Scientific Development Research

The study investigates how South Korea’s three major media outlets have constructed the image of China through the lens of the concept of the “Community of Shared Future for Mankind” from 2017 to 2024. The purpose of the research is to clarify the cognitive characteristics and evolutionary logic of South Korean media narratives, as well as to highlight their significance for bilateral relations and the dissemination of the concept in East Asia. As a close neighbor of China, South Korea’s media discourse not only shapes public opinion but also directly influences the perception and acceptance of this concept at the regional level, which makes the research of practical and academic importance. The research is based on 29 reports published by KBS, MBC, and SBS. Content analysis and critical discourse analysis were employed, complemented by keyword extraction, thematic categorization, and tendency analysis. This methodological approach made it possible to systematically identify the distribution of reporting themes, the linguistic strategies adopted by the media, and the underlying ideological orientations reflected in the narratives. The results reveal distinct stage-based patterns. During the period of restoring China–Korea relations (2017–2018), South Korean media reports were largely positive or neutral, emphasizing cooperation and mutual benefit. In the phase of deepening global governance (2019–2020), reporting shifted toward governance effectiveness, with particular attention to China’s institutional contributions in public health and technological innovation. In the stage of strategic competition and cooperation (2021–2024), the overall tone became more neutral but was increasingly characterized by doubts and concerns about China’s strategic intentions. Across these phases, the media recognized the cooperative and win–win values inherent in the concept, while simultaneously interpreting it through the framework of Sino–US rivalry. This duality indicates both acknowledgment and skepticism, producing a paradoxical and sometimes contradictory portrayal of China’s image. The conclusion emphasizes that such cognitive patterns are shaped by geopolitical dynamics, the interdependence of the Chinese and South Korean economies, and cultural and social differences. To optimize the communication of the concept internationally, strategies should include strengthening cross-cultural exchange, deepening economic cooperation, and enhancing media collaboration. These measures can help reduce misunderstanding, increase recognition of the concept in South Korea, and contribute to both the stable development of China–Korea relations and the global dissemination of the “Community of Shared Future for Mankind.”

Community of Shared Future For Mankind; South Korean media; National image; China–Korea relations