아리랑뉴스, "한국의 소프트파워 확산에 중요한 역할 할 것": 해외 오피니언리더들의 20주년 축하메시지<br /><br />Over the last two decades, Arirang News has strived to bring you the latest and the most in-depth coverage of developments on the Korean Peninsula and in East Asia.<br />And our reporter Oh Soo-young spoke to some opinion leaders abroad who are also regular Arirang News viewers.... on what they hope to see from us going forward.<br />On its twentieth anniversary,... Arirang News spoke to regular contributors and observers from abroad,... on topics including politics and diplomacy, North Korea, as well as social issues, culture and sports.<br />"Your channel is a very nice source for me on breaking developments in anything dealing with South Korean politics or inter-Korean relations, or Northeast Asian regional politics. I enjoy interviews that you have with academics and discussing these matters in-depth, so it's a resource."<br />"Arirang TV of course, like interviewing Koreans, experts, government officials who are able to communicate in English, is able to provide a really useful service. (It's) Always important to know how Koreans see the world, but it's also an opportunity for non-Koreans to involve themselves in sharing their views on some of the big issues."<br />Observers say Arirang TV is acting as a crucial instrument of promoting awareness of not only Korean perspectives, but its many cultural assets.<br />"When I'm on a long-haul airline, I sometimes go for the Korean films because I like the genre if you will? I always thought the British sense of humor is similar to the Korean sense of humor. In a way, soft power is a phrase that is often used particularly in terms of music, the culture and the film, and so on. That's a very powerful expression of culture throughout the world."<br />Broadcasting globally since 1999,... Arirang News now airs in 103 countries,... reaching over 142 million households.<br /><br />"Anyone's 20th birthday is a significant thing, isn't it? It's almost a passage from being a young person to being a proper adult. So you've laid the groundwork in the first 20 years and I hope very much in the next 20 years you'll be even more established."<br />"Congratulations to you. I think that we're moving into a period where there are lots of issues and a lot of opportunities."<br />"Well done Arirang TV, it's fantastic that after 20 years, you're still going strong and i wish you all the very best in the future."<br />Going forward, the contributors said they hope to see Arirang further expand and establish itself as a valuable, enriching network for viewers around the world.<br />Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.<br />
