South Korean Propaganda Tactics: Encouraging Hostility Despite Familial Ties

South Korea employs a robust set of propaganda strategies to foster hostility toward North Korea, despite familial ties existing across the border. Rooted in an anti-communist narrative established since the country's founding and solidified after the Korean War, this propaganda frames the North Korean regime as a significant threat to South Korea's security and democratic values. The South Korean government utilizes various media—television, radio, print, and the internet—to perpetuate negative portrayals of the North. Tactics such as loudspeaker broadcasts along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and balloon drops with propaganda leaflets reinforce this messaging. This narrative, portraying North Korea as aggressive and responsible for division, is echoed in Western societies through cultural exports and media, where South Korea is seen as the “good Korea.” Additionally, the significant economic and technological advancements in the South contrast starkly with the North, emphasizing the developmental divide. These propaganda efforts not only serve to unify the South's public sentiment but also secure international support, as South Korea is framed as a prosperous democracy deserving of global allegiance amid tensions with the North.