YouTube Digital Storytelling of Korean Uninhabited Islands

• Main Author: Kim, Jooyoung
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2024
• Subjects: Digital storytelling; mobility; South Korea; uninhabited islands; YouTube
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/kk/vol1/iss44/9; https://archium.ateneo.edu/context/kk/article/1008/viewcontent/2_20KK44_20Jooyoung_20Kim.pdf
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

South Korea, with its extensive coastline and numerous islands, such as Jejudo, Ulleungdo, and Dokdo, is home to several uninhabited islands. These uninhabited islands embody dual roles as nostalgic symbols and territorial entities while also enduring marginalization and distortion stemming from their inhospitable conditions. Nonetheless, the emergence of recent trends in YouTube digital storytelling within South Korea has propelled uninhabited islands into the spotlight, as a result of which these islands have received considerable attention. By examining the creation and reception of YouTube narratives, we can gain valuable insights into the ever-evolving landscape of digital culture and its broader implications for society. This article explores how uninhabited islands, which have been narrativized as sites of exclusion and misrepresentation arising from their harsh circumstances, are represented in YouTube digital storytelling through alternative approaches. By analyzing these approaches, this research aims to contribute to the broader understanding of digital storytelling, cultural representation, and the intersection of digital media and place-based mobility.