Perceptions of China's national image in south Korean media from the perspective of "A Community with a Shared Future for Mankind"
“人类命运共同体”视域下韩国媒体关于中国国家形象的认知

摘要

以“人类命运共同体”理念为对象，研究分析韩国三大主流媒体在2017年至2024年间对中国国家形象的认知特征及演变。韩国作为中国邻国，其媒体舆论既影响双边关系，也影响该理念在东亚的传播。研究基于KBS、MBC、SBS三大媒体的29篇报道，运用内容分析和批判话语分析，结合关键词、主题分类和倾向性分析，探讨报道主题、叙事策略及意识形态取向。结果显示，韩国媒体报道具有阶段性特征：中韩关系修复期（2017-2018年）态度多为积极与中性；全球治理深化期（2019-2020年）强调治理效能与制度性贡献；战略竞合期（2021-2024年）基调趋于中性，但更多凸显对中国战略意图的疑虑。总体而言，媒体既承认该理念的合作价值，又常在中美博弈框架下加以解读，呈现双重性与矛盾性。结论认为，这种认知模式主要受地缘政治格局、中韩经济依存和文化差异影响。优化传播需通过跨文化交流、深化经济合作和媒体合作，增进韩国社会理解与认同，推动中韩关系发展并提升理念影响力。

Abstract

The study investigates how South Korea’s three major media outlets have constructed the image of China through the lens of the concept of the “Community of Shared Future for Mankind” from 2017 to 2024. The purpose of the research is to clarify the cognitive characteristics and evolutionary logic of South Korean media narratives, as well as to highlight their significance for bilateral relations and the dissemination of the concept in East Asia. As a close neighbor of China, South Korea’s media discourse not only shapes public opinion but also directly influences the perception and acceptance of this concept at the regional level, which makes the research of practical and academic importance. The research is based on 29 reports published by KBS, MBC, and SBS. Content analysis and critical discourse analysis were employed, complemented by keyword extraction, thematic categorization, and tendency analysis. This methodological approach made it possible to systematically identify the distribution of reporting themes, the linguistic strategies adopted by the media, and the underlying ideological orientations reflected in the narratives. The results reveal distinct stage-based patterns. During the period of restoring China–Korea relations (2017–2018), South Korean media reports were largely positive or neutral, emphasizing cooperation and mutual benefit. In the phase of deepening global governance (2019–2020), reporting shifted toward governance effectiveness, with particular attention to China’s institutional contributions in public health and technological innovation. In the stage of strategic competition and cooperation (2021–2024), the overall tone became more neutral but was increasingly characterized by doubts and concerns about China’s strategic intentions. Across these phases, the media recognized the cooperative and win–win values inherent in the concept, while simultaneously interpreting it through the framework of Sino–US rivalry. This duality indicates both acknowledgment and skepticism, producing a paradoxical and sometimes contradictory portrayal of China’s image. The conclusion emphasizes that such cognitive patterns are shaped by geopolitical dynamics, the interdependence of the Chinese and South Korean economies, and cultural and social differences. To optimize the communication of the concept internationally, strategies should include strengthening cross-cultural exchange, deepening economic cooperation, and enhancing media collaboration. These measures can help reduce misunderstanding, increase recognition of the concept in South Korea, and contribute to both the stable development of China–Korea relations and the global dissemination of the “Community of Shared Future for Mankind.”