• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.137-150
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• 2001

In this cross-national analysis of commercials for young children, 58 commercials were from KBS 2 in S. Korea, 51 from Nickelodeon, USA, and 69 from CTV, Taiwan, totaling 178 commercials. Differences between countries were that foods and beverages were mainly advertised in S. Korean and Taiwanese while a full range of items were evenly displayed in American commercials, and American commercials used more ordinary people in casting. Fantastic and realistic atmospheres were typical of S. Korean, realistic and explanatory of American, and explanatory of Taiwanese commercials. The commercials rarely showed an aesthetic sense or creative thinking, and the use of abusive language and aggression was ubiquitous, while some deviant behavior was also portrayed. The commercials often failed to provide useful information, and they stimulated customers to have unrealistic expectations.