History, Policy, and Practices of Media Education in South Korea

The authors begin by providing the historical and social background of Korean media education, which has its roots in civil participation activities in the 1980s. Then, they discuss the legal and governmental policies on media education, focusing on the Broadcasting Act and the diverse programs provided by governmental organizations, particularly those under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. They also provide good examples of media education practices by groups of teachers, civil society associations and the media industry, in addition to introducing the recent changes in the newly reformed National Curriculum, which includes some elements of media literacy. They conclude by pointing out the need for a more consistent policy on media literacy and a forum to activate discussion on the topic.