KO-AM TV
A Seattle-area digital cable network serving Korean-American audiences in Western Washington.
Last updated August 31, 2026
Overview
KO-AM TV, also known as Korean-American Television, is a digital cable television network based in the Seattle area and focused on the Korean-American community of Western Washington. Its listed location is in Federal Way, Washington, at 32008 32nd Ave. S. The channel combines Korean-language programming imported from South Korea with locally produced coverage of the region's Korean-American community and broader local events. The station's programming relationship with KBS World gives it access to Korean television content, including programs presented with English subtitles. Its schedule also includes live Korean news coverage and a locally produced newscast broadcast six days per week. This combination allows KO-AM TV to function both as a source of Korean entertainment and information and as a community-oriented local broadcaster for Korean speakers and bilingual households in Washington State. Local programming described for the channel includes news, weather reports, traffic updates, popular-video segments, and the language-learning feature Today's English, known in Korean as 영어 한마디. The local-news team reports from significant events around the Seattle region, interviews participants, and covers issues affecting Koreans living in Washington. The popular-video segments focus on current viral stories and other widely circulated clips, including animal videos. Today's English presents a short English expression and explains its meaning in Korean, giving the station an educational role alongside its news and entertainment output. KO-AM TV also airs selected Korean programs originally broadcast in South Korea, with English subtitles intended to make the material accessible to viewers who are more comfortable in English or are learning Korean. Examples identified in reference material include the reality program Dong-Chi-Mi and the health-oriented program Chun-Gi-Nu-Sul. The channel has been described as the only Korean-American television station broadcasting in Washington State, positioning it as a specialized regional outlet rather than a national general-interest network. The station's leadership has included chairperson Jong-Jae Ko, who studied at Yonsei University in South Korea and entered the broadcasting field in 1983. KO-AM TV was nominated by the Korean Broadcasting System for a television-programming prize in 2004 and received a programming award from the KBS Seoul Prize in 2010. Publicly available reference material does not establish the channel's founding year, ownership structure, corporate parent, or financial performance.
History
KO-AM TV is a specialized digital cable network serving Korean-American viewers in Western Washington. The station is based in Federal Way, within the Seattle metropolitan area, and its stated coverage area includes the wider Western Washington region. Rather than operating as a broad national entertainment network, it concentrates on Korean-language and bilingual programming relevant to a distinct regional community. The channel's programming model combines content from South Korea with locally produced material. Through its affiliation with KBS World, KO-AM TV carries Korean television programs, including entertainment and health content, and presents some of that material with English subtitles. Referenced examples include the reality program Dong-Chi-Mi and the health program Chun-Gi-Nu-Sul. Korean news is also carried live, linking viewers in Washington with developments in South Korea and the wider Korean-speaking media environment. Local production is a central part of the station's identity. KO-AM TV airs a newscast six days each week and reports on events affecting Korean residents of Washington State. Its local-news coverage includes visits to important events around Seattle, interviews with attendees or participants, and reporting on the Korean-American community. The schedule also includes weather news and traffic updates, giving the station a practical local-information function. Other recurring or described formats broaden the channel's appeal. Popular-video segments cover current widely shared stories and viral animal clips, while Today's English provides a short daily language lesson. In that feature, an English expression is introduced and then explained in Korean. This format reflects the station's service to bilingual viewers and Korean speakers seeking help with everyday English. The station has also received recognition connected with its programming. The Korean Broadcasting System nominated KO-AM TV for a programming prize in 2004, and KO-AM TV later received a television-programming award from the KBS Seoul Prize in 2010. These references indicate that the station's programming had visibility within the Korean broadcasting sphere, although the available material does not specify the exact programs or judging criteria associated with either recognition. Jong-Jae Ko is identified as KO-AM TV's chairperson in the available reference material. He graduated from Yonsei University in South Korea and began working in broadcasting in 1983. He is also described as chairman of the Worldwide Korean Christian Broadcasters Association. The publicly available information used for this entry does not document KO-AM TV's founding date, original founders, ownership, corporate structure, revenue, or a detailed chronology of changes in distribution. Accordingly, the station's development is best documented through its programming role, community coverage, KBS World relationship, and awards rather than through a fully established corporate history.
- 2010KBS Seoul Prize programming award
KO-AM TV received an award for television programming from the KBS Seoul Prize.
- 2004KBS programming-prize nomination
The Korean Broadcasting System nominated KO-AM TV for recognition related to its television programming.
- 1983Jong-Jae Ko begins work in broadcasting
Jong-Jae Ko, later identified as KO-AM TV's chairperson, began his broadcasting career.
Products and positioning
A regional Korean-American community broadcaster combining Korean programming, English-subtitled content, local news, and practical information for audiences in Western Washington.
Local newsTelevision news
KO-AM TV produces a local newscast six days per week, with coverage focused on events and issues relevant to Korean residents in Washington State. Reporting may involve attending significant events around the Seattle area, interviewing people on location, and presenting news about the region's Korean-American community.
KBS World programmingImported television programming
As an affiliate of KBS World, KO-AM TV broadcasts selected Korean programs originating in South Korea. The material includes news and entertainment, and some programs are presented with English subtitles. Examples cited for the channel include the reality program Dong-Chi-Mi and the health program Chun-Gi-Nu-Sul.
Today's EnglishLanguage-learning television
Today's English, also referred to by its Korean title 영어 한마디, is a short language-learning feature. Each installment introduces an English phrase and explains it in Korean, making the segment useful to Korean-speaking viewers navigating everyday English in the United States.
Weather and traffic updatesLocal information broadcasting
The station's local-information output includes weather reporting and traffic updates for viewers in the Seattle and Western Washington area. These segments complement the local newscast and reinforce KO-AM TV's role as a community information service.
Flagship businesses
- Locally produced newscast
- KBS World-affiliated Korean programming
- Today's English
- Local weather and traffic coverage
Leadership
| Name | Title | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Jong-Jae Ko | Chairperson | — |
Recent events
- 2010KO-AM TV receives KBS Seoul Prize programming award
KO-AM TV received an award for its television programming from the KBS Seoul Prize.
Other - 2004KO-AM TV nominated for a KBS programming prize
The Korean Broadcasting System nominated KO-AM TV for recognition related to its television programming.
Other
Sources
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