 1973 and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. It employs around 4,000+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place KBS at roughly 90 million visits per month, about 3 million per day. Around 74% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 6.9 pages per visit with an average session of 14 min.
How KBS makes money
Revenue comes primarily from license fees, alongside advertising.
Competitors in South Korea
Its closest rivals include sbs.co.kr, imbc.com, jtbc.co.kr.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1973
KBS is founded in Seoul, South Korea.
- Growth phase
Expands its entertainment & streaming offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #116 among the most visited websites in South Korea.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Large local content library
- Live sports or exclusive originals
- Works across mobile, web and TV apps
- Affordable local pricing tiers
Cons
- Content rotates out of the catalogue
- Ad-supported tier interrupts playback
- Rights restrictions limit some titles
- Streaming quality varies on weak connections
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns KBS?
KBS is operated by Korean Broadcasting System. Public broadcaster structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is KBS headquartered?
KBS is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.
When was KBS founded?
KBS was founded in 1973 by Government of South Korea.
How many employees does KBS have?
KBS employs approximately 4,000+ people.
What is KBS's revenue?
KBS's revenue: ≈ $1.3 billion annual revenue (est.).
Who are KBS's competitors?
Main competitors in South Korea include sbs.co.kr, imbc.com, jtbc.co.kr.
How does KBS make money?
Mainly license fees, advertising.
Is KBS publicly traded?
KBS's ownership: Public broadcaster.
How many visitors does KBS get?
Third-party estimates place KBS at roughly 90 million visits per month, mostly from South Korea, with 74% mobile traffic.
Is KBS safe?
KBS is an established entertainment & streaming site founded in 1973 and ranked #116 in South Korea; use the official domain kbs.co.kr and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementskbs.co.kr
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageSouth Korea and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos