Reporter Lee Ji-eun from the Social Affairs Department recently encountered a literal ordeal while covering an anti-impeachment rally against President Yoon Seok-yeol.

This happened because as soon as she briefly sat on the roadside to open her laptop, about 10 rally participants surrounded her.

They demanded that Lee show her press ID, KakaoTalk messages, and laptop screen.

In the end, she was only able to leave the scene after fully revealing which media outlet she belonged to and what she was writing on her laptop.

On the 19th, at the riot scene at the Seoul Western District Court, reporters were also assaulted by rally participants.

"In an instant, people surrounded me and pointed their phones at me, and I felt afraid I might be attacked. It's natural for journalists to cover events on site, but at protests, they are demonized. For fair reporting, all voices at a protest should be included, but often YouTubers who only amplify one side are welcomed, while media reporters are rejected."

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Experts point out that politically biased YouTube channel operators are encouraging the public to avoid mainstream media. Regardless of political alignment, these operators emphasize phrases like "the truth the media won't report" in their video thumbnails, urging viewers to trust and watch YouTube instead.

Choi Sangbong, professor of Journalism and Broadcasting at Sungkonghoe University, told Asia Economy, "For people with a strong political leaning, reports from mainstream media often don't align with their views, so they may feel discomfort. But on YouTube, channel operators who share their values tell them they are right." Professor Choi added, "As viewers become immersed in YouTube channels that reinforce their own beliefs, they naturally begin to dismiss opposing views as untrue, displaying confirmation bias. Channel operators profit from these biased subscribers, and platform companies also benefit. This cycle inevitably becomes more provocative and widespread."

The chaotic atmosphere both domestically and internationally creates an ideal environment for YouTubers' political biases to permeate the public. Lim Myungho, professor of Psychology at Dankook University, said, "During times of political turmoil, social disasters, or economic hardship, it becomes harder to trust anyone." He continued, "When external chaos meets personal anxiety, people are more likely to believe stories that align with their own thoughts and make emotionally driven decisions."

Individual YouTubers emphasizing unverified or biased claims in video thumbnails, claiming facts not reported by mainstream media. YouTube capture.

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Some point out that the decline in trust in Korean media is not a recent issue, and that the media itself bears some responsibility. The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism released a report stating that 67% of Korean news consumers have intentionally avoided mainstream news. The most common reason given was 'because the news is untrustworthy or biased.'

Media scholars say that while the decline in media trust and the confirmation bias of those who believe in YouTube should be viewed separately, it is clear that mainstream media has neglected its role.

Nam Jaeil, professor of Journalism and Broadcasting at Kyungpook National University, said, "Mainstream media has failed to establish the ethics and journalistic standards required when dealing with political issues." He pointed out, "Instead of making public or ethical judgments, the media has fallen into a form of formalistic factualism, merely relaying statements from both sides. This bothsidesism has likely left citizens frustrated." He emphasized, "Since our society is already politically divided into two camps, the media should instead take on the role of mediator."

On December 19, 2024, in front of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office building, lawyer Seok Donghyun, who is set to defend President Yoon Seokyeol, met with reporters to express his stance on the investigation into charges of insurrection and the impeachment trial. A YouTuber was live-streaming this scene on a mobile phone, and real-time comments were appearing on the screen. Photo by Heo Younghan

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Experts first advise developing a habit of verification. This means comparing information from YouTube with that from mainstream media. Professor Choi said, "The simplest way to determine whether something on YouTube is fake news or not is to check how it is reported in mainstream media." He continued, "No matter how biased or partisan mainstream media may be, it is still more regulated and systematically operated than YouTube channel operators. Therefore, it's important to see how mainstream media covers the story."

The second point is not to give up communication with extremely biased groups. Professor Lim said, "In times of chaos, bias can become widespread. Political and social stability must come first." He added, "Nevertheless, rather than dismissing these people as a radical minority and responding with indifference, we should instead communicate with them and show that other values can exist. This is how we can foster a healthy social atmosphere."

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