Unification Media Group
Advancing Freedom of Information in North Korea
WHAT WE DO
Unification Media Group (UMG) is a news and entertainment production organization focused on North Korea.
Through video, radio, and online news, UMG brings the latest developments from North Korea to South Korean
and international audiences in addition to North Koreans themselves.
UMG is helping to increase global awareness of North Korean issues and is arming the people of North Korea with the freedom of information.
NEWS
The Unification Media Group has signed a consortium agreement with Daily NK, which is an internet news site focusing on North Korea and share news contents. Daily NK provides accurate information to the worldwide audience on the current affairs of North Korea, through reporters who are former North Korean defectors, as well as human intelligence sources based in North Korea.
RADIO
The Unification Media Group (UMG) has begun its radio broadcasts to the audience of North Korea since 2005. Currently, it produces and broadcasts the news, civic education and cultural programs, etc., daily for 3 hours. According to the Gallup survey conducted in 2015, 2-3% of North Korean citizens said they have previously listened to UMG broadcasts. Currently North Korean citizens are listening to Unification Media Group broadcasts through media equipment capable of receiving short wave radio frequency. Other North Korean people living abroad also listen to radio broadcasts through their smart phones.
VIDEO
The Unification Media Group constantly creates and produces Korean and English videos that target the North Korean people. In particular, UMG is producing a series on the daily lives of North Korean defectors, their changes in life and perspectives, as well as other items of interests of the North Korean people. Currently the produced videos are provided through YouTube, and further plans to transfer the information through satellite TV.
The Unification Media Group has signed a consortium agreement with Daily NK, which is an internet news site focusing on North Korea and share news contents. Daily NK provides accurate information to the worldwide audience on the current affairs of North Korea, through reporters who are former North Korean defectors, as well as human intelligence sources based in North Korea.
The Unification Media Group (UMG) has begun its radio broadcasts to the audience of North Korea since 2005. Currently, it produces and broadcasts the news, civic education and cultural programs, etc., daily for 3 hours. According to the Gallup survey conducted in 2015, 2-3% of North Korean citizens said they have previously listened to UMG broadcasts. Currently North Korean citizens are listening to Unification Media Group broadcasts through media equipment capable of receiving short wave radio frequency. Other North Korean people living abroad also listen to radio broadcasts through their smart phones.
The Unification Media Group constantly creates and produces Korean and English videos that target the North Korean people. In particular, UMG is producing a series on the daily lives of North Korean defectors, their changes in life and perspectives, as well as other items of interests of the North Korean people. Currently the produced videos are provided through YouTube, and further plans to transfer the information through satellite TV.
OUR IMPACT
Since our first radio broadcast in 2005, our listener base has grown to approximately 3% of North Korea’s adult population. By securing additional transmission stations and expanding our listening hours, Unification Media Group is uniquely placed to grow our listener base to 10% of North Korea’s adult population – a one-million-strong civil society empowered to foment change from within the country.
Our network of citizen journalists inside North Korea are tasked with reporting accurate and up-to-date information about the impact of the regime’s policies and the daily lives of the North Korean people. Recruiting new human resources within North Korea will increase our capacity to relay information within and out of North Korea.
The spread of mobile telecommunication services means that information sharing is now gathering momentum, with over 7 million people having mobile-phone subscriptions on the North’s domestic network, providing immense potential for progressive social change.
Thousands of North Koreans remain as laborers abroad earning money for themselves and the state, providing an opportunity to reach these individuals, who may become communication hubs at relative liberty to disseminate information that they acquired abroad once returning home.
