고령화 담론의 시계열 분석: 언론 보도를 중심으로

초록

This study investigates the socio-political construction and representation of population aging within South Korean media discourse, specifically under a policy landscape historically dominated by pro-natalist agendas. By examining the discursive shifts surrounding “aging” and “older adults,” we delineate the evolution of public narratives and propose a more balanced framework for future policy responses. Utilizing text network analysis, we longitudinally analyze major Korean news articles from 2001 to 2024, categorized into four distinct periods corresponding to the implementation phases of the Basic Plan on Low Birthrate and Aging Society (1st to 4th phase). The findings demonstrate a significant paradigm shift: while early discourse framed aging through the narrow lenses of social welfare, pension systems, and elderly care, it has progressively expanded to encompass systemic macro-level concerns, including fiscal sustainability, labor shortages, and economic stagnation. Notably, during the 3rd and 4th planning periods, keywords such as “population decline,” “national crisis,” and “regional extinction” emerged as central nodes, signaling a transition from aging as a localized social issue to an existential national threat. Despite this discursive expansion, aging policy remains marginalized within the national framework, consistently overshadowed by low-birthrate initiatives in budgetary and strategic priority. This study underscores the formative role of media in shaping policy agendas and offers multi-dimensional recommendations to enhance policy efficacy and equity. Key proposals include institutionalizing “active aging” in public discourse, diversifying strategies for heterogeneous aging cohorts, establishing regional governance, and integrating discursive monitoring into policy evaluation cycles.

키워드