Symbolic representations of financial events in the Korean media

Journal article


Kim, A. 2019. Symbolic representations of financial events in the Korean media. Qualitative Research in Financial Markets. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRFM-10-2017-0097
AuthorsKim, A.
Abstract

Purpose
This paper aims to explore and investigate the maintenance or (re)construction of (South) Korean identity during turbulent times of rapid social and economic change, especially since the 2008 financial crisis.

Design/methodology/approach
This study explores how the Korean media responded to financial events over the period between 2008 and 2013, and the ways in which iconographies of yin-yang were incorporated into Korean financial magazine cover images were investigated. Semiotic analysis of 20 magazine front covers was performed based on adapted Barthesian semiotics, which included front-cover background color, text color and vowel-structure interpretation following yin-yang principles. Findings were validated through semi-structured interviews with designers employed by the magazines.

Findings
Results show that Korean identity remains loyal to the traditional symbolic uses of yin-yang harmony to illustrate positive and negative sides of financial events, although there is some degree of following Western thinking in the use of symbols. This mirrors the modern Korean identity, which intertwines Western thinking with traditional values.

Originality/value
This paper provides an extended evaluation of the articulation of yin-yang principles by Koreans as elements of a worldview combining both Confucian and Western values. Yin-yang provides an inflexion to the ways in which events are depicted and denoted in “Confucian capitalistic” Korea. The suggested methodology triangulating semiotic interpretation with verification through interviews with designers can be extrapolated in other studies investigating the representation of events within a specific population or society.

KeywordsKorea; financial crisis; national identity; Barthesian semiotics; yin-yang
Year2019
JournalQualitative Research in Financial Markets
PublisherEmerald
ISSN1755-4179
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1108/QRFM-10-2017-0097
Publication dates
Print2019
Publication process dates
Deposited27 Nov 2018
Accepted12 Nov 2018
Accepted author manuscript
Output statusPublished
Permalink -

https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/88xw1/symbolic-representations-of-financial-events-in-the-korean-media

Download files

  • 72
    total views
  • 174
    total downloads
  • 3
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

The association between corporate social responsibility disclosure and information asymmetry: The case of Europe
Karim, A. and Kim, A. 2024. The association between corporate social responsibility disclosure and information asymmetry: The case of Europe.
Investigating the influence of accountability, power dynamics and political influences among NGO major stakeholders: Namibian perspective
Dr Andrew Simasiku and Dr Amee Kim 2024. Investigating the influence of accountability, power dynamics and political influences among NGO major stakeholders: Namibian perspective.
Religiosity, financial risk taking, and reward processing: An experimental study
Vanheusden, F., Vadapalli, Sundara Kashyap, Rashid, Mamunur, Griffiths, Mark D. and Kim, Amee 2024. Religiosity, financial risk taking, and reward processing: An experimental study. Journal of gambling studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-024-10324-4
Gender inequalities in Korean family business: contradictions between show and tell
Kim, A. and Ng, P. 2023. Gender inequalities in Korean family business: contradictions between show and tell. International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship. 14 (4), pp. 388-417.
Semiotic analysis in financial markets
Kim, A. 2023. Semiotic analysis in financial markets. in: Foroudi, P. and Dennis, C, (ed.) Researcing and Analysing Business London Routledge.
What you see is not what you get: Articulating annual reports with Barthesian analysis
Kim, A. 2023. What you see is not what you get: Articulating annual reports with Barthesian analysis.
Would an increase in female representation at board level indeed better represent firms?
Kim, A. and Frandsen, A-C. 2022. Would an increase in female representation at board level indeed better represent firms?
K-pop and K-car: The underpinnings of 21st century Korean cultural/industrial successes
Kim, A. and McGoun, E.G 2022. K-pop and K-car: The underpinnings of 21st century Korean cultural/industrial successes. Central European Management Journal. 30 (2). https://doi.org/10.7206/cemj.2658-0845.77
Shall we aim for 50-50? The limitations of annual report named numbers in representing the gender gap closure
Kim, A. and Frandsen, A-C. 2021. Shall we aim for 50-50? The limitations of annual report named numbers in representing the gender gap closure.
The effects of government and conglomerate-driven investments on the contemporary Korean gaming industry: a critical perspective
Kim, A. 2020. The effects of government and conglomerate-driven investments on the contemporary Korean gaming industry: a critical perspective.
Converting nascent technologies into mainstream sports
Kim, A. and McGoun, E.G. 2020. Converting nascent technologies into mainstream sports. Journal of Motorsport Culture & History.
Yin-Yang representation of financial crisis: a Korean perspective
Kim, A. and Vanheusden, F. 2019. Yin-Yang representation of financial crisis: a Korean perspective. International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy. 12 (4). https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMCP.2019.10021861
K-pop and car-pop: the parallel emergence of Korean style in automobiles and popular music
Kim, A. and McGoun, E. 2018. K-pop and car-pop: the parallel emergence of Korean style in automobiles and popular music.
Reading economic magazines: hidden codes and financial crisis representation in Korea
Kim, A. 2017. Reading economic magazines: hidden codes and financial crisis representation in Korea.
Finance as a driver of the global dreams factory: spread of the Hallyu (or Korean Wave) and its consequences for the Korean economy
Kim, A. 2017. Finance as a driver of the global dreams factory: spread of the Hallyu (or Korean Wave) and its consequences for the Korean economy.
Yin and Yang and the representation of the Financial Crisis in Korea
Kim, A. 2015. Yin and Yang and the representation of the Financial Crisis in Korea. PhD Thesis University of Leicester