Discussing Korean Media and Press

Engaging in discussions about current events and media is common in any culture. This guide provides essential Korean vocabulary and phrases for discussing Korean media (언론 – eol-lon) and press (미디어 – mi-di-eo), enabling you to share opinions and understand conversations about news, broadcasting, and journalism in Korea.

Core Expression

• Expression: 한국 언론과 미디어에 대해 토론하기
  Pronunciation: han-guk eol-lon-gwa mi-di-eo-e dae-hae to-ron-ha-gi
  Meaning: Discussing Korean media and press (The act of discussing/debating Korean press and media)

Key Vocabulary

• Expression: 언론 (Eollon)
  Pronunciation: eol-lon
  Meaning: Press, media

• Expression: 미디어 (Midieo)
  Pronunciation: mi-di-eo
  Meaning: Media

• Expression: 뉴스 (Nyuseu)
  Pronunciation: nyu-seu
  Meaning: News

• Expression: 신문 (Sinmun)
  Pronunciation: sin-mun
  Meaning: Newspaper

• Expression: 방송 (Bangsong)
  Pronunciation: bang-song
  Meaning: Broadcast, broadcasting

• Expression: 기자 (Gija)
  Pronunciation: gi-ja
  Meaning: Journalist, reporter

• Expression: 기사 (Gisa)
  Pronunciation: gi-sa
  Meaning: Article (news)

• Expression: 보도 (Bodo)
  Pronunciation: bo-do
  Meaning: Report, coverage (news)

• Expression: 채널 (Chaeneol)
  Pronunciation: chae-neol
  Meaning: Channel (TV)

• Expression: 프로그램 (Peurogeuraem)
  Pronunciation: peu-ro-geu-raem
  Meaning: Program (TV, radio)

• Expression: 인터넷 뉴스 (Inteonet Nyuseu)
  Pronunciation: in-teo-net nyu-seu
  Meaning: Internet news

• Expression: 포털 사이트 (Poteol Saiteu)
  Pronunciation: po-teol sa-i-teu
  Meaning: Portal site (like Naver, Daum which aggregate news)

Basic Discussion Phrases

• Expression: 어떻게 생각하세요?
  Pronunciation: eo-tteo-ke saeng-ga-ka-se-yo?
  Meaning: What do you think?

• Expression: 제 생각에는…
  Pronunciation: je saeng-ga-ge-neun…
  Meaning: In my opinion… / I think that…

• Expression: 저는 …에 동의해요.
  Pronunciation: jeo-neun …-e dong-ui-hae-yo.
  Meaning: I agree with…

• Expression: 저는 …에 동의하지 않아요.
  Pronunciation: jeo-neun …-e dong-ui-ha-ji a-na-yo.
  Meaning: I disagree with… / I don’t agree with…

• Expression: 그 점에 대해서는 저도 그렇게 생각해요.
  Pronunciation: geu jeom-e dae-hae-seo-neun jeo-do geu-reo-ke saeng-ga-kae-yo.
  Meaning: I think so too regarding that point.

• Expression: 왜 그렇게 생각하세요?
  Pronunciation: wae geu-reo-ke saeng-ga-ka-se-yo?
  Meaning: Why do you think so?

• Expression: 예를 들어주실 수 있나요?
  Pronunciation: ye-reul deu-reo-ju-sil su in-na-yo?
  Meaning: Can you give an example?

• Expression: 좀 더 자세히 설명해 주시겠어요?
  Pronunciation: jom deo ja-se-hi seol-myeong-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
  Meaning: Could you explain in a bit more detail?

• Expression: 이 주제에 대해 이야기해 봅시다.
  Pronunciation: i ju-je-e dae-hae i-ya-gi-hae bop-si-da.
  Meaning: Let’s talk about this topic.

• Expression: 다른 의견 있으신 분?
  Pronunciation: da-reun ui-gyeon i-sseu-sin bun?
  Meaning: Does anyone have a different opinion?

• Expression: 흥미로운 관점이네요.
  Pronunciation: heung-mi-ro-un gwan-jeo-mi-ne-yo.
  Meaning: That’s an interesting perspective.

• Expression: 그럴 수도 있겠네요.
  Pronunciation: geu-reol su-do it-gen-ne-yo.
  Meaning: That could be possible. / That might be the case.

Expressing Opinions on Media

• Expression: 이 기사는 매우 편향된 것 같아요.
  Pronunciation: i gi-sa-neun mae-u pyeon-hyang-doen geot ga-ta-yo.
  Meaning: I think this article is very biased.

• Expression: 한국 언론은 신뢰할 만한가요?
  Pronunciation: han-guk eol-lo-neun sil-loe-hal man-han-ga-yo?
  Meaning: Is the Korean press trustworthy?

• Expression: 이 방송국의 보도는 객관적이라고 생각해요.
  Pronunciation: i bang-song-gu-gui bo-do-neun gaek-gwan-jeo-gi-ra-go saeng-ga-kae-yo.
  Meaning: I think this broadcasting station’s reporting is objective.

• Expression: 요즘 가짜 뉴스가 너무 많아요.
  Pronunciation: yo-jeum ga-jja nyu-seu-ga neo-mu ma-na-yo.
  Meaning: There’s so much fake news these days.

• Expression: 언론의 자유가 중요하다고 생각해요.
  Pronunciation: eol-lon-ui ja-yu-ga jung-yo-ha-da-go saeng-ga-kae-yo.
  Meaning: I think freedom of the press is important.

• Expression: 정부가 언론을 통제하려고 하는 것 같아요.
  Pronunciation: jeong-bu-ga eol-lo-neul tong-je-ha-ryeo-go ha-neun geot ga-ta-yo.
  Meaning: It seems like the government is trying to control the media.

• Expression: 이 사건에 대한 언론 보도가 부족해요.
  Pronunciation: i sa-kkeon-e dae-han eol-lon bo-do-ga bu-jo-kae-yo.
  Meaning: There isn’t enough media coverage of this incident.

• Expression: 소셜 미디어가 뉴스 소비에 큰 영향을 미쳐요.
  Pronunciation: so-syeol mi-di-eo-ga nyu-seu so-bi-e keun yeong-hyang-eul mi-chyeo-yo.
  Meaning: Social media greatly influences news consumption.

• Expression: 이 기자는 심층 취재를 잘 하는 것 같아요.
  Pronunciation: i gi-ja-neun sim-cheung chwi-jae-reul jal ha-neun geot ga-ta-yo.
  Meaning: I think this reporter does good in-depth reporting.

• Expression: 선정적인 보도는 문제가 있다고 생각해요.
  Pronunciation: seon-jeong-jeo-gin bo-do-neun mun-je-ga it-da-go saeng-ga-kae-yo.
  Meaning: I think sensationalist reporting is problematic.

• Expression: 다양한 관점의 뉴스를 접하는 것이 중요해요.
  Pronunciation: da-yang-han gwan-jeom-ui nyu-seu-reul jeo-pa-neun geo-si jung-yo-hae-yo.
  Meaning: It’s important to encounter news from various perspectives.

• Expression: 포털 사이트 뉴스 편집 방식에 대해 어떻게 생각하세요?
  Pronunciation: po-teol sa-i-teu nyu-seu pyeon-jip bang-si-ge dae-hae eo-tteo-ke saeng-ga-ka-se-yo?
  Meaning: What do you think about the way portal sites edit/curate news?

Asking Questions about Media Consumption

• Expression: 주로 어떤 매체를 통해 뉴스를 접하세요?
  Pronunciation: ju-ro eo-tteon mae-che-reul tong-hae nyu-seu-reul jeo-pa-se-yo?
  Meaning: Through which media do you mainly get your news?

• Expression: 어떤 신문을 구독하세요?
  Pronunciation: eo-tteon sin-mu-neul gu-do-ka-se-yo?
  Meaning: Which newspaper do you subscribe to?

• Expression: 가장 신뢰하는 뉴스 매체는 무엇인가요?
  Pronunciation: ga-jang sil-loe-ha-neun nyu-seu mae-che-neun mu-eo-sin-ga-yo?
  Meaning: What is the news outlet you trust the most?

• Expression: 하루에 뉴스를 보는 데 얼마나 시간을 쓰세요?
  Pronunciation: ha-ru-e nyu-seu-reul bo-neun de eol-ma-na si-ga-neul sseu-se-yo?
  Meaning: How much time do you spend watching/reading news per day?

• Expression: 최근에 인상 깊었던 뉴스 기사가 있었나요?
  Pronunciation: choe-geun-e in-sang gi-peot-deon nyu-seu gi-sa-ga i-sseon-na-yo?
  Meaning: Was there any news article that left a strong impression on you recently?

• Expression: 한국의 주요 방송사는 어디라고 생각하세요?
  Pronunciation: han-gu-gui ju-yo bang-song-sa-neun eo-di-ra-go saeng-ga-ka-se-yo?
  Meaning: What do you think are the major broadcasting companies in Korea?

• Expression: 텔레비전 뉴스를 자주 보세요?
  Pronunciation: tel-le-bi-jeon nyu-seu-reul ja-ju bo-se-yo?
  Meaning: Do you watch television news often?

• Expression: 인터넷 댓글 문화에 대해 어떻게 생각하세요?
  Pronunciation: in-teo-net daet-geul mun-hwa-e dae-hae eo-tteo-ke saeng-ga-ka-se-yo?
  Meaning: What do you think about the internet comment culture?

• Expression: 특정 기자의 기사를 챙겨 보시나요?
  Pronunciation: teuk-jeong gi-ja-ui gi-sa-reul chaeng-gyeo bo-si-na-yo?
  Meaning: Do you make a point to read articles by a specific journalist?

• Expression: 언론이 사회에 미치는 영향이 크다고 보세요?
  Pronunciation: eol-lon-i sa-hoe-e mi-chi-neun yeong-hyang-i keu-da-go bo-se-yo?
  Meaning: Do you think the media has a large influence on society?

• Expression: 뉴스 앱을 사용하시나요?
  Pronunciation: nyu-seu ae-beul sa-yong-ha-si-na-yo?
  Meaning: Do you use news apps?

• Expression: 종이 신문과 인터넷 뉴스 중 어떤 것을 선호하세요?
  Pronunciation: jong-i sin-mun-gwa in-teo-net nyu-seu jung eo-tteon geo-seul seon-ho-ha-se-yo?
  Meaning: Which do you prefer between paper newspapers and internet news?

Korean Culture Notes

• Portal Sites Dominate: Unlike many Western countries where people visit specific news websites, many Koreans consume news through major portal sites like Naver (네이버 – ne-i-beo) and Daum (다음 – da-eum). These sites aggregate news from various outlets, and their curated headlines significantly influence public awareness.
• Major Broadcasters: The three major terrestrial broadcasters, KBS (한국방송공사 – han-guk-bang-song-gong-sa), MBC (문화방송 – mun-hwa-bang-song), and SBS (에스비에스 – e-seu-bi-e-seu), along with comprehensive programming cable channels like JTBC and TV Chosun, are significant players in the news landscape.
• Press Freedom: While South Korea generally enjoys a high level of press freedom compared to many other Asian countries, discussions often arise regarding political influence, defamation laws (which can be used against journalists), and the concentration of media ownership.
• “Netizen” Influence: Online commenters, often referred to as “netizens” (네티즌 – ne-ti-jeun), hold considerable sway. Public opinion expressed through online comments on news articles can pressure media outlets and even influence political discourse.
• “Kija” Culture: The term “기레기” (gi-re-gi), a portmanteau of 기자 (gija – reporter) and 쓰레기 (sseu-re-gi – trash), is sometimes used critically to refer to journalists perceived as producing low-quality, sensationalist, or biased articles, reflecting public scrutiny of journalistic standards.

Real Conversation Example

Situation: Two friends are discussing a recent controversial news report they both saw online.
Roles:
* A: Minjun (민준)
* B: Sora (소라)

• Expression: A: 소라 씨, 어제 그 정치 스캔들 관련 뉴스 봤어요? 포털 메인에 떴던데요.
  Pronunciation: so-ra ssi, eo-je geu jeong-chi seu-kaen-deul gwal-lyeon nyu-seu bwa-sseo-yo? po-teol me-i-ne tteot-deon-de-yo.
  Meaning: Sora, did you see the news about that political scandal yesterday? It was on the portal main page.

• Expression: B: 아, 네 봤어요. 근데 언론사마다 보도 내용이 조금씩 다르더라고요.
  Pronunciation: a, ne bwa-sseo-yo. geun-de eol-lon-sa-ma-da bo-do nae-yong-i jo-geum-ssik da-reu-deo-ra-go-yo.
  Meaning: Ah, yes, I saw it. But the reporting content seemed slightly different depending on the news outlet.

• Expression: A: 맞아요. 특히 A 신문 기사는 너무 한쪽에 치우친 것 같지 않아요?
  Pronunciation: ma-ja-yo. teuk-hi ei sin-mun gi-sa-neun neo-mu han-jjo-ge chi-u-chin geot gat-ji a-na-yo?
  Meaning: That’s right. Don’t you think the article from Newspaper A seemed too biased towards one side?

• Expression: B: 저도 그렇게 느꼈어요. 댓글 보니까 비판하는 의견이 많던데요. B 방송사 뉴스가 좀 더 중립적인 것 같았어요.
  Pronunciation: jeo-do geu-reo-ke neu-kkyeo-sseo-yo. daet-geul bo-ni-kka bi-pa-na-neun ui-gyeon-i man-deon-de-yo. bi bang-song-sa nyu-seu-ga jom deo jung-nip-jeo-gin geot ga-ta-sseo-yo.
  Meaning: I felt that way too. Looking at the comments, there were many critical opinions. I thought the news from Broadcaster B seemed a bit more neutral.

• Expression: A: 확실히 요즘은 여러 매체를 비교하면서 봐야 하는 것 같아요. 하나만 믿기에는 정보가 너무 편향될 수 있으니까요.
  Pronunciation: hwak-sil-hi yo-jeum-eun yeo-reo mae-che-reul bi-gyo-ha-myeon-seo bwa-ya ha-neun geot ga-ta-yo. ha-na-man mit-gi-e-neun jeong-bo-ga neo-mu pyeon-hyang-doel su i-sseu-ni-kka-yo.
  Meaning: Definitely, these days I think you have to compare several media sources. Because the information can be too biased if you only trust one.

• Expression: B: 맞아요. 그리고 사실 확인(팩트 체크)도 중요하고요. 가짜 뉴스도 많잖아요.
  Pronunciation: ma-ja-yo. geu-ri-go sa-sil hwa-gin (paek-teu che-keu)-do jung-yo-ha-go-yo. ga-jja nyu-seu-do man-ja-na-yo.
  Meaning: Right. And fact-checking is important too. There’s a lot of fake news, you know.

Practice Tips

Discussing media and news requires specific vocabulary and the ability to express opinions clearly! Try reading headlines on Korean portal sites like Naver or Daum~ Even if you don’t understand everything, try to grasp the main topic. Watch short news clips on YouTube from channels like KBS News or YTN. Practice forming simple opinion sentences using “제 생각에는…” (je saeng-ga-ge-neun…). If you have a language partner, try discussing a recent news item you both know about. Don’t be afraid to ask “어떻게 생각하세요?” (eo-tteo-ke saeng-ga-ka-se-yo?)! Fighting! (화이팅! – hwa-i-ting!)