The purpose of this study is to analyze the 8 p.m. evening news program, a propaganda program of the Korean Central Television in the Kim Jong Un era by examining the changing patterns in content and screen configuration. The Korean Central Television...
The purpose of this study is to analyze the 8 p.m. evening news program, a propaganda program of the Korean Central Television in the Kim Jong Un era by examining the changing patterns in content and screen configuration. The Korean Central Television is the main representative broadcast media in North Korea under the monolithic guidance of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) for regime propaganda and idolization of the Leader. Therefore, in order to understand the new Kim Jong Un regime, it is crucial to pay a particular attention how broadcasting programs in North Korea are utilized to promote power succession and regime stability.
The 8 p.m. evening news will be examined in the structure and changes in the format of news stories and identify changes in the content of the news stories by subject. Screen layout analysis was conducted to understand the visual changes in the program by examining the changes in the visual technology such as formation and changes in images and graphics observed in news anchor and news studio.
In result, the news content changes in the 8 p.m. evening news program in the Kim Jong Un era revealed that it mainly emphasized on glorifying the Leader, strengthen ideological work, enhance industrial sector, and used as a propaganda for regime maintenance. The screen layout underwent series of change in human and technology over the years. Much younger news anchors in their 20s and 30s began to appear to display new and vivid images. As for technological changes, the utilization of graphic images with studio background and details that appeared between different news segments appeared in many forms, including in graphics and subtitles of that particular topic to guide the understanding of the viewers.
The main factors behind the changes in the Kim Jong Un era from the Kim Jong Il era can be summarized as follows. First, Kim Jong Un’s power succession took place in a short period of time and was in need of a rapid promotion measure to build his power base. To do so, the visual effects of a broadcast system were actively utilized to promote “understanding of Kim Jong Un.” Second, the influence of foreign culture proliferating inside North Korea began to change consciousness of the North Korean people. In order to attract people's attention internally it was forced to seek changes in broadcasting program and resist influx of foreign culture. Third, the equipment in the Korean Central Television was upgraded to the state-of-the-art technology after Kim Jong Un’s rise to power. This may be interpreted as an intention to externally show improvement in the people's living conditions to enhancing broadcast environment.
While technical improvements were observed, the fundamental objectives in the North Korean media to idolize its leader and serve as regime propaganda remained unchanged. North Korea's broadcasting system acts as a window of the party's policy direction and goals and requires continuous study by varying periods.