In an increasingly interconnected world, media plays a pivotal role in shaping public perceptions of foreign nations. In South Korea, legacy media outlets—such as *Chosun Ilbo*, *Hankyoreh*, *Yonhap News Agency*, and others—wield significant influence over how Koreans view the United States. However, under the current administration of President Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party (DP), which assumed power in June 2025 following political turmoil and the ouster of former President Yoon Suk-yeol[1][2][3], this influence appears increasingly skewed. Positive U.S. initiatives, particularly those combating communism and promoting global democracy, are often underreported or framed neutrally at best, while negative aspects receive amplified coverage. This imbalance not only distorts Koreans' understanding of America but also aligns with broader shifts under the DP, including proposals to lift bans on North Korean websites, potentially normalizing communist propaganda[4][5][6]. Drawing on recent polls, media analyses, and public discourse, this article argues that such biases erode pro-U.S. sentiments, threaten the U.S.-ROK alliance, and serve a left-leaning agenda that downplays anti-communist efforts.
The Korean Media Landscape: Partisan Divides and Overall Bias
South Korea's media is deeply polarized along ideological lines, with conservative outlets like *Chosun Ilbo* and *Dong-A Ilbo* often advocating stronger U.S. ties, while progressive ones like *Hankyoreh* and *Kyunghyang Shinmun* emphasize autonomy and critique U.S. policies[7][8][9]. Despite this, overall coverage of the U.S. leans negative, with sentiment analyses showing a -0.77 score for alliance-related stories, indicating pessimism or criticism[10]. Public trust in media remains low at around 31%, exacerbating perceptions of bias[11].
This bias manifests in selective reporting: Positive U.S. stories, such as economic investments or cultural exchanges, receive coverage but are often overshadowed by critiques of U.S. politics or foreign interventions[12]. For instance, while U.S.-ROK summits in 2025 were highlighted for $350 billion in investments, media focused more on tensions over trade and Trump's "unpredictability"[13]. Experts and commentators have echoed this, noting how left-leaning media like MBC praises Chinese events while criticizing Korean pro-U.S. displays[14], and how outlets show anti-US, pro-CCP positions[15]. Such framing contributes to a narrative where America is seen as a powerful but unreliable partner, despite polls showing 85% of Koreans value the alliance[16].
Underreporting U.S. Anti-Communism: The Venezuela Case Study
A stark example of this bias is the minimal coverage of the U.S.'s 2025 initiatives against communism in Venezuela. Under President Trump, the U.S. has escalated efforts to oust Nicolás Maduro's regime, including military operations and support for opposition figures like Nobel laureate María Corina Machado[17][18].
Yet, in major Korean outlets, coverage of the 2025 US actions in Venezuela is sparse and predominantly neutral or critical, with searches yielding only about 5-10 relevant articles across outlets like Chosun Ilbo, Hankyoreh, Korea Times, and JoongAng Daily (no results from Yonhap or Dong-A Ilbo English sites). These pieces focus more on military escalations, risks, and potential negatives rather than emphasizing US efforts to promote democracy or support for opposition figures.
For instance, the Korea Times article "Trump orders 'blockade' of sanctioned oil tankers leaving, entering Venezuela" (Dec 17, 2025) highlights the blockade and over two dozen military strikes, noting they "have killed at least 90 people," with quotes like US Representative Joaquin Castro calling it "unquestionably an act of war" and expert David Goldwyn warning of "inflation to skyrocket, and massive and immediate migration from Venezuela to neighboring countries."[19]
Similarly, Hankyoreh's opinion column "[Column] Trump should win Nobel War Prize" (Nov 10, 2025) criticizes the actions as aggressive, stating Trump has "ratcheted up the pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by conducting naval attacks near his border, authorizing CIA action inside the country, and considering a plan to seize the country’s oil fields," without any positive framing of democratic promotion.[20]
Chosun Ilbo's "Trump Orders Full Blockade of Venezuela Oil" (Dec 17, 2025) reports on the "full and complete blockade" and designation of Maduro as a terrorist, emphasizing heightened "military tensions in the Caribbean Sea to their highest level" and concerns of potential conflict, but no celebration of US democratic goals.[21]
JoongAng Daily's column "Maduro’s ouster and 'our hemisphere': First test of Trump’s national security strategy in Latin America" (Dec 17, 2025) discusses airstrikes, tanker seizures, and CIA operations, quoting expert Phil Gunson on risks of "civil war" and opposition leader María Corina Machado on a "peaceful transition," but frames the efforts as potentially "dangerous" without strong emphasis on democracy; it mentions Machado's Nobel attendance in Norway but not her escape or US regrets over casualties.[22] Overall, these articles prioritize the confrontational aspects, with little to no spotlight on US initiatives as advancing freedom or democracy.
North Korea's support for Maduro is noted tangentially, but Trump's role in countering communism—relevant to Korea's own history—is rarely framed positively[23]. This omission contrasts with Korea's anti-communist heritage, where the U.S. alliance was forged against North Korean threats[24][25]. As Asia expert Gordon G. Chang has highlighted, Korean media's erosion by Chinese capital leads to left-leaning distortions in such reporting[26].
Amplified Negatives: A Pattern of Selective Emphasis
In contrast, negative U.S. stories receive extensive airtime. The 2024 U.S. election was covered with biases, such as selective polling favoring Democrats, leading to "misjudgment" accusations[27]. Trump's policies are often labeled "transactional" or "unpredictable," especially in progressive media[28]. During COVID-19 (2020-2023), outlets contrasted Korea's successes with U.S. "failures," using blame attribution in 50-70% of editorials[29]. Commentators like Korean conservative podcaster Paul Sungwon Kim have pointed out how far-left outlets like JTBC smear Korean and American patriots as "far-right," fueling division and distorting U.S. alliances[30].
This pattern suggests an agenda: By downplaying U.S. anti-communism, media aligns with narratives that soften views on authoritarian regimes, potentially weakening public support for the alliance.
Government Influence: The Role of President Lee Jae-myung and the DP
Elected in June 2025 amid scandals and Yoon's impeachment, Lee Jae-myung is portrayed as a pragmatic liberal, but critics argue his administration exerts undue influence on media[31][32][33]. Lee has criticized broadcasts as "one-sided" and pushed probes into opponents, fueling bias claims[34]. Experts like Dr. Tara O, author on North Korea, accuse legacy media of being DP propaganda organs with a Chinese style, showing anti-US positions[15].
This influence is evident in coverage: Post-election, left-leaning outlets smeared pro-U.S. patriots as "far-right"[35]. Critics warn this setup distorts U.S. perceptions, aligning with pro-China elements[36].
The North Korean Websites Bill: A Step Toward Normalizing Communism?
In December 2025, the DP proposed revising the Information and Communications Network Act to lift bans on North Korean websites, framed as "freedom of information."[4][5][6][37][38][39][40].
Critics fear this exposes Koreans to Pyongyang's propaganda, potentially shifting views on communism[41][42][43]. Amid North Korea's anti-U.S. vows, this could erode anti-communist values, especially as media underreports U.S. counter-efforts[44]. As Gordon G. Chang noted, this legislative move weakens defenses against North Korean information warfare, opening gateways for propaganda under civil liberties rhetoric[45].
Impact on Public Perception: Polls and Shifting Sentiments
Polls reveal the consequences: While 70-90% hold positive U.S. views, anti-China sentiment has surged since 2016, with some young demographics softening on communism—a potential media influence[46][47]. Favorability dipped during COVID but rebounded, yet growing mistrust—fueled by events like the ICE debacle—aligns with media biases[48]. Younger generations, as noted by groups like Freedom-University, call for resisting leftist censorship that protects China's image while suppressing anti-communist voices[49].
Conclusion
South Korea's legacy media, under the DP's influence, perpetuates a biased view of America by underreporting anti-communist initiatives like those in Venezuela while amplifying negatives. The proposed North Korean websites bill risks further normalizing communism, threatening the U.S.-ROK alliance and Korea's democratic values. To counter this, Koreans must demand balanced coverage and support independent voices. As polls show enduring pro-U.S. sentiment, awareness of these biases can preserve the alliance forged in shared anti-communist history[50][51].
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