Dating violence is increasingly becoming a problem in South Korea, however little research has been done into how the issue is represented in the media. Using narrative theory, this research looks...Show moreDating violence is increasingly becoming a problem in South Korea, however little research has been done into how the issue is represented in the media. Using narrative theory, this research looks at representations of the issue of dating violence in South Korean investigative journalism programs. Both the informative content as well as the entertainment elements present in the programs are taken into account. It finds that all seven broadcasts analyzed describe dating violence as a social issue that needs to get the attention of the public, the programs hereby challenge the common perception that dating violence is a private issue. The content of the programs revolves around four key themes: serious problem, institutional failure, the victim, the perpetrator. The representations of the issue on the basis of these themes are found to promote both positive as well as negative beliefs about the issue of dating violence.Show less
The topic of Socially Withdrawn Loners (SWL) has seen a surge in coverage by South Korean media in the past few years. This coverage is not always accurate and many SWL express feeling stigmatized...Show moreThe topic of Socially Withdrawn Loners (SWL) has seen a surge in coverage by South Korean media in the past few years. This coverage is not always accurate and many SWL express feeling stigmatized by society. This thesis explores how SWL are portrayed in Korean drama and if this portrayal coincides with academic literature on this topic. In order to research this, this thesis analyzed and compared four Korean dramas and with the literature as foundation, established a thematic understanding of SWL in dramas. It finds that SWL-characters are generally portrayed positively and sympathetically. Instead dramas are found to have the tendency to trivialize SWL and misrepresent the severity of it.Show less
