ABSTRACT
IMAGE OF NATIONS:
COVERAGE OF FOREIGN NATIONS IN THE KOREAN MEDIA
The purpose of this study is to explore the image of foreign nations in news media
and what determines this media image. To explore this, this study adopts two predictors
(economic significance and political significance) and tests their relationships with media
coverage about foreign nations. International news coverage about 49 countries in 10 Korean
newspapers was analyzed. The hypothesis was tested on the relationships between political
and economic significance and visibility and valence toward the country. The findings
indicated that there is a significant positive relationship between media visibility and political
and economic significance of foreign countries, but not between media valence and political
and economic significance. Suggestions for future study as well as several implications on
theory and methodology are discussed drawing on the experience of this study.