The CNN Effect and South Korea’s Humanitarian Response to North Korea: A Media-Driven Policy?

This study explores the intersection of media and policy in inter-Korean relations, focusing on the impact of South Korean media on the government’s response to the North Korean famine. Examining the famine through the “CNN effect” and Robinson’s “policy-media interaction model,” we move beyond simplistic cause-and-effect narratives and assess the media’s potential to drive policy change in a unique context: a divided nation marked by both deep animosity and shared cultural ties. Our analysis reveals that the South Korean media predominantly conveyed informative narratives rather than emotional ones during the coverage of the North Korean famine. We argue that, consistent with the interaction model, the media primarily functioned to solidify societal consensus on humanitarian aid, rather than directly shaping government policy. Robinson’s framework supports this finding, suggesting that media influence diminishes when policy goals are clearly defined, as they were for South Korea’s response to the famine. However, this study also addresses the limitations of Robinson’s model, noting that it may oversimplify media behavior by neglecting crucial cultural, political, and historical factors. Ultimately, this study sheds light on the nuanced dynamics of media, policy, and inter-Korean relations in the face of a humanitarian crisis.