Analyzing Media Coverage Trends on Undocumented Migrant Children in South Korea

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the impact of media coverage on the public perceptions of undocumented migrant children in South Korea, highlighting their societal exclusion due to their undocumented status. Thise research explores how media shapes the awareness of these vulnerable minors, which is crucial for both their development and societal progress.Methods: We analyzed 302 articles from BIGKinds, a news service of the Korea Press Foundation, published from 1990 to 2023. These articles contained terms related to ‘undocumented migrant children,’ totaling 69,278 keywords. The analysis was conducted using R 4.3.1 with packages such as wordcloud2 and ggplot2 to assess keyword frequency and trends over the decades.Results: From the analysis, 69,240 keywords were identified, with the most common being “children, arrest, parents, foreigner, illegal, resident, rights, protection, birth, offspring, support, school”. Media trends have evolved, with an overall increase in coverage, particularly during significant societal events.Conclusion: Media portrayals have shifted from viewing these children merely as dependents of foreign workers to recognizing them as individuals. Residency remained a persistent theme, highlighting it as an unresolved issue. This study highlights the critical role of the media in informing the public about marginalized individuals and influencing societal engagement and perceptions.