ABSTRACT

This study aims to describe social concerns with the handicapped reflected in editorials in Korean daily newspapers. Data were derived from the editorial articles dealing with the handicapped that appeared in two main newspapers in Korea, The Dong-A Ilbo and The Chosun Ilbo, for the past thirty-one years from January 1, 1970, to December 31, 2000. The contents analysis of the editorials was conducted based on three categories: types of the disabilities, contents of the articles with respect to social environment and rehabilitation for the whole person,and reporting disposition of the editorials. The results are summarized as follows:The results did not show any significant pattern in quantitative change of editorials.For the monthly distribution of the editorials, it was shown that the newspapers commented on the handicapped most frequently in April and December the month in which public attention was most directed to the disadvantaged. A pattern was observed in terms of temporal changes in social concerns and attitude toward the handicapped. While social concerns with physical and social cognitive environments tended to increase, those with medical and educational rehabilitation tended to decrease.