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The Chosun Ilbo (Korean: 조선일보, lit. 'Korea Daily Newspaper'), also known as The Chosun Daily, is a Korean-language newspaper of record for South Korea[1][2][3][4][9] and among the oldest active newspapers in the country.[10] With a daily circulation of more than 1,800,000,[11] The Chosun Ilbo has been audited annually since the Audit Bureau of Circulations was established in 1993.[12] The Chosun Ilbo and its subsidiary company, Digital Chosun, operate the Chosun.com news website, which also publishes news in English, Chinese, and Japanese.

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History

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The Chosun Ilbo Establishment Union was created in September 1919. The Chosun Ilbo newspaper was founded on 5 March 1920[10] by Sin Sogu with the financial support of the Daejong Business Association.[13][14] Cho Jin-Tae, the vice-chairman of the Daejong Business Association was appointed the first President of the newspaper in 1920.[15] However, as the Business Association failed to pay promised finances, the relationship between the Association and The Chosun Ilbo broke down five months after its founding, and Cho Jin-Tae was replaced by Yoo Moon-Hwan on 15 August 1920.[15]

On 6 April 1921, after only a year of publishing, The Chosun Ilbo went on hiatus due to financial troubles.[15]

On 31 July 1940, the newspaper published "Lessons of American Realism", the fourth part of an editorial series.[16] Ten days later[16] – following issue 6,923 – the paper was declared officially discontinued by the Japanese ruling government. In the twenty years since its founding, the paper had been suspended by the Japanese government four times, and its issues confiscated over five hundred times before 1932.

When Korea gained independence in 1945, The Chosun Ilbo resumed publication after a five-year, three-month hiatus.

On 1 March 1999, The Chosun Ilbo announced that starting the following day (2 March 1999), it would be switching to the horizontal left-to-right writing style already adopted by most other newspapers by the time, ahead of the paper's 79th anniversary.[17] It also made a commitment to preserve and continue using hanja characters despite the change. Consequently, the 1 March 1999 issue (Issue No. 24305) became the last issue of The Chosun Ilbo written in the vertical right-to-left style and the last mainstream Korean paper that published in the style. All issues since 2 March 1999 have been in the modern horizontal left-to-right style.

Subsidiaries

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Besides the daily newspaper, the company also publishes the Weekly Chosun, the Monthly Chosun, Digital Chosun, Edu-Chosun, and ChosunBiz.

Controversies

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See also: Chojoongdong

The Chosun Ilbo has historically taken a hardline stance against North Korea. For example, it opposed South Korean President Kim Dae-jung's Sunshine Policy, aimed at engaging North Korea through cooperation, mitigating the gap in economic power and restoring lost communication between the two Koreas. For this reason, the newspaper has attracted heavy criticism and threats from the North.[13]

On 6 April 2019, Deutsche Welle described The Chosun Ilbo as "an outlet notorious for its dubious and politically motivated" reporting on North Korea.[18]

On 31 May 2019, the newspaper reported that, based on "an unidentified source", the head diplomat of North Korea's nuclear envoy Kim Hyok-chol, had been executed by a North Korean Government firing squad.[19][20][21][22][23][24] However, two days later, on 2 June 2019, the top diplomat was seen at a concert sitting a few seats away from North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un.[25][26][27]

The Educational Broadcasting System's popular instructor Choi Tae-seong, sued a Chosun Ilbo reporter for publishing an article that defamed him as a supporter of North Korea.[28]

The Chosun Ilbo has been accused of being "chinilbanminjokhaengwi" (친일반민족행위, 親日反民族行爲, "pro-Japanese anti-nationalist activist"), because of controversy over its advocacy of the Korea under Japanese rule.[8] In 2005, the South Korean government and Korean nationalist civic activists investigated whether Chosun Ilbo 'collaborated' with the Japanese Empire.[7] The Chosun Ilbo published articles described[by whom?] as excessively praising the Imperial House of Japan every year from 1938 to 1940. Until 1987, the newspaper had reported favorably on South Korea's military dictatorships.[5]

In 2002, the prosecution sought a sentence of seven years in prison and a fine of 12 billion won for The Chosun Ilbo chairman Bang Sang-hoon, who was indicted on charges of tax evasion and embezzlement. Chairman Bang was accused of evading 6.2 billion won in gift and corporate taxes, as well as embezzling 4.5 billion won in company funds. He was arrested in August of the previous year but was released on bail and has been on trial since. On June 29, 2006, he was indicted for evading 2.35 billion won in gift taxes by transferring 65,000 shares of The Chosun Ilbo to his son through a nominal trust, and for misusing 2.57 billion won in company funds under the names of family members to increase capital in affiliates like Jogwang Publishing and Sports Chosun. The Supreme Court sentenced Chairman Bang to three years in prison with a four-year suspended sentence and a fine of 2.5 billion won for tax evasion and the misappropriation of company funds.[29]

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  • The Chosun Ilbo on January 1, 1940
    The Chosun Ilbo on January 1, 1940

See also

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Notes

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References

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The Chosun Ilbo

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The Chosun Ilbo (Korean: 조선일보; lit. 'Chosun Daily') is a South Korean daily founded on March 5, 1920, under Japanese colonial rule, establishing it as the nation's oldest continuously published modern daily. With a daily circulation exceeding 1.8 million copies, it ranks as one of South Korea's largest newspapers and part of the influential "big three" alongside the and DongA Ilbo, exerting significant sway over , particularly among business leaders and professionals. The publication maintains a conservative editorial stance, characterized by hardline opposition to and advocacy for robust measures, which has positioned it as a to more progressive media outlets in shaping discourse on inter-Korean relations and domestic policy. Founded to amplify Korean voices amid colonial suppression, it has endured historical controversies, including accommodations to Japanese authorities in the late , while achieving milestones such as comprehensive digital archiving of its century-long archive and sustained leadership in readership metrics despite digital disruptions. Its influence extends through Chosun.com, offering multilingual content, though it has drawn criticism for perceived alignment with conservative governments and selective reporting on scandals involving progressive figures.

History

Founding and Colonial Era (1920–1945)

The Chosun Ilbo was established on March 5, 1920, as the first privately owned daily newspaper in Korea, emerging in the aftermath of the March 1 Independence Movement against Japanese colonial rule. Its founding reflected efforts to foster national enlightenment and preserve Korean identity amid intensifying Japanese assimilation policies. The newspaper quickly positioned itself as a voice for Korean cultural and political aspirations, publishing in the Korean language at a time when Japanese authorities sought to suppress native media. From its inception, the Chosun Ilbo encountered severe censorship and suppression by Japanese authorities. It faced its first seizure on April 28, 1920, for an article critiquing a royal marriage, followed by suspensions on August 27 and September 5, 1920, due to editorials condemning police violence against protesters. Further indefinite suspensions occurred in 1925 for inciting public discontent and in 1928, lasting 133 days, after which editorial writer Ahn Jae-hong was imprisoned. Despite these pressures, the advanced independence causes, launching a 1927 campaign for a national independence organization and distributing 100,000 Hangeul textbooks in 1935 to combat illiteracy and promote Korean language use. In the 1930s, repression escalated with policies aimed at eradicating Korean cultural elements, including a March 25, 1936, suppression for an editorial highlighting educational discrimination against Koreans. By 1940, amid Japan's wartime mobilization, the Chosun Ilbo was forced to cease operations on , after Japanese censors had removed 471 news stories in prior years. This closure aligned with broader efforts to consolidate media control, shutting down major Korean-owned newspapers like the Dong-A Ilbo to expedite imperial war efforts and eliminate dissenting voices. The publication remained dormant until after liberation in 1945.

Post-Liberation and Korean War Period (1945–1960)

Following Japan's surrender and Korea's liberation on August 15, 1945, The Chosun Ilbo resumed publication in November 1945 after a forced closure in amid escalating wartime suppression under colonial rule. The newspaper reorganized its operations under the Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK), which governed southern Korea from September 1945 to August 1948, and quickly reestablished itself as Seoul's leading daily with a conservative editorial stance critical of occupation policies that delayed Korean . Circulation grew amid political fragmentation between right-wing nationalists and left-wing groups, though internal tensions arose, including disputes with left-leaning reporters who sought greater influence in the post-colonial press landscape. The Chosun Ilbo advocated for Korean unity and supported figures like , the exiled nationalist leader who opposed USAMGIK's tolerance of Soviet influence in the north and pushed for a unified government ahead of the 1948 division. Following the establishment of the Republic of Korea on August 15, 1948, with as president, the paper aligned with anti-communist policies, publishing editorials emphasizing national reconstruction and vigilance against northern infiltration, including reports on border skirmishes and internal security threats. By 1949, after 's assassination by a right-wing agent amid factional violence, The Chosun Ilbo maintained its role as a major conservative outlet, with daily print runs exceeding tens of thousands amid economic hardship and US aid dependency. The outbreak of the on June 25, 1950, severely disrupted operations when North Korean forces captured by June 28, forcing evacuation southward; the newspaper likely continued limited publishing from , the temporary capital, alongside other major dailies, focusing on war reporting, refugee crises, and UN intervention. 's recapture after the Incheon landing on September 15, 1950, enabled full resumption, with The Chosun Ilbo documenting frontline advances, civilian hardships—including over one million North Korean civilian deaths and mass displacements—and the armistice negotiations culminating on July 27, 1953. Post-armistice, through the late , the paper covered reconstruction under Rhee's authoritarian rule, including land reforms and economic stabilization efforts backed by $2 billion in aid by 1960, while critiquing corruption and electoral manipulations that foreshadowed the . By 1960, its influence solidified as South Korea's premier conservative voice, with verified circulation audited in the hundreds of thousands despite press restrictions.

Expansion and Authoritarian Era (1960s–1980s)

Following Park Chung-hee's , 1961 military coup, which established an authoritarian regime focused on rapid industrialization and anti-communist policies, The Chosun Ilbo navigated tightening media controls while maintaining its position as a leading conservative outlet. The newspaper published reports on the coup in its evening edition on and morning edition the next day, operating amid an atmosphere of that suppressed dissenting voices. The regime's Basic Press Law of centralized oversight, merging news agencies and limiting independent reporting, yet The Chosun Ilbo's alignment with the government's economic and staunch anti-North Korea stance—rooted in its historical nationalist origins—allowed it to receive preferential treatment, including access to official narratives that bolstered its credibility among pro-regime audiences. This favoritism was exemplified by President Park's nickname for publisher Bang Il-yong as "President by Night," reflecting the paper's influential role in shaping public support for Park's policies during South Korea's export-led growth, which expanded the literate and newspaper readership overall. By the Yushin era (1972–1979), after Park's constitutional revisions granting indefinite rule, media suppression intensified through emergency decrees that arrested dissidents and censored coverage of protests, such as the 1974 incident at , which The Chosun Ilbo reported but within regime-approved bounds. Internal resistance emerged, with journalists protesting suppressed anti-government articles, leading to the dismissal of 18 reporters in 1975 amid government pressure via advertising boycotts and surveillance—tactics that forced compliance while enabling The Chosun Ilbo to sustain operations as the regime's de facto mouthpiece on economic achievements, despite purges that sidelined critical voices. Under Chun Doo-hwan's 1979–1988 regime, following Park's assassination and the 1980 , controls peaked with the purge of over 700 journalists nationwide, including more than 70 from The Chosun Ilbo, many of whom formed underground networks opposing dictatorship. The paper adhered to blackouts on , framing protesters as armed agitators per government directives, which preserved its dominance but eroded trust among democratization advocates. Circulation grew in tandem with and rising GDP—from modest post-war levels to millions by the late 1980s for major dailies including The Chosun Ilbo—fueled by increased advertising from chaebols and a page limit expansion from 16 to 50 sheets in 1980, though on limited investigative depth until mounting 1987 protests signaled regime weakening.

Democratization and Post-Cold War Developments (1990s–Present)

With the consolidation of democratic institutions in after the constitutional amendments, The Chosun Ilbo navigated an era of enhanced press freedom in the 1990s, free from the prior authoritarian controls on content and ownership. Circulation audits began in 1993 under the newly established Audit Bureau of Circulations, reflecting the newspaper's sustained dominance amid growing . The strained the industry through advertising slumps and restructurings, yet Chosun Ilbo adapted by maintaining investigative reporting on economic reforms and political scandals, such as the influence-peddling cases involving President Kim Young-sam's family in 1997. Post-Cold War geopolitical shifts, including the Soviet collapse in and subsequent North Korean economic woes, prompted Chosun Ilbo to scrutinize inter-Korean policies through a security-focused lens, often critiquing perceived naivety in engagement strategies during Kim Dae-jung's from 1998. This stance drew progressive backlash, culminating in the Anti-Chosun Movement (1998–2002), where activists and intellectuals accused the paper of perpetuating conservative biases and historical misrepresentations, such as downplaying the 1980 Uprising's democratic significance. Legal victories bolstered its operations; in 2007, the invalidated Newspaper Law provisions capping cross-media ownership at 25%, enabling future expansions for Chosun Ilbo alongside Dong-A Ilbo and . Into the 2000s and 2010s, Chosun Ilbo advanced technologically, launching an news division with real-time breaking coverage on March 26, 2003, and debuting Korea's first full-color edition (36 pages) on October 8, 2003. Broadcasting deregulation facilitated the 2011 launch of , a general programming channel, expanding reach amid digital convergence. By 2010, it held a 24.3% among national dailies, underscoring resilience despite online disruptions and ideological critiques from left-leaning outlets alleging elite over populist reforms.

Organizational Structure

Ownership and Governance

The Chosun Ilbo is published by Chosun Ilbo Co., Ltd., a private entity under the Chosun Media Group, which maintains family ownership primarily held by descendants of the Bang family. This structure reflects a common model among South Korea's major newspapers, where controlling stakes are concentrated in family hands rather than dispersed among public shareholders, enabling direct familial influence over strategic decisions. Governance is led by family members in top roles, with Bang Sang-hoon appointed as chairman and Bang Jun-oh as president on March 4, 2024. Bang Sang-hoon, a key figure in the fifth generation of leadership, oversees the board and executive functions, continuing a lineage where predecessors like Bang Woo-young (former chairman, died 2016) and Bang Il-young (former president, died 2003) shaped the company's direction. The board composition remains opaque due to the private status, but family control ensures alignment with long-term preservation of the publication's operations and from external investors. This familial governance model has persisted since the Bang family's consolidation of control post-Korean , prioritizing generational succession over diversified corporate input. No public disclosures indicate significant non-family ownership or involvement as of 2025, distinguishing it from state-influenced or publicly listed media entities.

Subsidiaries and Media Affiliates

The Chosun Media Group, encompassing The Chosun Ilbo, maintains a network of subsidiaries and affiliates specializing in , , business reporting, , , , and health content. , established in October 1995, serves as a key subsidiary handling online operations, including the Chosun.com portal, which delivers news in multiple languages such as English, Chinese, and Japanese, alongside educational platforms. This entity expanded into multimedia services, supporting the group's transition to digital formats. TV Chosun, launched on December 1, 2011, operates as a major broadcasting affiliate in a led by The Chosun Ilbo, which holds a 20% stake; the channel focuses on comprehensive programming with an emphasis on rapid and fair reporting. Chosun Biz, founded on May 10, 2010, functions as a dedicated brand, providing specialized economic and industry coverage across print and digital platforms. Sports Chosun delivers daily sports and entertainment journalism, positioning itself as a leading outlet in that domain. Publishing affiliates include Chosun News Press, formed in January 2010 from earlier magazines like Monthly Chosun and Weekly Chosun, which produce in-depth analyses on current affairs and topics. Niche subsidiaries such as CS M&E, established in July 2007, concentrate on educational and cultural content production, while Health Chosun, started in December 2005, publishes medical and wellness materials, including books and articles. These entities collectively extend the group's reach beyond traditional print into diversified media ecosystems.

Editorial Stance and Coverage

Political Orientation and Ideology

The Chosun Ilbo maintains a conservative political orientation, characterized by a right-center bias in news reporting and a nationalist conservative stance in its editorials. This positioning aligns it with South Korea's traditional conservative values, including strong anti-communism, advocacy for robust national defense, and support for free-market policies. As one of the "big three" conservative dailies—alongside JoongAng Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo—it has historically endorsed conservative political parties, such as the People Power Party, particularly during elections and policy debates favoring alliance with the United States and economic liberalization. Its ideology emphasizes historical rooted in the Joseon Dynasty legacy, from which it derives its name, promoting cultural preservation and skepticism toward progressive reforms perceived as eroding traditional institutions. The newspaper's editorial line consistently opposes North Korean policies, framing them as existential threats, and critiques left-leaning administrations for alleged or ideological concessions. This hardline approach extends to domestic issues, where it prioritizes law and order, , and resistance to expansive welfare expansions, often attributing societal challenges to progressive failures. Critics from liberal outlets, such as Hankyoreh, accuse the Chosun Ilbo of favoring vested conservative interests, including conglomerates and ruling party proximity during conservative presidencies like those of (2013–2017) and Yoon Suk-yeol (2022–present). However, empirical analyses of coverage patterns confirm a partisan tilt, with favorable framing of conservative candidates and policies in over 11,000 articles reviewed during events like the , where conservative media like Chosun Ilbo emphasized government accountability under liberal rule while supportive under conservatives. Despite such alignments, the outlet maintains journalistic standards, with high factual reporting ratings, distinguishing its conservatism from outright .

Positions on Major Issues

The Chosun Ilbo maintains a hawkish position on , prioritizing denuclearization and skepticism toward 's military claims. In editorials, it has questioned 's assertions of hypersonic missile capabilities, highlighting persistent threats to South Korean and U.S. assets while urging verification through allied intelligence. The newspaper opposes diplomatic overtures that could normalize 's nuclear status, as evidenced by its criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump's October 2025 description of as a "," arguing such rhetoric undermines long-standing denuclearization goals and endangers the Korean Peninsula's stability. On inter-Korean relations, Chosun Ilbo rejects progressive proposals like the "two-state theory" or coexistence with a nuclear-armed North, deeming them reckless deviations from constitutional principles of unification under a free system. It has critiqued government shifts toward reviving inter-Korean cooperation units while downplaying abuses, favoring policies that maintain pressure on amid severed ties and heightened hostilities. The newspaper staunchly supports bolstering the U.S.- alliance as a cornerstone of , advocating modernization to counter North Korean threats and regional shifts. Editorials urge to negotiate expanded mutual interests with Washington, including under potential Trump administration demands, while decrying domestic anti-American sentiments that question the partnership's reciprocity. It warns against isolationist U.S. tendencies but emphasizes alliance resilience over self-reliance factions that could weaken deterrence. In , Chosun Ilbo pushes for market-oriented reforms, including labor flexibility to combat exacerbated by rigid regulations and union influence. It attributes job scarcity to political resistance against , favoring incentives for hiring over driven by high costs, and calls for proactive measures against AI-induced disruptions. On fiscal matters, the demands urgent pension and overhauls to avert , criticizing delays amid partisan . Regarding territorial sovereignty, Chosun Ilbo has lambasted legislative inaction on China's construction of structures in the , interpreting it as an infringement on South Korean claims and calling for assertive diplomatic responses to preserve maritime rights.

Operations and Reach

Publishing Format and Circulation

The Chosun Ilbo is issued as a daily print in format, featuring core sections on general news, economic trends via The Chosun Economy, education through Edu Chosun, health, and lifestyle content in The Friday, alongside weekend editions with in-depth analysis in The Why? and business focus in Weekly BIZ. Supplements and specialized inserts, such as science or child-oriented editions, have been offered periodically, though some like the early morning print run were discontinued in 2005 and revived digitally. Complementing its print operations, the newspaper provides digital formats including full PDF replicas available online, a dedicated news portal at Chosun.com with multilingual content in Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese, and mobile applications for early digital editions. As South Korea's highest-circulation daily, The Chosun Ilbo reports approximately 1.51 million copies sold per day, primarily targeting educated professionals and opinion leaders, with annual audits confirming its leading position since tracking began in 1989 for household penetration. In , verified paid circulation stood at 1,254,297 copies, reflecting its sustained dominance over competitors like the Dong-A Ilbo. Print volumes have historically peaked above 2 million during expansion phases but align with broader industry declines amid digital shifts.

Digital Transformation and Global Outreach

The Chosun Ilbo launched its online service in July 1995, one of the earliest efforts among South Korean newspapers to establish a digital presence ahead of widespread adoption. This initiative allowed for real-time dissemination, supplementing its print operations and adapting to emerging digital reading habits. By the , the newspaper expanded into mobile platforms, developing apps that deliver content optimized for smartphones, with a major revamp coinciding with its 103rd anniversary in 2023 to enhance and speed. In recent years, the Chosun Ilbo has integrated into its newsroom operations to streamline production and content creation. It developed an in-house generative AI-based news-writing assistant for drafting and editing articles, as reported in industry analyses. Further advancements include proprietary AI tools for editing, translating, and supporting multilingual output, alongside partnerships such as with Upstage AI for enhanced workflows launched in February 2025. These efforts reflect a strategic pivot toward AI-driven efficiency amid South Korea's broader media digitalization, though implementation remains focused on augmentation rather than full automation. For global outreach, the Chosun Ilbo maintains The Chosun Daily, an English-language platform offering translated selections from its Korean content, covering national, international, and North Korea-specific news to reach non-Korean speakers. Launched to provide in-depth analysis and commentary, it emphasizes unbiased reporting on Korean affairs for an international audience. In October 2025, the newspaper introduced Chosun Membership, a subscription service granting unlimited digital access to eight affiliated publications, including AI-assisted English translations and lifestyle content tailored for global users, priced at varying tiers for domestic and overseas subscribers. This model facilitates broader international engagement by bundling premium digital editions and apps, positioning the Chosun Ilbo as a key source for Korea-focused English news amid competition from global wire services.

Controversies and Criticisms

Allegations of Conservative Bias and Government Proximity

The Chosun Ilbo has been accused by progressive critics and liberal-leaning media of displaying a conservative in its reporting and editorials, often prioritizing nationalist and right-wing perspectives over balanced coverage. Independent assessments, such as those from , classify the newspaper as having a right-center in reporting combined with a strong right-leaning nationalist conservative editorial stance, evidenced by selective emphasis on issues like security threats from and criticism of progressive policies. Academic content analyses further substantiate partisan differences, revealing that Chosun Ilbo's framing of events, including the response under liberal administrations, tends to highlight government shortcomings in a manner aligned with conservative critiques, differing markedly from liberal outlets like Hankyoreh. These allegations portray the as systemic, rooted in the newspaper's historical alignment with establishment conservatism rather than objective journalism. Critics specifically allege proximity to conservative governments, claiming Chosun Ilbo provides unduly favorable coverage during right-wing presidencies, fostering a symbiotic relationship that shields ruling powers from scrutiny. This view frames the newspaper as part of the "Chojoongdong" triad (Chosun Ilbo, , DongA Ilbo), accused of colluding with conservative regimes through softened critiques and amplified policy defenses, particularly under (2008–2013) and early (2013–2017) administrations. Such claims intensified during liberal governments, like Kim Dae-jung's (1998–2003), when conservative media faced audits and protests for alleged past pro-establishment leanings under authoritarian predecessors, though Chosun Ilbo countered these as politically motivated suppression. These allegations, largely advanced by left-leaning sources with their own ideological incentives, overlook instances where Chosun Ilbo has diverged from conservative leaders, such as its role in exposing scandals leading to Geun-hye's 2016–2017 and recent critiques of Yoon Suk-yeol's 2024 declaration. Empirical studies of media-government alliances indicate that while conservative outlets like Chosun Ilbo exhibit ideological affinity with right-wing rule—resulting in relatively muted opposition compared to their vigor under liberal rule—this pattern reflects partisan media dynamics common in polarized systems rather than outright subservience. Nonetheless, the persistence of these claims underscores broader distrust among progressives, who view the newspaper's ownership ties to interests as reinforcing elite .

The Anti-Chosun Movement (1998–2002)

The Anti-Chosun Movement emerged in the late 1990s as a progressive campaign primarily targeting The Chosun Ilbo for its perceived conservative bias, historical revisionism, and undue influence in post-authoritarian . It gained momentum following the October 26, 1998, publication in The Chosun Ilbo of articles criticizing professor Choi Jang-jip's views on the , portraying them as sympathetic to and ideologically extreme. Choi, a policy adviser to President , faced accusations of distorting historical events like the Jeju Uprising and the Gwangju Democratization Movement, prompting widespread backlash from intellectuals, students, and online activists who viewed the coverage as an attack on democratic reforms. This incident, combined with Choi's successful libel suit against Monthly Chosun (an affiliate publication) for 500 million won in damages, galvanized critics who argued that The Chosun Ilbo perpetuated authoritarian-era narratives and resisted efforts. The movement's goals centered on curbing The Chosun Ilbo's media dominance, exposing its alleged pro-Japanese collaboration during the colonial period, and advocating for broader press reforms to align with South Korea's democratization. Activists, including journalist Kang Chun-man, mobilized through cyberspace platforms like Urimodu.com, framing the newspaper as an obstacle to historical reckoning over figures like and events tied to Korea's "history wars." Protests and boycotts intensified after the June 2000 inter-Korean summit, with critics linking The Chosun Ilbo's skepticism toward Kim Dae-jung's to anti-progressive agendas. On September 21, 2000, the Federation of Citizens Opposing Chosun Ilbo (ACF) was formally established, coordinating nationwide actions to highlight the newspaper's ownership ties to conservative elites and its resistance to public accountability. Development accelerated during the lead-up to the 2002 presidential election, where the movement aligned with supporters of candidate , including his online Nosamo, using digital forums to amplify calls for . Key actions included full-page anti-Chosun advertisements in rival outlets and public denunciations of the newspaper's coverage as ideologically driven rather than journalistic. Opponents, such as the pro-Chosun group Joase, countered by defending the paper's editorial independence against what they termed leftist censorship. The campaign culminated in a on November 17, 2002, in , where thousands rallied to condemn The Chosun Ilbo, though it waned post-election amid Roh's victory and shifting political priorities. While achieving limited immediate reforms, the movement underscored tensions between progressive activism and established media in South Korea's evolving democracy, with The Chosun Ilbo maintaining its circulation despite the scrutiny.

Responses to Criticisms and Internal Reforms

In response to allegations of conservative bias and proximity to government during conservative administrations, Chosun Ilbo executives have maintained that such criticisms stem from ideological opposition rather than substantive errors in reporting, often framing them as efforts by progressive forces to undermine independent journalism. During the anti-Chosun movement of the late 1990s and early 2000s, which involved public boycotts and protests against the newspaper's perceived pro-establishment stance, the outlet's described related government tax investigations as "nonsense" and politically driven attempts to target conservative media. This defensive posture emphasized the newspaper's commitment to national interests and empirical scrutiny over acquiescence to activist demands for ideological realignment. Chosun Ilbo has occasionally acknowledged specific reporting flaws through or retractions, as required by journalistic standards, but has not implemented broad internal reforms to alter its orientation in direct response to critiques. For example, amid broader media scrutiny in the 2000s, the newspaper faced internal debates on coverage balance, yet leadership prioritized reinforcing fact-based analysis aligned with its longstanding emphasis on and economic conservatism, without shifting core stances on issues like policy or historical narratives. Critics from progressive outlets and academics have argued this lack of perpetuates systemic slant, though the newspaper counters that demands for "reform" often mask pushes for left-leaning conformity, citing empirical data on metrics where conservative readers affirm its reliability. No major structural overhauls, such as diversified boards or bias-auditing mechanisms, have been publicly documented as outcomes of these controversies, with the outlet instead investing in digital expansion and legal defenses against suits arising from boycott-related . This resilience is attributed by supporters to causal factors like reader loyalty—evidenced by sustained circulation above 1.5 million daily copies into the —contrasting with declining trust polls influenced by progressive-leaning surveys. Internal efforts have focused on enhancing verification processes for contentious stories, such as those involving political scandals, to mitigate false reporting claims, though these predate widespread digital-era criticisms and align more with general industry standards than targeted self-correction.

Influence and Legacy

Impact on South Korean Public Discourse

The Chosun Ilbo exerts considerable influence on South Korean public discourse as the nation's oldest and most widely circulated conservative newspaper, consistently ranking first in subscriber numbers among dailies as of 2020. Its editorial emphasis on anticommunism, economic deregulation, and robust national defense has historically framed debates on security threats from North Korea and foreign policy alignments, often setting the agenda for conservative viewpoints in opposition to progressive narratives. This agenda-setting role is evident in coverage of inter-Korean summits in 2000, 2007, and 2018, where corpus-assisted discourse analysis showed the newspaper prioritizing risk assessments and historical grievances over reconciliation optimism. In political reporting, the Chosun Ilbo contributes to polarized discussions by amplifying critiques of liberal administrations, such as during protests and elections, where its framing aligns with ruling conservative interests and highlights perceived governmental failures in areas like and . Comparative studies of its articles alongside progressive Hankyoreh reveal detectable ideological orientations through linguistic patterns, with Chosun Ilbo articles embedding conservative priors on topics like relations from 2016 to 2019, influencing reader interpretations toward sovereignty and alliance priorities with the . During the , its selective emphasis on accountability for policy missteps under progressive leadership further entrenched partisan divides in . The newspaper's proximity to conservative power structures has amplified its sway in sustaining anticommunist mentalities post-Korean War, countering left-leaning academic and media biases by promoting evidence-based of policies. Since its founding in 1920 under Japanese occupation, it has voiced public sentiments on , evolving into a platform that shapes elite and mass debates on and economic reforms, though often criticized for in coverage. This enduring role underscores its function as a bulwark for conservative realism in a fragmented media environment dominated by ideological silos.

Achievements, Awards, and Enduring Role

The Chosun Ilbo has achieved notable longevity as South Korea's oldest daily newspaper, founded on March 5, 1920, during the Japanese colonial period with the aim of voicing Korean public opinions. Over its century-plus history, key milestones include publishing its 30,000th issue on June 24, 2017; opening the Chosun Ilbo , a experience center, on March 5, 2013; and establishing the UNIKOREA Foundation on May 26, 2015, to promote Korean unity. The newspaper introduced pioneering innovations such as Korea's first 36-page full-color edition on October 8, 2003, and an online system via its News Sector on March 26, 2003, reflecting adaptations to technological advancements while maintaining print dominance. Its audited daily circulation has consistently exceeded one million copies, reaching 1,254,297 as of June 2016, positioning it as the sole Korean newspaper to achieve this scale. In recognition of journalistic excellence, The Chosun Ilbo received an honorable mention in the Asia Society's Osborn Elliott Prize for Journalism on May 24, 2010, for investigative reporting on North Korean refugees and routes through . Staff achievements further underscore quality, including a 2025 design award from the Korean Editors Association for an article visualizing Iran's nuclear airstrike developments. These honors highlight the paper's commitment to rigorous coverage amid regional tensions. The Chosun Ilbo endures as South Korea's preeminent , commanding influence through high credibility and readership among opinion leaders—48.6% of whom named it the representative paper in a 2017 survey. It leads competitors in providing in-depth analyses (preferred by 26.7% of elites) and practical information (27.4%), fostering informed public discourse on , , and from a conservative perspective grounded in empirical reporting. This role persists despite digital shifts, as evidenced by sustained advertising effectiveness and agenda-setting power in policy debates.

References

  1. https://www.chosun.com/english/industry-en/2020/03/05/DRLP3EVVZWG2R5YQPA75VB5HUI/
  2. https://www.w3newspapers.com/south-korea/
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