Chojoongdong
Encyclopedia
Cho-Joong-Dong is a generally negative nickname for the three major newspapers in South Korea
, the Chosun Ilbo, Joongang Ilbo
and Dong-a Ilbo
, which are criticized (primarily among local leftists) for a purportedly uniform and conservative
editorial stance, and for operating in an allegedly collusive and surreptitious manner. The name arises from a common local practice of forming three character acronyms as an abbreviation.
Critics of 'Chojoongdong' claim that there is an "evil" collusion" between CJD and the Lee Myung-bak government
.
As of July 2008, the three newspapers occupy 58% of the newspaper subscription market in Korea..
, however did not exist during the Japanese occupation) , as well as their collaboration with domestic authoritarian rule 20 years ago.
. The three newspapers have been censoring Wikileaks
-related articles that expose negative issues under President Lee Myung-bak
's administrative influence. Under Lee Myung-bak, the Chojoongdong cartel contributed influences to the KBS by firing Jung Yeon-ju, the then head of KBS. It has also censored court decisions that were advantageous to MBC's PD Note and its episode on 2008 Beef protests.
MBC
current affairs program (Newswho) alleges that because there are direct or indirect marital relationships between the CJD and 30 Chaebol
(business conglomerates) in Korea, they have conflicts of interest with respect to the revision of the Broadcast Law, one of the core subjects in the 279th National Assembly in Korea. The new law was passed in the Assembly last July. Many expect that the new law will give major printed newspaper companies a chance to expand their areas to broadcast stations. This biggest change in the media industry is going to make profitability of the printed newspapers a lot more easier. In addition, transition to the television world may allow more upscale and educated consumers in Korea to receive various aspects of information,as a result it can satisfy rapidly increasing information demands. On the other hand, some critics argue that newspaper companies with higher market share might hold monopoly in information industry.
. For instance, the three Chojoongdong newspapers simultaneously presented articles about the danger of negative rumors on the South Korea–United States Free Trade Agreement among South Korean social network service
users, particularly on Twitter
.
over US beef imports, the major newspapers showed a favourable attitude towards market opening and reported negatively on the candle lit demonstrations. This opposition temporarily stimulated a boycott movement.
During the 2008 mad cow protests
, protesters allegedly attacked and vandalised the buildings of the three major newspapers, and CJD newspapers claim that some of their employees where allegedly harassed.
On February 19 2009, the court found guilty some activists who organised and ran the boycott, sentencing them to 10-months in jail (on a two-year suspended sentence) or fines. The defendants have indicated that they will launch an appeal.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, the Chosun Ilbo, Joongang Ilbo
JoongAng Ilbo
JoongAng Ilbo is a conservative newspaper published in Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the "big three newspapers" in South Korea. It has a circulation of 1.96 million copies in South Korea . Its average page count per copy is around 52...
and Dong-a Ilbo
Dong-a Ilbo
The Dong-a Ilbo is one of three major South Korean newspapers with over 2 million daily circulation...
, which are criticized (primarily among local leftists) for a purportedly uniform and conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
editorial stance, and for operating in an allegedly collusive and surreptitious manner. The name arises from a common local practice of forming three character acronyms as an abbreviation.
Critics of 'Chojoongdong' claim that there is an "evil" collusion" between CJD and the Lee Myung-bak government
Lee Myung-bak government
The Lee Myung-bak government is sixth consecutive government of the Sixth Republic of South Korea. It was officially launched on February 25th, 2008, under Lee Myung-bak's victory in the 2007 presidential election...
.
As of July 2008, the three newspapers occupy 58% of the newspaper subscription market in Korea..
Criticisms
Opponents of the three major newspapers accredit them with a disproportional degree of influence and power, to the extent that they believe that simply abolishing them would unleash major positive changes (one of the most prominent anti-newspaper organizations is called "Beautiful World Without Chojoongdong"). Although the major newspapers are private organisations, and are competitors with each other, they are nevertheless considered by their opponents to be a monolithic, quasi-governmental organization. Criticism stems from their previous history of collaboration with Japanese colonialists more than 60 years ago (the Joongang IlboJoongAng Ilbo
JoongAng Ilbo is a conservative newspaper published in Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the "big three newspapers" in South Korea. It has a circulation of 1.96 million copies in South Korea . Its average page count per copy is around 52...
, however did not exist during the Japanese occupation) , as well as their collaboration with domestic authoritarian rule 20 years ago.
Censorship
Chojoongdong newspapers are known to have conservative tendencies of censoring news unfavorable to the conservative Lee Myung-bak governmentLee Myung-bak government
The Lee Myung-bak government is sixth consecutive government of the Sixth Republic of South Korea. It was officially launched on February 25th, 2008, under Lee Myung-bak's victory in the 2007 presidential election...
. The three newspapers have been censoring Wikileaks
Wikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
-related articles that expose negative issues under President Lee Myung-bak
Lee Myung-bak
Lee Myung-bak is the President of South Korea. Prior to his presidency, he was the CEO of Hyundai Engineering and Construction and the mayor of Seoul. He is married to Kim Yoon-ok and has three daughters and one son. His older brother is Lee Sang-deuk, a South Korean politician. He attends the...
's administrative influence. Under Lee Myung-bak, the Chojoongdong cartel contributed influences to the KBS by firing Jung Yeon-ju, the then head of KBS. It has also censored court decisions that were advantageous to MBC's PD Note and its episode on 2008 Beef protests.
Japanese collaboration
Although Chosun Ilbo was founded as Korean newspapers, they eventually collaborated with Japanese military rule in the late colonial era, i.e. the 1930s and 40's. During this time, the newspaper encouraged Koreans to be loyal to Japan, to participate in the Pacific War, and “to be loyal to the Japanese emperor as his subjects."Cartel of strategic marriages
Opponents believe that CJD have joined with the business world through strategic marriages , making their articles biased towards capital.MBC
Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC (Hangul : 문화방송주식회사, Munhwa Bangsong Jushikoesa) is one of four major national South Korean television and radio networks. Munhwa is the Korean word for "culture". Its flagship terrestrial television...
current affairs program (Newswho) alleges that because there are direct or indirect marital relationships between the CJD and 30 Chaebol
Chaebol
Chaebol refers to a South Korean form of business conglomerate. They are global multinationals owning numerous international enterprises. The term is often used in a context similar to that of the English word "conglomerate"...
(business conglomerates) in Korea, they have conflicts of interest with respect to the revision of the Broadcast Law, one of the core subjects in the 279th National Assembly in Korea. The new law was passed in the Assembly last July. Many expect that the new law will give major printed newspaper companies a chance to expand their areas to broadcast stations. This biggest change in the media industry is going to make profitability of the printed newspapers a lot more easier. In addition, transition to the television world may allow more upscale and educated consumers in Korea to receive various aspects of information,as a result it can satisfy rapidly increasing information demands. On the other hand, some critics argue that newspaper companies with higher market share might hold monopoly in information industry.
Pro-American bias
The Chojoongdong cartel is known to have a pro-American bias especially during the current conservative Lee Myung-bak government. Particularily the Chosun Ilbo came back into publication on November 23rd, 1945 with a support from the American military governmentUnited States Army Military Government in Korea
The United States Army Military Government in Korea, also known as USAMGIK, was the official ruling body of the southern half of the Korean Peninsula from September 8, 1945 to August 15, 1948...
. For instance, the three Chojoongdong newspapers simultaneously presented articles about the danger of negative rumors on the South Korea–United States Free Trade Agreement among South Korean social network service
Social network service
A social networking service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, who, for example, share interests and/or activities. A social network service consists of a representation of each user , his/her social...
users, particularly on Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
.
Anti-Cho-Joong-Dong movements
"Anti-ChoJoongDong sentiment" has existed in the past. However, in 2008, during the mad cow protestsUS beef imports in South Korea
The 2008 US beef protest in South Korea was an importation issue in South Korea – United States relations after the closure of the South Korean market to US beef imports upon the discovery of a US case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in 2003...
over US beef imports, the major newspapers showed a favourable attitude towards market opening and reported negatively on the candle lit demonstrations. This opposition temporarily stimulated a boycott movement.
During the 2008 mad cow protests
US beef imports in South Korea
The 2008 US beef protest in South Korea was an importation issue in South Korea – United States relations after the closure of the South Korean market to US beef imports upon the discovery of a US case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in 2003...
, protesters allegedly attacked and vandalised the buildings of the three major newspapers, and CJD newspapers claim that some of their employees where allegedly harassed.
Boycott movement
During the mad cow protests, Internet activists launched a movement to boycott advertisers who put advertisements in those newspapers. They shared a list of advertisers on the Internet, and then pressured advertisers by launching a harassment campaign via telephone or mail.On February 19 2009, the court found guilty some activists who organised and ran the boycott, sentencing them to 10-months in jail (on a two-year suspended sentence) or fines. The defendants have indicated that they will launch an appeal.
See also
- HankyungohHankyungohHan-Kyung-Oh' refers to Hankyoreh Sinmun, Kyunghyang Sinmun, and Ohmynews, the three main liberal press in South Korea...
- Chosun Ilbo
- Donga Ilbo
- Joongang IlboJoongAng IlboJoongAng Ilbo is a conservative newspaper published in Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the "big three newspapers" in South Korea. It has a circulation of 1.96 million copies in South Korea . Its average page count per copy is around 52...
- Conservatism in South KoreaConservatism in South KoreaConservatism in South Korea is generally considered to be primarily represented by the Grand National Party. There are other right-wing parties that used to have ties with the Grand National Party. It is also represented by in-party cliques such as the New Rights...
- Partido da Imprensa GolpistaPartido da Imprensa GolpistaPartido da Imprensa Golpista is a term which became widely used among left-wing Brazilian websurfers since 2007 to characterize the attitude of the Brazilian mass media towards President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during the 2006 presidential election. The term was popularized by journalist Paulo...
- a similar Brazilian phenomenon
External Links
- The Press and Democracy in South Korea - A Survey of Print Journalists’ Opinions by Eun Suk SA
-
[Editorial Boycott the ChoJoongDong broadcasts’ celebration]