From fan to collaborator: Indonesian producer leverages her language, media skills at KBS World Radio
Published: 04 May. 2026, 16:08
Updated: 13 May. 2026, 17:06
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- YOON SEUNG-JIN
- [email protected]
![Maria Teresa Dyani, center, talks with Zayyan, left, an Indonesian member of K-pop boy band Xodiac, and Pamungkas, right, an Indonesian indie singer, during a shoot for KBS Indonesia's YouTube channel. [HARISMAN SATRIA]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/05/13/ee5989e3-0191-45d8-9439-12d90169e8dc.jpg)
Maria Teresa Dyani, center, talks with Zayyan, left, an Indonesian member of K-pop boy band Xodiac, and Pamungkas, right, an Indonesian indie singer, during a shoot for KBS Indonesia's YouTube channel. [HARISMAN SATRIA]
[Hired in Korea]
As more internationals look to build careers in Korea, many find themselves facing practical hurdles — from limited guidance to a lack of firsthand experience. To bridge that gap, the Korea JoongAng Daily talks with professionals who have carved out their paths in diverse fields, offering readers real-world insights on how to start their careers in the country in this series “Hired in Korea.”
Maria Teresa Dyani from Indonesia didn’t just admire Korean media growing up: She began preparing for it at age 12 by learning the language. She then pursued public relations and advertising in Busan, driven by her dream of working in the industry.
Today, Dyani works under the bright studio lights as a producer at KBS World Radio, collaborating with the very artists and producers she once only saw on screen.
“I always admired Korean media and K-pop idols, and now I not only get to meet them but also work closely with them as they appear on our international radio channel,” Dyani told the Korea JoongAng Daily. “While this is a dream-come-true start to my career, I have to admit it’s also not easy to land a job in this field, and there are downsides as well.”
“However, I don’t see myself leaving the media industry. I’m passionate about it, and I believe it’s where my strengths lie,” she added, saying her dream is to launch her own production company someday and grow enough to collaborate with KBS.
The Korea JoongAng Daily sat down with Dyani to hear more about her journey, the challenges of working in Korea as a foreign professional, and her advice for those hoping to build a career here.
Q. What is your role at KBS World Radio?
A. I’m a producer for the Indonesian service of KBS World Radio.
My main responsibility is to ensure the overall quality and accuracy of our content. I review scripts written by our writers, fact-check information and edit for clarity and correctness.
During live broadcasts and recordings, I manage studio operations, including monitoring audio levels and assisting with filming.
I’m also involved in postproduction, such as audio editing after broadcasts. Sometimes I write and edit news content myself, too.
What kind of content do you produce?
We produce news content, conduct live radio and YouTube broadcasts and record programs that are later distributed to partner radio stations in Indonesia.
We also produce programs that promote Korean culture. This includes content on traditional music, Korean history and other cultural topics.
What kind of education or training was required for your current role?
My academic background is in public relations and advertising, which is not exactly broadcasting, but it is still highly relevant to my current role. The program helped me build strong communication, content planning and media-related skills, which I now apply in radio production.
For this position, language ability is especially important. Since I work for the Indonesian service, I’m required to be fluent in both Korean and Indonesian. I hold level 6 in the Test of Proficiency in Korean (Topik), which helped me meet the Korean language requirement. While English is not a formal requirement for my role, it is still very useful in the workplace because KBS World Radio is an international environment.
![Maria Teresa Dyani poses for a photo in a studio at English-language radio station Busan e-FM during her one-month internship. [MARIA TERESA DYANI]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/05/13/d99429fc-8c42-4528-a7c0-14da4224007b.jpg)
Maria Teresa Dyani poses for a photo in a studio at English-language radio station Busan e-FM during her one-month internship. [MARIA TERESA DYANI]
When it comes to preparation, having internship experience is a strong advantage.
During university, I did a one-month internship at Busan e-FM, an English-language radio station, as part of a program that provides international students with opportunities to gain experience at public institutions and media organizations. During the internship, I assisted with editing English news and researching content for live broadcasts, including gathering interesting discussion topics and preparing questions for game segments.
Although the internship was brief, it provided valuable hands-on experience and reinforced my interest in pursuing a career in media. I believe this experience, combined with my academic background and language skills, helped prepare me for my current role.
Do you think there are many opportunities in the media industry for foreigners?
To be honest, there are not many opportunities for foreigners in the traditional media industry because it’s a very popular and competitive field. For foreigners, it can be even more challenging due to language requirements and hiring limitations.
I’m not saying it’s impossible, so you can keep pushing through, but you might also want to open yourself up to other relevant opportunities.
Instead of focusing only on traditional roles like becoming a reporter or working in broadcasting, I think it’s important to stay open to related fields such as global marketing, global public relations or content localization.
For example, majoring in media communications or journalism doesn’t necessarily mean you have to become a reporter. Choosing a broader field of study can give you more options, especially if you want to work in Korea.
Finally, I think one of the biggest advantages foreigners have is their language and cultural background. For example, if you’re from Indonesia, it’s a good strategy to look for companies or roles that focus on the Indonesian market. That way, your background becomes a strong asset rather than a limitation.
![Maria Teresa Dyani throws her cap into the air during her graduation at Kyungsung University. [MARIA TERESA DYANI]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/05/13/89a7e115-3db0-47f9-a99d-9b3ac4844d59.jpg)
Maria Teresa Dyani throws her cap into the air during her graduation at Kyungsung University. [MARIA TERESA DYANI]
How should people prepare for interviews and resumes to get a media job?
Many companies, including KBS, already provide standardized application templates. You simply download the required forms and submit your application following the given format.
However, having a strong portfolio can be a major advantage, as it allows you to clearly demonstrate your skills and showcase what you can do.
Submitting a portfolio is usually optional, but if the company allows it, it’s worth including because it strengthens your application. After all, employers are more likely to trust your abilities when they can see concrete examples of your work.
For my portfolio, I included articles I wrote during my internship, along with voice recordings and interviews I conducted.
As for interviews, one of the most memorable parts of the process was the audition. Even though I applied for a producer position, I still had to perform a test where I acted as if I were in a live broadcast. I had to sit in front of a camera with a microphone. They evaluated my voice, delivery and how I presented myself on camera.
How should students and job seekers build their portfolios?
Start by creating content based on what you’re genuinely interested in. Your portfolio should reflect what you enjoy and what you’re good at.
For example, if you like K-pop, you could make reaction videos where you share your thoughts on a new album or comeback. If you’re interested in politics, you could start your own short-form news content on online platforms.
The key is not to keep your passion to yourself. The more you create and share, the more you show what you can do.
What are the pros and cons of working in the media field in Korea?
One of the biggest advantages is getting to work closely with some of my favorite K-pop stars directly. That’s really valuable experience because I can see what happens behind the scenes. I used to only see what was on camera, but now I understand how things actually work off camera.
As for the downsides, I think media companies in Korea could be more open to trying new things. There is so much great content, but what really matters now is how it’s marketed.
Sometimes, companies are hesitant to experiment with new social media formats. I think they need to be more open and listen to younger and international audiences.
![Maria Teresa Dyani poses for a photo with K-pop boy band EXO’s D.O. [MARIA TERESA DYANI]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/05/13/75a1c1e5-9363-43a9-83ec-5c5c51831639.jpg)
Maria Teresa Dyani poses for a photo with K-pop boy band EXO’s D.O. [MARIA TERESA DYANI]
Does the company hire many international staff?
KBS World Radio produces content in multiple languages, so there’s a strong need for international staff, especially those who can both write and broadcast in different languages.
That said, when hiring editors, the company typically looks for candidates who are already skilled, as there isn’t much time to train someone from scratch.
As for producers, it’s quite rare to see a foreign producer, which is why I’m currently the only one at the company. Although I only started a few months ago, I’m proud to be working here and grateful for the opportunity to lead my own small projects.
What about your future career plans and goals? Do you envision staying in media?
I don’t see myself leaving the media industry. I’m passionate about it, and I believe it’s where my strengths are. Even if I’m not always in a full-time position, I still want to stay connected to this field in some way.
In the long term, I hope to start my own production company. Creating content is something I genuinely enjoy, and I’ve learned a lot from my experience so far.
Working at KBS World Radio has shown me both the strengths and limitations of the industry, especially when it comes to budget constraints. Because of that, I think there’s room to experiment more and push creative boundaries.
If I start my own production company, I’d like to focus on producing more creative and modern content. I’d also love the opportunity to collaborate with KBS in the future.
I’m open to working in Korea or expanding into other markets, which I see as a growing and exciting space for media content.
BY YOON SEUNG-JIN [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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