1. Female Journalists in Korean Media
International Gender Symposium and Art Workshop
: Women Participation in Social and Political Life
Giresun, Turkey
Jungmin Ha
May 2014

2. Contents 1. Brief History of Korean Media
2. Glass Ceiling and Related Issues
3. Conclusion

3. Brief History: Japanese Colonial Period I
1898: Korea’s first commercial media, Mae-il Newspaper, was founded
1920: The first female journalist, Kak-kyung Lee, was hired

4. 1924: The first female journalist at Donga Ilbo, Jeong-suk Hur, was hired
Korean media were censored heavily under Japanese colonial rule, however, the media resisted the rule and played a significant role in promoting national spirit
여성 사회주의자들이 서울 청계천에서 망중한을 보내고 있다. 왼쪽부터 고명사, 주세죽, 허정숙. 이정박헌영전집편찬위원회, ‘이정 박헌영 전집9’, (역사비평사)
부인운동과 부인문제연구(一)조선여성 지위는 특수( ).
<동아일보>

5. Japanese Colonial Period II
1936: Donga Ilbo was suspended nine-months for removing the Japanese flag from the picture of Korean-born
1936 Berlin Olympic marathon gold medalist, Ki-jeong Son
1940: All Korean-language publications were outlawed

6. After World War II ( )
By mid-1980s: Government censorship of media had become widely criticized
Late1980s: Print media - newspapers, magazines expanded significantly
(1987 national democratic protests, 1988 Seoul Olympics)
1990s: The TV market expanded significantly

7. After 2000s 2000s: Large numbers of Internet media were founded
2010s: Increasing cross-ownership of newspapers and broadcasting
(Donga Ilbo, Chosun Ilbo, Joongang Ilbo and Maeil
Business Newspaper)
The number of national newspapers, including online media reached 122 in 2013, a dramatic increase from only 28 in the 1980s

8. Current Status
Female journalists in Korea represented 23.0% of the full- time journalism workforce at 23 nationwide media companies as of In the US, the percentage was 37.0% in 2012.
The number of female journalists doubled in just 10 years
The percentage is expected to exceed 30% in the near future
After 2000, number of female junior journalists exceeded the number of male journalists
Source: Korea Women Journalist Association, 2013

9. Glass Ceiling Nevertheless, male journalists still hold the majority
of the top management positions
Proportion of
Female Journalists %
Reporters
23.0
Assistant Editors
12.0
Editors
7.3
Editors-in-Chief
6.8
Board Members
4.0
Source: Korea Women Journalist Association, 2013

10. Related Issues Maternity leave: Only 3 months paid vacation
Primarily work for less prestigious desks: Culture, environment, education, editing and editorial dept.
(which came first? the chicken or the egg?)
Verbal abuse: Character defamation including sexual harassment
Corporate after-work culture: No work-life balance, exposed to smoking and alcohol
Challenges among female journalists: Disobedience of orders, passed over for promotion

11. How to Break the Glass Ceiling
Changes needed by female journalists first
Risk averse: Need to become more proactive & challenging
Lack of cooperation and loyalty: Should pursue allies/networks to push agenda
More managerial work: Should strive for management-level positions/work

12. Conclusion
Historically, female journalists have been alienated, discriminated against and underutilized in the workplace
The financial crisis of 1997 brought the realization that Korea needs to adopt global standards to survive and prosper in today’s interconnected global media industry
Women’s role in the workplace still is undervalued or wrongly stereotyped, but it’s changing slowly
Female journalists should be risk-takers, take role as a leader instead of a manager

13. Quotations “Men can be lazy, women can’t”
-Diane Lockhart in the Good Wife
“Aim for the sky and you'll reach the ceiling.
Aim for the ceiling and you'll stay on the floor”
-Bill Shankly, Former English football manager of Liverpool
“I don't do what I do to try and break a glass ceiling”
-Kathryn Bigelow, the first woman to win
the Academy Award for Best Director

14. Thank You