Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ya-ta Boy]

I work with young adults, currently 27-35 years old. The first day I offer them the opportunity to write a diary if they enjoy writing and I will correct the grammar over lunch and return it in the afternoon class. They can write about anything they want; respond to discussion questions in class, report on private matters; something on their minds, etc. Two of my ten do it every day and most of the rest do it a few times a week, so I have four or five to correct every day. I mention this so you know how often/much I get input from adult Koreans.

Yesterday I got the following �diary� from a 27 year old woman student. It is very typical of one type of things they write. I�m posting it because I�m interested in people�s response to the content:


It is often said that the news media is trustworthy due to their work ethics, but I disagree that the media always offers objective information. Sometimes, they make people confused by rumors or articles without ground.

First, most media is owned by conglomerates. For example, 30% of Korean daily newspaper companies� stocks are owned by KT & G, a famous (well-known) Korean cigarette company. So Korean daily newspapers reported articles that many people are against a ban on smoking. This is different from normal statistics that people are in favor of that. This is a good example showing how dominated the media is by conglomerates.

Also, the information from news media is exaggerated to attain more viewers. It is often observed that news media deliberately plays on the audience�s fear and excitement. Their stories are not about average people, but extreme cases. For example, PD Diary, which is a popular TV program about social affairs, broadcast programs relating to student gangs. According to this source, all students are threatened by gangs, including kids of viewers. At that time, audiences quoted it to everyone they knew. However, that was only limited to certain schools or areas. Most students are safe.

Briefly, the news media can make a fabricated report the way they want. That�s why people should not believe in everything they read and see.


***
Me again.

I have written out my own reactions, but I'd like to hear the reactions of others first.

[pkang0202]

From my business adults, this is a typical reaction.

From average parents and most teachers, the response is different. Their attitude is, "Why would the media lie to Koreans?"

Then again, the Koreans I teach work for US companies, so they travel to the US regularly.

[eamo]

PD Dairy is tabloid TV. Sensationalist. Populist. They'll say anything for ratings. But they have been taken down a peg by being sued for misinformation on US beef.

[BigBuds]

And in other news, water is wet .

[Ya-ta Boy]