South Korea has a rich media landscape with more than 47 broadcasters and 220 daily newspapers. The main national newspapers are Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo, Dong-a Ilbo (conservative), Hankyoreh, Kyunghyang Shinmun (liberal), and Hankook Ilbo (centrist). Although television remains popular, in recent years the Internet has become the main source of information. Many Internet users get their news from web portals such as  Naver, while video platforms such as YouTube are becoming increasingly popular.

Since the country’s democratisation in the late 1980s, political actors have respected freedom of the press. However, the political polarisation means that media outlets considered to be “not on our side” are taken to task. In 2021, the then-ruling Minjoo Party pushed through the controversial law against disinformation before it was scrapped following international criticism. The country’s regulations give the government the upper hand in the appointment of public broadcasters’ upper management, which can pose a threat to the outlets’ editorial independence. According to a survey by the Journalist Association of Korea (JAK), more than half of journalists are concerned about the decline in media freedom under the current administration.

South Korean legislation on freedom of information meets international standards, but defamation is still, in theory, punishable by up to seven years in prison, which can lead media outlets to omit key details in certain articles, such as the names of individuals and companies. Journalists accused of violating the National Security Act for disseminating sensitive information, particularly about North Korea, face up to seven years in prison.

Although South Korean reporters benefit from a relatively independent editorial environment, their company’s revenue depends heavily on advertising, which can influence their editorial line. A 2023 Korea Press Foundation (KPF) survey found that more than 60% of journalists viewed advertisers as a threat to press freedom. The acquisition of a growing number of media outlets by companies from other industries – especially the construction sector – also poses a risk of conflict of interest. 

South Korean news outlets face pressure from politicians, government officials and business conglomerates. Internet-centric news consumption is also reflected in media-related disputes as the Korean Press Arbitration Commission reports 78 per cent of the mediation requests in 2023 were about online outlets. Political polarisation also plays a role in the recent decrease in news consumption. A 2024 survey by the Korea Press Foundation found that more than 70 per cent of respondents avoided news, citing alleged political bias as the most frequent reason.

While journalists can work in generally satisfactory conditions, they are sometimes victims of online harassment, a practice against which they have little protection. About 30% of the journalists who took part in the 2023 Korea Press Foundation survey said they have been victims of harassment in relation to their profession. The most prominent form of harassment was via phone calls, text messages and emails, while comments from Internet “trolls” and malicious legal actions were also prevalent. More than 40% of harassed journalists said they didn’t receive adequate support from their employers, indicating a need for legal support.