한국언론을 통해 본 미국과 미국화: 이미지와 담론

Abstract

About 150 years have passed since Koreans and Americans encountered for the first time. But the significant relationship between Korea and the U.S. has developed after the liberation of Korea and the establishment of the American military government in 1945. Ever since, the U.S. has exerted enormous influences on Korea and the Korean people in general. And the U.S. became not only the vital force for the survival and development of Korea, but also the medium for introducing western civilization to the Korean people. Under such circumstances, America became everyday realities to Koreans, and Koreans experienced Americanization either consciously or unconsciously. Thus, this study explores how Koreans have viewed America and Americanization in the years from 1945 to the 1990s. In reviewing the columns and editorials regarding America and Americanization, appeared in Korean newspapers and magazines, this study aims at finding out changes in images and discourses regarding America and Americanization in Korea respectively. The images of America have dramatically changed over the years from the liberator, the provider, the blood-tied alliance, and the defender of democracy to an imperialist nation, an obstacle to Korean democracy and an obstacle to the unification of Korea, and finally to the hegemonic country pursuing its own interest only. Likewise, Koreans' assessment of Americanization has also changed from 'something amount to modernization' to 'something good only for American interests,' thus, 'something that must be denied or criticized. Although Korean journalism is not the only one that has constructed the images of America and discourses about Americanization, it played a leading role in making and propagating them among the Korean people. Thus, the changes in images and discourses, appeared in journalism, may be understood as representing changes occurred in the Koreans' view of America and Americanization.