Quick answer
To watch Korean TV in the USA, you can use official streaming services such as KOCOWA+, set up by KBS, MBC and SBS for US viewers, along with Netflix, Viki and Prime Video for K-dramas on demand, or an IPTV plan like TarakTV that brings live Korean channels into one app. Streaming services are best for on-demand dramas with English subtitles. TarakTV is one plan from $15 a month with a free 24-hour trial, aimed at families who want live Korean news, variety and dramas as they air.
- About 2.0 million people in the US identified as Korean in 2023 (Pew Research Center).
- The largest Korean American metro areas are Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C.
- KOCOWA launched in the US in 2017 as a joint venture of KBS, MBC and SBS.
- Seoul is 14 hours ahead of US Eastern time in winter and 13 hours ahead in summer.
- TarakTV plans: $15 a month, $130 a year, $220 for 3 years, $300 for 5 years.
Korean Americans and Korean TV
Pew Research Center reports that about 2.0 million people in the US identified as Korean in 2023. The largest communities are in Los Angeles, about 320,000 people, New York and northern New Jersey, about 215,000, and the Washington, D.C. area, about 95,000. Seattle, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and Honolulu also have large communities.
Korean TV in the US has two audiences. Korean American families, especially parents and grandparents, often want live channels from Korea: the evening news, daily dramas, variety shows and sports. Younger viewers and non-Korean K-drama fans mostly want on-demand dramas with English subtitles. The best option depends on which group you are in.
Korean channels people look for
The three main broadcast networks are KBS, MBC and SBS. KBS1 carries news and documentaries, KBS2 dramas and entertainment, and KBS World is its international channel. Cable channels JTBC and tvN produce many of the most talked-about dramas and variety shows. For news, YTN and the main networks' evening bulletins are the usual requests, and Arirang is an English-language channel about Korea.
- Broadcast networks: KBS1, KBS2, KBS World, MBC, SBS
- Cable dramas and variety: JTBC, tvN, Channel A, TV Chosun, MBN
- News: YTN, KBS News, Yonhap News TV
- English-language: Arirang
Official streaming options
KOCOWA was launched in the US in 2017 by KCP Global, a joint venture of KBS, MBC and SBS, to offer their dramas, variety shows and K-pop programmes to American viewers with English subtitles, with episodes available within hours of airing in Korea. Netflix, Viki and Prime Video also carry large K-drama libraries, and many networks post clips and full shows on their official YouTube channels.
These services are the right choice if you mainly want on-demand dramas with subtitles. What they generally do not offer is live Korean channels, such as the 9pm news or a live baseball game, on your TV as they air in Korea.
Live Korean TV with TarakTV
TarakTV is an IPTV subscription that brings live Korean channels people commonly look for into one app with a TV guide, alongside Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, US and international channels. That suits Korean American families who want the big networks and news live on the main TV. Live channels from Korea are in Korean and usually do not include English subtitles. Line-ups on any IPTV service can change, so use the free 24-hour trial to check your channels.
Plans cost $15 for one month, $130 for one year, $220 for three years and $300 for five years, with support on WhatsApp.
Devices and internet speed
TarakTV runs on Amazon Fire TV Stick, Android smart TVs, Android TV boxes, phones and tablets, and the Cast4K player app. We also sell TVIP and Yoka TV boxes that arrive ready to use, shipped within the US and Canada, which are the easiest choice for parents and grandparents.
Plan on about 15 Mbps per screen for HD and 25 Mbps for 4K. If several TVs stream at once, add those together. A wired connection is the best fix for buffering.
Time-zone tips
Korea Standard Time is 14 hours ahead of US Eastern time from November to March and 13 hours ahead from March to November. On the West Coast it is 17 hours ahead in winter and 16 in summer. A drama that airs at 9pm in Seoul is on at 7am Eastern and 4am Pacific in winter, and the 9pm news is the same.
Most families do not watch Korean primetime live in the US. Use the TV guide and catch-up, where the channel offers it, or an on-demand service for subtitled dramas, and watch in the evening US time.
Choosing the right setup and common fixes
Many Korean American homes end up using both kinds of service: a streaming service for subtitled dramas the younger family members follow, and live Korean channels for parents who want the news, daily dramas and sports as they air. Decide which matters most before paying for several subscriptions.
Live sports from Korea, such as KBO baseball, often start in the early morning US time, so check the TV guide the night before.
If a channel freezes or buffers, start with the simple fixes: restart the Fire TV Stick or box, check that nothing else in the house is downloading, and move the router closer or use an Ethernet cable. Running a speed test on the TV itself, not your phone, gives the most accurate picture.
If only one channel has a problem while others play fine, it is usually on the channel side rather than your internet. Message TarakTV on WhatsApp with the channel name and the time, and we will check it.
Channels people look for
Line-ups change; ask for the current list or check during your free trial.
| Channel | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| KBS1 | Korean news and general | |
| KBS2 | Korean dramas and entertainment | |
| KBS World | Korean international | |
| MBC | Korean broadcast network | |
| SBS | Korean broadcast network | |
| JTBC | Korean dramas and variety | |
| tvN | Korean dramas and variety | |
| YTN | Korean news | |
| Arirang | English-language Korean channel |
Frequently asked questions
How can I watch Korean TV live in the USA?
On-demand services such as KOCOWA+, Netflix and Viki are best for subtitled dramas. For live Korean channels on your TV, TarakTV includes channels people look for, such as KBS, MBC and SBS, from $15 a month with a free 24-hour trial.
What is KOCOWA?
KOCOWA is a US streaming service launched in 2017 by a joint venture of KBS, MBC and SBS, offering their dramas and variety shows with English subtitles.
What time do K-dramas air in the US?
Seoul is 14 hours ahead of Eastern time in winter, so a 9pm drama in Korea airs at 7am Eastern and 4am Pacific. Subtitled versions usually appear on streaming services later the same day.
Do live Korean channels have English subtitles?
Usually not. Live channels from Korea are in Korean. For English subtitles, use an on-demand service such as KOCOWA+, Netflix or Viki.
Can my parents watch Korean news on the TV?
Yes. With TarakTV on a Fire TV Stick or a ready-to-use TVIP or Yoka TV box, they can watch Korean news channels such as YTN and KBS live on the main TV.
What internet speed do I need?
About 15 Mbps per screen for HD and 25 Mbps for 4K. Use an Ethernet cable if you see buffering.
Sources
TarakTV is an independent reseller and is not affiliated with the channels, leagues or broadcasters named on this page. Names are used only to describe what viewers look for. Check the rules where you live.