1910년대 매일신보의 쇄신과 보급망 확장

Abstract

This study assesses the role of the Maeilshinbo as a publicity medium for the Governor-General of Korea. To this end, we tracked the circulation of the Maeilshinbo and the changes in its distribution network. In particular, we examined the motivations behind the 1912 design update and its results. Despite the full support of the “Governor-General,” before its renovation, the Maeilshinbo’s readership was decreasing. Its shift from an "anti-Japanese" to a "pro-Japanese" orientation was a crucial factor, and the publication of the Korean edition of the Chosonshinmun in October 1911 added to the crisis. The Chosonshinmun was launched as a national newspaper and became the second newspaper after the Kyeongseongilbo. With its stable distribution network, the Chosonshinmun outperformed the Maeilshinbo in terms of price, zoning, number of editions, volume of articles, etc. To overcome this situation, in 1912, the Maeilshinbo integrated the two Korean editions that were mixed with Chinese characters, and wrote them in Hangul only. More interesting and critical articles were also added to the Society section. With this renovation, the Maeilshinbo expanded its distribution network actively. The outbreak of World War I certainly increased the number of newspaper readers. As a result, by the end of 1914, the Maeilshinbo was printing nearly 20,000 copies a day. That same year, the Governor-General reorganized the local administration to reduce the number of gun and to strengthen the status of the myeon. The MP Police no longer needed to be at the forefront of government policy announcements. This became the role of the Maeilshinbo, which had a distribution of 20,000 copies. In April 1916, the closure of the Chosonshinmun made the Maeilshinbo the only nationwide Korean newspaper.