1. Towards A Greater Vision
Monitoring the pattern and growth of South Korea’s media
June 2013
Presented by: Oloruntobi “IBK” Jaiyeola
SIS-645-E01L-E91L-2013XE International Communication & Cultural Policy
Affiliation: American University
Web: http://southkoreaniccpolicy.wordpress.com

2. Media History
 Colonial Period (1910-1945): restriction by Japanese
colonial government
 The American Military rule, the First and Second
republics (1945~1961): unstable democracy, guaranteed
freedom of press followed by misuse of freedom.
 The military regimes (1961~1987): return to severe
restrictions on political content. Creation of soft news
and sensationalism trend. Consolidation of industries by
government and creation of oligopolies
 Civilian governments (1988~present): Return to
freedom and independence of press with the exception
of few administrations. Rise of digital revolution.

3. Structure
Television
 Out of the country's 4 terrestrial television networks listed
below, 3 of them are owned by the Government of South
Korea.
 Korea Broadcasting System (KBS) - Public; owned by
Government of South Korea
 Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Public; owned
by Government of South Korea
 Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS): Private
 Education Broadcasting System (EBS): Public; owned by
Government of South Korea
CJ Group one the largest conglomerate in South Korea, owns
several cable TV channels under its subsidiary CJ
Entertainment

4. Structure
Newspapers/ Publishing
 Most newspapers in the country are controlled by
industrial conglomerates, and are often critical of the
government
 The three newspapers with the widest circulations
(Chosun Ilbo, DongA Ilbo and JoongAng Ilbo) are
privately owned. They have a circulation of two million
people each
 There are over 100 operating national newspapers
including two English newspapers - The Korea Times
and The Korea Herald.

5. Structure
Radio
 Like the television networks, the radio networks are
predominantly owned by the Government of South Korea.
 Korea Broadcasting System (KBS) - Public; owned by Government
of South Korea
 Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Public; owned by
Government of South Korea
 Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS): Private
 Education Broadcasting System (EBS): Public; owned by
Government of South Korea
 Christian Broadcasting System (EBS): Public; Government funded
 Traffic Broadcasting System (EBS): Public; Government funded

6. Digital Media Revolution &
Censorship
The country has a very high internet usage. There were
an estimated 40 million South Koreans online by the
end of 2011 (BBC 2012).
 Micro blogging and social networking sites are very
popular
 December, 2010: the Korea Communications
Commission (KCC) announced internet content
monitoring policy… which would automatically
delete any online anti-governmental message
 Under the administration of Lee Myung-bak

7. KCSC (Korean Communications
Standards Commission)

8. Digital Media Revolution &
Censorship
There have been several forms of restrictions under
Myung-bak, causing Korea’s press freedom status to
drop due to the government’s attempts to censor and
restrict content.
 In 2007: Some bloggers were censored, arrested, and
their posts deleted by police for expressing criticism
of, or support for, given presidential candidates
Despite plurality of media, the governments restrictions
and manipulation of media laws, do not reflect the true
freedom of press of a democracy – uncanny
resemblance to its authoritarian regime
2012 SCORES
PRESS STATUS
Partly Free
PRESS FREEDOM
SCORE
32
LEGAL
ENVIRONMENT
9
POLITICAL
ENVIRONMENT
14
ECONOMIC
ENVIRONMENT
9

9. Why does this matter?
 Because of social and cultural infrastructures like
MediACT
 MediACT is part of the digital revolution and was a
victim of Lee Myung-bak’s policies in 2010 facing a
shut down
 Lee Myung-bak may be out of office, but the policies
are not, and the mediascape and culture sector in
South Korea runs the risk of creative suppression
 Let us make South Korea a true democracy

10. Thank you!