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KANG HYE-RAN
The author is the head of the international news team of JoongAng Daily.
At the request of the Jeju Forum this Friday, I selected the main international news and figures of the year. The last month of the year has arrived. This year’s international news seems to be very close to us. For example, Russia’s war on Ukraine is a historical event, but one that is intertwined with domestic issues. According to reports, shells provided by a South Korean defense company are being supplied to Ukraine through the United States.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan made me realize that Taiwan’s geopolitics is directly related to South Korea’s economic security. When Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attempted a fist bump with US President Joe Biden, it appeared to be international news. But when he signed a 40 trillion won ($30.8 billion) contract during a 20-hour visit to South Korea last month, Korean portals were in an uproar over the news.
International news becomes domestic news and vice versa. During Biden’s visit to South Korea in May, foreign journalists pointed out to President Yoon Suk-yeol at a joint press conference that the cabinet is biased towards men. President Yoon’s fiery microphone instantly sparked a rift between MBC and the Blue House, attracting the attention of foreign media.
The most important thing is the Itaewon disaster. Outside of North Korea-related news, few North Korean issues make headlines around the world. And not just because 26 of the 158 victims were foreigners. The naked face of the dangerous society hidden in the compressed growth of the “developed countries” among the top ten economies in the world shocked the world. The term “crowd obsession” used to describe tragedies in India and Indonesia isn’t just used in international news.
I also felt a career crisis on Nov. 16 when I read The Washington Post’s digital depth report, “Critical Mistakes Cause Tragic Delay in Rescue in Seoul Alleyway.” The English-language article garnered explosive commentary for its analysis of more than 350 video and photo posts, some obtained exclusively and many reviewed by experts at the paper’s request. Two days later, The Washington Post began using Korean. The New York Times also dedicated its coverage of the disaster.
How competitive is Korean media in international and domestic news, will it become more intertwined? I’m thinking about whether there will be a better answer this time next year.
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