South Korean Media Research Articles

Does the Media’s Partisanship Influence News Coverage on Artificial Intelligence Issues? Media Coverage Analysis on Artificial Intelligence Issues

This study aims to analyze news coverage on artificial intelligence (AI) issues and highlight the characteristics and differences in reporting based on media partisanship. By examining AI-related news in the South Korean media, this study reveals how conservative and progressive outlets frame the issue differently. The analysis found that conservative media coverage predominantly focuses on positive aspects, emphasizing development value frames such as the benefits and societal progress brought by AI. In contrast, progressive media often highlight crisis value frames, focusing on issues like side effects, ethical concerns, and legislation surrounding AI. These partisan differences reflect fundamental societal priorities and influence public discourse and policy agendas. Understanding media framing is crucial for fostering informed public dialogue on the societal significance of AI and promoting evidence-based decision-making. By recognizing partisan biases and critically evaluating media coverage, citizens can engage in constructive discourse beyond ideological divides. This study underscores the role of the media in promoting interdisciplinary discussions about the future trajectory of AI and in preparing society for its impacts. Ultimately, evidence-based public discourse is essential for shaping responsible AI policies and mitigating potential risks in the digital age.

“Muzzle” and “Press Directives” : A Study on the Clientelism Agenda in South Korean Media Coverage of Broadcasting Content Regulation

“Muzzle” and “Press Directives” : A Study on the Clientelism Agenda in South Korean Media Coverage of Broadcasting Content Regulation

Possibilities and Limitations of Biodegradable Plastics

This study examined societal interest in biodegradable plastics as portrayed in South Korean media, analyzing trends, topics, and related keywords to understand public perceptions and discourse. Big data analysis was conducted on news articles from 104 major South Korean media outlets between 2014 and 2023 using the BIGKinds platform. The frequency of articles mentioning biodegradable plastics and related keywords were analyzed. A total of 4,403 articles were identified, with a peak in coverage in 2021 followed by a slight decline. Keyword analysis revealed a focus on "eco-friendly" materials like PHA and PLA, and concepts like recycling and commercialization. Media attention toward biodegradable plastics significantly increased, reflecting growing public awareness of sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics. However, challenges such as degradation conditions, waste management integration, and economic feasibility require further attention.

The Implications of Queer Representation in Contemporary South Korean TV Narratives

Existing scholarly works on the topic of queer representation in South Korean media focus primarily on Korean cinema and K-pop, but there are far fewer studies on queer or queer-coded portrayals in Korean TV media. Queer characters and relationships are gradually becoming more visible in mainstream South Korean TV with some examples being Semantic Error which centers on the romantic relationship between two men and Nevertheless which depicts the feelings of friendship between two women turn clearly romantic. Considering the significant rise in popularity of Korean TV dramas not only in Asia but also in western society, where audiences are more conscious of queer narratives, the realm of queer representation in Korean TV definitely warrants more scholarly attention. I aim to contribute to the conversation about depictions of queerness in Korean media by analyzing the representation of queer characters in 2021 TV drama Work Later, Drink Now, specifically the queer subtext of Jigoo and Jiyeon’s relationship, and how this story reveals South Korean perceptions of queer experiences by matching and/or distinguishing itself from the tragic narratives that queer characters are often depicted in Korean TV dramas. I will also analyze the reception of this show by South Korean society in relation to queer identity based on its references in Korean pop culture and online fan discussions. I argue that the writer of Work Later, Drink Now intended to provide commentary not only on the situation of women in contemporary South Korean society, but she also pushed an underlying queer narrative, aiming to shed light on the reality of being, specifically, a queer woman in South Korea.

“Korean Wave” and development trends of the South Korean broadcasting corporation KBS

INTRODUCTION. The study examines the history, development, licensing features, and financial problems of the South Korean broadcasting corporation KBS. The relevance of the topic is due to insufficient knowledge of the influence of the Korean wave and South Korean media companies on the global media market. The goal is to show the features of KBS’s development strategy.MATERIALS AND METHODS. Aspects of the Korean wave, the history of the formation of KBS, its development trends in 2023 and 2024, and broadcasting directions in 2024 are studied. The media products of the South Korean international radio station KBS World Radio, broadcasting in Russian, are considered. The reasons for the occurrence and ways to solve the financial difficulties of KBS are analyzed. Conclusions about KBS development trends are made on the basis of media materials published on the company’s websites, as well as South Korean media news covering changes in the features of paying for the KBS television license. The works of researchers on the features of the Korean wave and KBS’s strategy to combat advertising addiction are considered.RESULT AND DISCUSSION. KBS’s activities are aimed at creating a healthy broadcasting culture and objective news programs and promoting Korean culture. KBS officials announced their broadcast policy for 2024, focusing on ensuring impartiality and promoting innovative content across various media platforms to expand their audience reach. Media company KBS is expected to face significant challenges in 2024. Domestic and international competition for content, changes in the media landscape and KBS’s license fee collection have caused financial problems.CONCLUSION. KBS influences the global media market by promoting the Korean Wave. The radio station KBS World Radio creates content for the Russian audience. The experience of South Korean entertainment media can be used for the activities of leading Russian television and radio broadcasting corporations. The results of the study can be used to increase the quality of Russian analogues of Korean media products. The findings add to the consideration of methods for promoting national culture among young people around the world.

Информационно-знаниевая проекция концептуального конструкта «Трансграничье» на масс-медийное цифровое пространство

Transborder is understood as a sign of a conceptual construct, the research potential of which can be extrapolated to the mass media digital space, existing on the principles of openness, centering around the forces of influence, relative delimitation and, at the same time, the permeability of local (national) and global media spaces. It is clarified that the state of the transition marked with the sign "trans-" between these spaces is determined by the ratio of two orders of discursivity, that is, interdiscursivity, and its content is information and knowledge mediatization. Based on the analysis of the South Korean media space, the method of functioning of this "trans" state is established in the form of interaction of transnational and ethnonational signs: conceptual types of relations between them (substitution, identity, inclusion), as well as cognitive types of knowledge introduced by foreign signs. It is concluded that "trans-boundary" mediatization is a form of ontologization of actual new knowledge.

Bilingual translations of intensifiers in Dong-A Ilbo's news about China: A corpus-based discourse analysis approach.

Drawing on the framework of Ideological Square Model, this paper carries out a corpus-based analysis of the ways in which group relations and the image of China are re-shaped in the English translation (ET) and the Chinese translation (CT) of Korean news discourse about China with intensifiers as an entry of inquiry. The results show that (1) There is a statistically significant difference regarding faithfulness between the ET and the CT of intensifiers (χ2 = 38.11>3.84, p<0.05), with the ET having more translation shifts. Additionally, the Chi-square test of a 3x3 contingency table (T = 49.77>5.99, P<0.05) indicates that there is a difference between the distribution of translation shifts at the 3 levels between ET and CT. (2) The ET of Korean news about China aligns more closely with van Dijk's ideological square model, while CT violates. It is argued that South Korean media have ideological factors to consider when it comes to Chinese readers accepting CT. (3) There is an alteration of the ideological square model in the target texts. The results indicate that in the translation of a target language, the translation propensity for relevant topics of the target country in which the language is spoken obeys the rules of "Us", the ingroup, but not "them", the outgroup.

Analysis of South Korean Media Discourse and Issues Regarding China During the COVID-19 Period

Analysis of South Korean Media Discourse and Issues Regarding China During the COVID-19 Period

Illicit media, reflexivity and sociocultural change in North Korea

Since the late 1990s the transnational spread of South Korean media, known as the Korean Wave or Hallyu, has filtered into North Korea through smuggling and black markets. The act of consuming or distributing foreign media contents is considered to be a grave crime against the state. Based on qualitative in-depth interviews with 60 North Koreans, this empirical study draws attention to North Korea's changing media culture in a digital age and addresses the sociocultural implications as the society is going through remarkable change from below at this important historical moment. The article argues for the significance of illicit media culture in the stimulation of everyday reflexivity and sociocultural change by demonstrating how reflexivity operates as an emotional and active mode of learning in North Korean society.

The good, the bad, and the pretty

South Korea has experienced a stark increase in its population’s diversity since the late 1980s. Though South Korean media adopts a superficially positive stance towards migrants, it perpetuates assimilative expectations and emphasises a racial hierarchy. This study critically examines its constructions of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ migrants through a thematic analysis of three popular, unscripted South Korean television shows (Abnormal Summit, Love of 7.7 Billion and Hello Counselor). A little over eight hours of content was examined. The episodes indicate a preference for the migrant perceived as intelligent, high-status, likeable, cosmopolitan and ‘deserving’. Notably, migrants also face paradoxical expectations to assimilate, but not to do so ‘too much’ to avoid disrupting ideals of Koreanness, particularly in terms of language proficiency. Linguistic standards for ethnically Korean immigrants indicate even more ambivalent standards, as they are expected to speak as natively as possible while retaining their ‘outsider’ status.

Shifting Conversations on Online Distance Education in South Korean Society During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Topic Modeling Analysis of News Articles

This study explored the dominant discourses on online distance education (ODE) that emerged in South Korean society before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors conducted a topic modeling analysis of 8,865 news articles published by 24 South Korean media outlets between 2019 and 2021. Using the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) algorithm and social network analysis software (NetMiner), the top five topics and the top ten words associated with each topic were identified from each period. The authors observed significant changes not only in the number of news articles but also in the depth of the conversations published each year. The results have revealed several key points. First, ODE, previously considered marginal and abnormal, gained in normality across all educational levels in Korean society. Second, ODE discourses have been shaped by the unique cultural, historical, and technological infrastructure in South Korea. Third, a clear division between social-justice-oriented and business-oriented ODE discourses reflect a persistent inequality in Korean society. Finally, ODE discourses matured in 2021, with more critical and realistic perspectives on both the positives and negatives of ODE. The useful implications of such insights for post-pandemic ODE research and practice are further discussed.

The role of mainstream media and Christian organisations in shaping South Korean views on Islam and Muslims: A historical study

The media in the West has portrayed Islam negatively after tragic events like 9/11, accusing them of being barbaric and terrorists. Not only has this portrayal affected the views of Western people but also those in Far Eastern countries like Japan and South Korea. In South Korea, the anti-Muslim stance of media and Christian organizations has deteriorated further the reputation of Islam in the eyes of the general population. Utilizing qualitative and library research methods, this paper seeks to explore the longstanding relationship between Islam and South Korea, starting with a historical overview then followed by the attitude of South Korean media and Christian organisations towards Islam in the country which aim to tarnish their image and prevent their acceptance in the country. Moving to the 21st century, the paper will then give insight on the South Korean young generation’s views on Islam, and the role played by social platforms such as YouTube that spread Islamic related content as an attempt to counter Islamophobia. The findings will show that South Korean media, influenced by Western media, and Christian organizations, contributed significantly to the negative perception of Islam in the country. Notwithstanding this, there arise a new generation of South Koreans, who, out of their curiosity, seeks out and disseminate accurate information about Islam via social media hence, made a positive impact from their sharing. This paper ends with a few recommendations for combating the misleading information about Islam spread by the media and Christian organisations in South Korea.

역사학자 박시형의 민족과 과학

Park Si-hyeong, who studied historiography at Keijō Imperial University, participated in the Chintan Society to develop scientific modern positivist historiography and at the same time published a number of enlightening articles about the culture and traditions of Korea in popular magazines. Si-hyeong’s historical studies during the colonial period can be evaluated as pursuing the science and the nation. Immediately after liberation, Park Si-hyeong was active as a Marxist historian in the atmosphere of left-right collaboration.BR After going to North Korea in August 1946, he led the establishment of North Korean historiography by serving as a teacher at Kim Il-sung University and as director of the Institute of History at the Academy of Sciences. History of Joseon Land Institutions, published in 1960 and 1961, was the result of scientific Marxist historiography that compiled his research since his graduation thesis at Keijō Imperial University, based on the theory of feudal state ownership.BR Park Si-hyeong turned to ancient history research in the 1960s. “For the Study of Balhae History”, published in 1962, is a monumental thesis that placed Balhae in Korean history, and is evaluated as laying the groundwork for future research on Balhae history in the academia of North and South Korea. In addition, Si-hyeong’s interpretation of the tombstone of King Gwanggaeto succeeded to Jeong In-bo’s interpretation. It can be seen that the focus of historiography has shifted from science to nation. Since the 1980s, as the Cold War order has been shaken, East Asian historical exchanges have been in full swing. Si-hyeong visited Japan and China and took on the role of advocating nationalist history common to two Koreas. Even in the South Korean media in the 1980s and 1990s, Park Si-hyeong was introduced as a nationalist historian.

빅데이터로 본 독일 : 한국언론을 통해 본 독일의 이미지와 담론 (1990~2022)

본 연구는 독일 통일 이후 최근(1990~2022)까지 한국의 언론 매체에서 독일의 어떠한 이미지를 한국 대중에게 보여주는지 조사한다. 본 연구는 한국언론진흥재단에서 제공하는 빅데이터 플랫폼인 빅카인즈를 활용해 전국 54개의 언론 매체들의 독일 관련 기사 총 1,512,637건을 분석했다. 연구의 결과는 키워드 트렌드, 연관어 분석 및 관계도를 통해제시했다. 본 연구의 결과는 크게 세 가지로 제시할 수 있다. 첫째, 한국 언론은 독일의 경제 및 과학·기술과 관련해 주로 보도했다. 둘째, 독일 관련 키워드는 주로 통일이나 스포츠 관련 키워드들이 빈도수가 높게 나타났다. 셋째, 독일 관련 키워드들은 주로 표면적인 사실들을 적시하였고 이로 미루어 보아 심도 있는 보도들이 이루어졌을 가능성이 적음을 보여준다. 이러한 결과를 통해 양국은 좀 더 심도 있고 다각화된 협력을 위해 노력을 기울일 필요가 있다.

Netflix's presence: Investigating content producers' understanding of Netflix in the Korean media industry

The expansion of over-the-top services is exemplified by the growth of Netflix, a global subscription video-on-demand platform that has globally expanded its services. Netflix's hit series, The Squid Game and Sweet Home, created by South Korean producers, has gained popularity worldwide, enabling Netflix to gain a greater presence in the global markets. Although Netflix has triggered the transformation of local media markets, very few studies have examined its impact, particularly from the perspective of content producers who play a key role in the content creation and development of the over-the-top industry. Accordingly, this study aims to explore their perception of Netflix in terms of the opportunities provided, and the challenges posed to the South Korean media industry. We conducted semi-structured interviews with content producers and employed a core-periphery analysis of social representations. By revealing producers' perceptions of Netflix, this study enhances the overall understanding of its impact on the local media industry and provides theoretical and managerial insights into the global platform's impact on the local market.

MASS MEDIA OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA ON THE COURSE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION’S SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION IN UKRAINE

The trend in the South Korean media continues to be one-sided coverage of the conflict in Ukraine, condemning Russia's position and supporting the policies of a number of Western countries led by the United States. This is due both to the strategy of the new administration of President Yoon Seok Yeul to strengthen the military-political alliance with Washington, to support the latter's position on a number of foreign policy issues, and to the conscious selective information approach to covering both the special military operation itself and its political and diplomatic context. After the protracted nature of the conflict became apparent, the focus of attention turned to publications covering a wider range of issues, such as the economic consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict for the global economy, as well as the possible worsening of Russian-South Korean relations. The emphasis gradually shifted to the area of military confrontation in potentially explosive regions, one of which is the Korean Peninsula.

From Claw Crane to Toy Crane: Catching, Courting, and Gambling in South Korea

Abstract: The claw crane—an arcade game that invites its players to remotely grab a prize with a "claw"—has undergone a long process of development from an eye-catching "steam shovel" to a calculated gambling machine across amusement arcades, train stations, and traveling carnivals. Recently, the claw crane has become a common transmedia object in various consumer outlets around the world, serving today's "kidults" who are willing to play and be playful with toys as grownups. Especially in South Korea, the claw crane now rewards its players with cutified character plushies, which arguably reflects and resonates with the local sociocultural conventions. In this mixed-methods study, we deconstruct the claw crane as a historical artifact that promotes diverse forms of human interaction and engagement in the techno-cultural and social context of South Korea. The claw crane (or in South Korea, rather the "toy crane") is investigated by means of historical design analysis, a review of contemporary South Korean media texts, and field observations in Seoul. We suggest the claw crane to serve as a multipurpose medium for playful interactions beyond the act of play itself—and in South Korea, having become a means for playful courting and emotional support, which at times of anxiety, stress, and uncertainty may contribute to one's confidence and belief in the future.

Branded Media Representations of Coach Sarah Murray: The Intersection of Olympic Nationalism, Gender, and Whiteness in ice Hockey

This study offers a critical discourse analysis of media representations of coach Sarah Murray, the first foreign, the first female, and the youngest head coach of the South Korean women's national ice hockey team at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. We focus on the South Korean media, which framed and manipulated coach Murray's credibility, especially the caliber of her coaching, while constructing a familial tie and restating the global hierarchy between North America and South Korea in the sport of ice hockey. We suggest how the media (re)produced denotative/connotative meanings of the recruitment of Coach Murray and her leadership through determinant moments by engaging a discussion of the discourse that both constructed coach Murray as subordinate to male figures and affirmed whiteness as the center of the global context.

Indonesian representation in South Korean media during the Asian Games Jakarta – Palembang 2018

In August 2018, Indonesia hosted the Asian Games Jakarta – Palembang 2018. After hosting in 1962, Indonesia has had the theme "Asia's Energy", meaning that Indonesia is expected to be a source of energy support for some Asian countries on the world stage. The study aimed to discover the similarities and differences shown on the articles and how Indonesia is represented through lexicon, grammar, discourse practices, grammar, and discourse practices in online news articles written by the Korean Republic’s media. This study used a critical discourse analysis theory of Norman Fairclough with a descriptive qualitative method, developing critical discourse analysis based on formal-systemic linguistic assumptions. Based on the study results, it is observed that the published news articles during the opening were the articles giving a primary focus on Indonesia compared to the published articles during the event and closing, data was collected based on online news articles during the 2018 Jakarta Palembang Asian Games using a literature study of 15 articles. There is also a finding regarding text production in articles of Asian Games Jakarta-Palembang 2018 that were not influenced by outside intervention other than the media itself. Then, based on the text analysis results, it is discovered that Indonesian representations were divided into the viewpoint of a country and the viewpoint of the host of the Asian Games Jakarta Palembang 2018. In addition, the implications of this research are to find out Indonesia’s representation in the news media of the Republic of Korea during the 2018 Asian Games.

A Spatial Analysis of the Voting Patterns in the South Korean General Elections of 2016

In this study we analyze the spatial patterns in the South Korean voting behavior in the context of the 2016 general election along with the socio-economic determinants of the South Korean voters’ choice. To this end we applied spatial econometric analysis to a unique dataset on the outcomes of the 2016 general elections in South Korea at a highly disaggregate level of 229 provinces. Our empirical model accounts for three types of spatial dependence in the data that has to do with the fact that geographic proximity may imply similar voting behavior. Our empirical findings align well with the existing evidence on South Korean voting behavior, in particular regarding the influence produced by the voters’ region of origin, and their age. Surprisingly, we do not find economic characteristics such as the regional income per capita or the rate of unemployment to produce a statistically significant effect on South Korean voters’ choice. However, our results imply that a sound fiscal policy by the local government may act as a signaling device distinguishing between a conservative and a liberal political agenda. Our finding of the older voters leaning towards the conservative edge of the political spectrum suggests that the “silver democracy” now actively discussed in the South Korean media is increasingly assuming more conservative traits.