Day 106: World Radio Network

My Best Guess: With the latest in Korean news, and more Seoul music than Motown, it's all Korea, all the time...on the World Radio Network!

According to Sirius: Global Voices, Diverse Views, One Station: World Radio Network (WRN) is a unique news and information network offering coverage of world events taken from partner broadcasters and not filtered through a single news organization. WRN offers listeners diverse broadcasts from: Channel Africa, Radio Canada International, Voice of Russia, Radio Romania International, Radio Australia, RTE Ireland, China Radio International, Radio New Zealand International, KBS World Radio from Korea, Israel Radio and Polish Radio External Service from Poland and many more. The range of programs from WRN’s partners include news and current affairs plus award-winning documentaries covering economics, health, the environment, arts, culture, and music; reflecting the lives and interests of “ordinary” people. All the programs on WRN are produced by English-speaking journalists and production staff. WRN comprises a new world of information - a world without borders. This is the simple and unique vision of World Radio Network. For more information visit www.wrn.org.

Curt's Rebuttal: I don't know about all that. On the drive in to work, on the drive during lunch, on the drive to the airport during work...and the drive from the airport to home three days later...all I heard was Korean Radio.

Sample Playlist

• KBS World Radio (Korea): In the morning, the channel focused more on news stories, such as December's presidential elections (I'm guessing this is South Korea we're talking about...just a hunch) and how, in the international community, Korea has "an excellent credit rating" (so it can finally get a mortgage on that split-level ranch it's had its eye on, I imagine). In the afternoon, though...it was like listening to a high school or college talk station, with countdowns on the latest dance music, as well as quick descriptions of new movies being released in theaters during the upcoming week.

Verdict: Okay, I gathered there was more than Korean radio on here...but was surprised that I didn't stumble upon many. I may tune back in every now and then as a novelty, but can't think of anything I'd bump off my Top 30 to make room for this.