Generating Counter-Public Spheres Through Social Media: Two Social Movements in Neoliberalised South Korea

Abstract

This study discusses the dynamics and natures of counter-public spheres configured by people’s engagements in social movements via social media. It focuses on the ways in which the two social movements in South Korea are mobilised both online and offline. Under the extensive neoliberalisation of South Korea, these social movements widely attracted public attention and mobilised mass participation. This study suggests that the distinct dynamics of the social movements contributed to engendering counter-public spheres by associating online and offline spaces for building solidarity and for expressing people’s discontent against mainstream media. It characterises four aspects of counter-public spheres: active disputes and justification; collaboration and networking; affect and mutual empowerment; and a sense of belonging and connectivity. The article concludes that counter-public spheres help stimulate marginalised voices, invoke public deliberations and actions, and intervene in socio-political decision-making.

KEYWORDS:

• social media
• social movement
• neoliberalism
• counter-public sphere
• South Korea

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank Slavko Splichal and a reviewer for providing valuable comments. They also appreciate Mikah Lee and Sueun Kim for assistance in the revision process. Lastly they are indebted to the initial feedback they received in the conference, titled “Comparative Perspectives: Politics of Public Space in Korea” held by the Center for East Asian Studies at the University of Pennsylvania on 11-12 November 2011.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. http://mlbpark.donga.com (accessed September 18, 2016).

2. Translations from Korean sources are the authors’ own, unless otherwise noted.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Research Fund.

Notes on contributors

Su Young Choi

Su Young Choi (corresponding author) is a PhD candidate in the Department of Communication, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA.

Younghan Cho

Younghan Cho is Associate Professor in the Department of Korean Studies, Graduate School of International and Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Seoul, South Korea. Email: [email protected]