Framing Analysis Of The Kim Soo-Hyun And Kim Sae-Ron Case Reporting In Tempo.Co Media

Abstract

This study aims to analyze Tempo.co's news framing of the case involving Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun, specifically regarding the celebrity scandal and alleged child grooming. This research is motivated by the significant public attention to the case and the role of online media in shaping public perception through news construction. The focus of this study is to examine how Tempo.co frames reality through issue selection, language use, and emphasis on certain aspects in its reporting. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach using the framing analysis method of William A. Gamson and Andre Modigliani. The research subjects were 10 Tempo.co news articles published between March and April 2025 that discussed the Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun cases. Data were collected through literature and documentation studies, then analyzed using framing devices and reasoning devices to identify core ideas, symbols, narratives, and reasoning patterns constructed by the media. The results of this study indicate that Tempo.co frames the Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun cases not only as celebrity scandals but also as social issues related to power relations, exploitation, and child protection. In terms of framing devices, Tempo.co emphasizes the use of dramatic diction, the selection of specific facts, and an emphasis on the controversy developing in the public sphere. Meanwhile, in terms of reasoning devices, Tempo.co constructs a narrative that leads readers to understand the case as a broader issue than mere entertainment gossip, namely as a social issue concerning morality, law, and public awareness. This study demonstrates that Tempo.co's framing demonstrates the media's role not only as a conveyor of information but also as an actor constructing social reality through a particular perspective. The coverage of this case demonstrates the link between journalistic practices, the formation of public opinion, and the economic logic of media within the digital news industry.