2012, Vol., No.36

Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.39

pISSN : 1598-4230 / eISSN : 2586-7601
https://journal.kci.go.kr/ihss

In this paper, we investigate the concept and definition of Social Network Service (SNS). We present the political side of the Tunisian Jasumin Revolution, certification election photo, and Obama campaign as SNS use cases. We also evaluate SNS as the role of the election of public sphere. Moreover, we attempt to discover the prerequisites of SNS. Facebook and Twitter are examples of SNS where personal opinion is made publicly and the networking feature has a spread chain. This feature allows a sense that SNS functionality, as the policy for the election, shows the public sphere. However, due to the limitations for political discourse, the political topic of Twitter, and word count limited to 140 characters, it is not possible for any serious discussion to take place. SNS is a hub for an exchange of communication with others like themselves and with those who have political affiliations, As made public sphere as fragmented appearance will seem. In the progress of the actual content, SNS has a limitation of political discourse through a lack of analysis on political contents. As described above, SNS has some disadvantages in the election public sphere but has a high frequency of access, high page views, and a huge variety of discussion. If we want to change SNS as an election public sphere, then, our people should have a higher sense of political responsibility and mission. As a result, our election culture can be transformed, focusing on policy-driven choices and not choices based on blood, regional, and alumni relationships.

This study examines policy contestation among political parties in the 2012 legislative election. Assuming that policy differences and their consistency with party platforms are prerequisites of policy-oriented behavior of voters, candidates, and parties, this study analyzes the electoral platforms of five competitive political parties. It demonstrates that notable differences exist in electoral platforms related to ideologically sensitive issues, such as the financial support for North Korea, the priority of Korea-US alliance, and the KORUS FTA between the conservative and progressive parties. The study, however, shows that conservative political parties have social welfare policies similar to those of progressive ones, which are even incompatible with their party platforms. Based on these findings, this study claims that such a policy convergence reflects not only the electoral strategies for gaining votes, but also the rapidly intensified socio-economic polarization in Korea.

This study was conceived to investigate what roles the press should play in order to contribute to a policy-based election culture. With such purpose, the study examined various forms of election coverage by the local press in the 19th General Election. In particular, the study conducted an empirical analysis of the reports on the Dong-gu election district of Gwangju Metropolitan City, which is commonly called the 1st Avenue of Honam politics, by local newspapers and broadcasting stations. The analysis results show that both local newspapers and local broadcasting stations only focused on election schedules, information about the candidates, and events and accidents in their coverage rather than the policies and election pledges regarding the areas. The findings indicate that from the press, voters received marginal information rather than information about the policies and election pledges of the candidates. It was thus confirmed that the press should take interest in reporting the election pledges and policies of the candidates both in quantity and quality in order to contribute to a policy-based election.