From Campus to Society: How University Newspapers and Mainstream News Frame International Students in South Korea

초록

This study analyzes media discourse on international students in South Korea, comparing university newspapers (n=3,761) and mainstream news (n=38,167) between 1990 and 2025, using topic modeling and sentiment analysis. University news frames international students as integrated community members, emphasizing support, festivals, and cultural exchange with positive tones. Mainstream news portrays them as external risks involving geopolitics, crime, and disease, reflecting negative sentiment. While coverage by institutional media has decreased over time, coverage by mainstream media has increased, leading to heightened public interest in international students. Drawing on framing theory, the analysis shows how mainstream news outlets construct symbolic boundaries, positioning students as outsiders during crises. From a social-ecological perspective, these portrayals operate across interpersonal and institutional layers to shape policy and lived experiences. The findings suggest that universities, policymakers, and the media must coordinate strategies to highlight international students’ contributions to demographic and economic diversity, challenging the negative framing that marginalizes this population and exacerbates social exclusion. © Author(s), 2026.

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