Analyzing newspaper articles and television news transcripts, this study
attempts to understand how the Korean news media have presented GM
foods. In particular, the currnet study examined how news media have
selected organizing theme, issue attributes, and story tone in presenting the issue. We also explore the notion of frame building, looking at factors that
may affect the way news media present GM foods. Findings indicate that
GM foods have been presented largely as a policy issue in Korea. Findings
also show that liberal newspapers are more likely to talk about how to
regulate the use of GM foods, while conservative newspapers are more
likely to focus on economic prospects. In addition, it was found that
conservative newspapers more frequently mention the reasons to support
GM foods. These findings demonstrate that such frame building factors as
political views of news organizations (e.g., conservative vs. liberal ideology)
can influence the news media(e.g., conservative vs. liberal ideology) can
ented largely as a policy issue in Korea. Findings also show that liberal
newspapers are more likely to talk about how to regulate thentribute to the
literature of framing by applying the three framing demensions originally
developed in the United States to the context of South Korea.