Towards A Greater Vision

1. June 2013 Towards A Greater Vision Monitoring the pattern and growth of South Korea’s media Presented by: Oloruntobi “IBK” Jaiyeola SIS-645-E01L-E91L-2013XE International Communication & Cultural PolicyAffiliation: 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 • MunhwaBroadcasting 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 (ChosunIlbo, DongAIlbo and JoongAngIlbo) 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 • MunhwaBroadcasting 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 2012 SCORES PRESS STATUS Partly Free PRESS FREEDOM SCORE 32 LEGAL ENVIRONMENT 9 POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT 14 ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 9 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

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!