Media
TV Chosun
TV Chosun (TV조선) is a South Korean cable television network launched on December 1, 2011, as part of the government's media deregulation allowing major newspaper groups to enter broadcasting. Owned by the Chosun Ilbo consortium with minority stakes from Korean Air and Booyoung Group, the network operates from Seoul's Jung District.
The channel achieved its cultural breakthrough with the Mr. Trot franchise, a singing competition that revived the trot genre and launched Lim Young-woong into national stardom in 2020. Mr. Trot became one of the highest-rated non-terrestrial programs in Korean television history, spawning the Miss Trot series and cementing TV Chosun's position as a trot and variety entertainment powerhouse.
In December 2024, TV Chosun launched Mr. Trot 3, the third installment of its flagship competition franchise. The series debuted with a 12.9% nationwide viewership rating and concluded on March 13, 2025 with a 19.1% finale, making it the highest-rated cable program in its time slot. Veteran performer Kim Yong-bin, with 22 years in the music industry, won the season. The Miss Trot franchise has continued in parallel, with Miss Trot 4 airing in 2026.
Beyond music programming, TV Chosun produces K-dramas including "Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce)" (2021-2023), "Red Balloon" (2022-2023), "DNA Lover" (2024), and "Doctor Shin" (2026). The network's drama output typically targets adult audiences with makjang and romance formats. In 2023, TV Chosun signed an MOU with Japan's Yoshimoto Entertainment to expand its trot franchises into the Japanese market.
As one of four general programming cable channels (alongside JTBC, MBN, and Channel A), TV Chosun has carved a distinct niche through its focus on traditional Korean music formats and older-skewing entertainment content.
1 articlestvchosun.com
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TV Chosun / Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA
Fans Also Ask
What is TV Chosun known for?
TV Chosun is best known for the Mr. Trot and Miss Trot singing competition franchises, which revived the trot music genre in South Korea. Mr. Trot (2020) launched Lim Young-woong into superstardom. Mr. Trot 3 (2025) reached a 19.1% finale rating, making it the highest-rated cable program in its time slot.
When did TV Chosun launch?
TV Chosun began broadcasting on December 1, 2011. It was one of four new general programming cable channels (alongside JTBC, MBN, and Channel A) launched following the 2009 media deregulation that allowed newspaper companies to enter broadcasting.
Who owns TV Chosun?
TV Chosun is primarily owned by The Chosun Ilbo newspaper group (20%), with minority stakes from Too Capital (15%), Korean Air (9.68%), and Booyoung Group (5.5%). The network is headquartered in Seoul's Jung District.
What happened in Mr. Trot 3?
Mr. Trot 3 premiered on December 19, 2024 with a 12.9% nationwide viewership rating. The season concluded on March 13, 2025 with a 19.1% finale, the highest-rated cable program in its time slot that quarter. Kim Yong-bin, a veteran trot performer with 22 years of industry experience, won the competition.
What K-dramas does TV Chosun produce?
TV Chosun's drama catalog spans makjang and adult romance formats. Major titles include Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce) (2021-2023), Red Balloon (2022-2023), DNA Lover (2024), and Doctor Shin (2026). The network typically targets older cable audiences and programs dramas in weeknight and weekend primetime slots.
What is Miss Trot?
Miss Trot is TV Chosun's female-focused trot competition franchise, running parallel to Mr. Trot. Miss Trot 4 aired in 2026. The series launched the careers of multiple female trot artists and has become a flagship programming pillar for the network alongside the Mr. Trot franchise.
