TV Broadcasting & Internet News Maintain Strong Influence on Public Opinion... Combined Share 84.6%

Social Media Shows Growth Trend... Printed Newspapers & Radio at Lowest Levels

'2022-2024 Public Opinion Concentration Survey'... "Top Influential Media Must Enhance Public Duty"

Trend of Weighted Values (Share) of Public Opinion Influence by Media Sector (2021-2024) [Provided by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Reproduction and database prohibited]

Television broadcasting and internet news continue to demonstrate powerful influence on public opinion in the media market.

According to the results of the '2022-2024 Public Opinion Concentration Survey' released on the 29th by the Public Opinion Concentration Survey Committee of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the weighted values (shares) of public opinion influence by media sector last year were analyzed as: television broadcasting 45.3%, internet news 39.3%, social media 8.4%, printed newspapers 4.5%, and radio broadcasting 3.0%.

The weighted value of public opinion influence is a statistical figure calculated annually through the 'Media Users Survey' conducted by the Korea Press Foundation, indicating the relative size of influence each medium holds in the public opinion formation process.

While television broadcasting and internet news saw a slight decrease compared to the previous '2019-2021 Public Opinion Concentration Survey', their combined weighted value reached 84.6%, indicating their continued strong influence on public opinion.

The Public Opinion Concentration Survey Committee analyzed, "Both television broadcasting and internet news have consistently maintained the highest influence on public opinion," adding that "they continue to function as core media sectors for public opinion formation."

Social media, though still having a marginal influence, shows a notable growth trend. The weighted value of social media's influence on public opinion, which was only 5.5% in the previous survey, rose to 8.4% in 2024, strengthening its presence as a channel for news and current affairs information distribution. The committee attributed this to the emergence of YouTube and Facebook as primary news consumption paths.

The influence of printed newspapers and radio broadcasting saw a slight increase compared to the previous survey but remained at the lowest levels. The committee assessed that these media are perceived as relatively less important in the public opinion formation process compared to other sectors.

Trend of Combined Public Opinion Influence Share by Media Group (2021-2024) [Provided by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Reproduction and database prohibited]

In terms of influence share by media group, which aggregates various media outlets that are technically and institutionally similar to understand their influence on public opinion, general programming channels (종편) showed the highest influence.

The survey results were: general programming channels 28.3%, terrestrial broadcasters 25.0%, news agencies/specialized news channels 23.4%, and newspapers 12.3%.

The committee analyzed that the influence of general programming channels, which comprehensively own and operate various media such as printed newspapers, television broadcasting, and internet news, has increased.

Trend of Combined Public Opinion Influence Concentration (2021-2024) [Provided by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Reproduction and database prohibited]

Furthermore, the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), calculated as an indicator of public opinion influence concentration, recorded 644 last year, a decrease from 747 in 2021, showing a trend of easing concentration of influence. A higher concentration of public opinion influence indicates that influence is concentrated among a small number of specific media companies.

This survey calculated the utilization share and concentration of news, current affairs, and reporting across five major media sectors: printed newspapers, television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, internet news, and social media, and based on this, it computed the combined public opinion influence concentration.

The Survey Committee stated, "There is a need to enhance the public duty and transparency of top media companies where public opinion influence is concentrated, and institutional support is required for the quality improvement of new media companies and to enhance public accessibility."