• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.649-657
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• 2011

This study examines how news media covers Jang Ja-Yeon's scandal through analyzing texts and images about Jang Ja-Yeon described in SBS (Seoul Broadcasting System) Eight O'clock News. The study found that the news stories mainly covered lasciviously Jang Ja-Yeon's entertaining service, sexual service, other actresses who were forced to provide entertaining service, a list of people who forced her to serve, death, and vengeance. In addition, Jang Ja-Yeon in the news stories were described as "unknown actress," and she was located into low class and entertained the men in power. The analysis implicated that the body image of actress reflects a merchandize in the news media, and the news media used Ja-Yeon Jang's body image for news value which represents the society of reification, hierarchical and masculine society.