Censorship of Japanese media in South Korea

Censorship of Japanese media in South Korea refers to laws created by the government of South Korea to prevent the import and distribution of media from Japan. These laws were created to protect native Korean culture.

Origins

Immediately following the end of the Japanese rule of Korea, on August 15, 1945, South Korea enacted the Law For Punishing Anti-National Deeds (반민족행위처벌법), which was followed with many other laws over the decades restricting the broadcast and distribution of records, videos, CDs, and games from outside the country. While the laws did not specify any specific country, the intent of the laws was primarily aimed at Japanese media.[1] As a result, Koreans had no legal access to Japanese media at all until the 1990s.

Revisions to the laws

  1. On 20 October 1998, manga and other publications were allowed to be imported for the first time.[2][3] Films that have won one or more of four major international film festivals were also allowed.
  2. In September 1999, Japanese music was allowed to be performed in venues not exceeding 2000 seats, and more films were allowed to be shown.
  3. In June 2000, the limit on seats in live performances was lifted, animated feature-length theatrical films that have won one or more major international film awards were allowed to be shown, video games for personal computers were allowed to be sold, and sporting events, current affairs shows and documentaries were allowed to be broadcast on Korean television.
  4. On 1 January 2004, all Japanese films were allowed to be shown in theaters, and physical copies of music were allowed to be sold by retailers.

Laws remaining in place

It is still illegal to broadcast Japanese music and television dramas over terrestrial signals in South Korea.[4]

In February 2011, the Korean censor indicated that he might consider lifting this ban in the future.[5] In August 2011, a single Japanese song was broadcast in South Korea as part of a trial program.[6][7]

In 2014, a Korean-language song by the Korean band Crayon Pop was banned from broadcast because it contained the Japanese word pikapika in its lyrics.[8]

References

  1. ↑ 中村知子 (Tomoko Nakamura) "韓国における日本大衆文化統制" (Control of Japanese popular culture in Korea) (Japanese). Ritsumeikan University. March 2004. (English translation)
  2. ↑ "[어제의 오늘]1998년 일본 대중문화 1차 개방 발표" (in Korean). The Kyunghyang shinmun. 19 October 1998.
  3. ↑ <연말특집:聯合通信선정 '98 국내 및 해외 10대뉴스>-① (in Korean). yonhapnews. 10 December 1998.
  4. ↑ "韓国政府による日本文化開放政策(概要)" (Open-door policy of Japanese culture by the Korean government – Overview) (Japanese), Embassy of Japan in South Korea, 30 December 2003. (English translation)
  5. ↑ 韓国、日本ドラマ解禁に積極姿勢 (Positive attitude Korea, Japan to ban drama) (Japanese), 西日本新聞 (West Newspapers), 24 February 2011. (English translation)
  6. ↑ 日, 정치인까지 反한류 감정에 편승 (Politicians capitalize on the emotions of the Korean Wave) (Korean), chosun.com, 1 September 2011. (English translation)
  7. ↑ 「韓流偏重批判に考慮を 自民・片山さつき議員が民放連に要請 ("Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Satsuki Katayama NAB requested to "take into account the criticism obsessed Hallyu") (Japanese), J-Cast News, 31 August 2011. (English translation)
  8. ↑ Yonhap News. ＜芸能＞韓国アイドルの新曲　日本語使用で「放送不適合」 2014/04/03