This study analyzed photos of major conflict cases that occurred in Korean society from 2013 to 2022, using protest signage (format, color scheme, slogan content and font color) and protest behavior as the main variables. To this end, the study sought...
This study analyzed photos of major conflict cases that occurred in Korean society from 2013 to 2022, using protest signage (format, color scheme, slogan content and font color) and protest behavior as the main variables. To this end, the study sought to find correlations between the observed protest behavior and the recognized level of conflict from a public conflict awareness survey conducted by the Korea Conflict Resolution Center from 2013 to 2022. The study selected and analyzed the most impressive conflict cases in a given year when multiple conflicts occurred, and perused the statistical results of surveys and the content analysis of photos published in the media, including analogous cases. The main objectives of the study are: ① to investigate how protest behavior has changed over the past decade, from 2013 to 2022, and ② to examine and interpret how public conflict awareness is related to social conflicts. For each year, two to four selected cases were analyzed along with related photos, beyond the photos presented in the main text. The study discovered extreme manifestations in protest signage design, slogan content and protest behavior. However, it found that in most cases, protesters tried to avoid violence. In particular, the study dealt with conflicts between government (central or local) and public institutions and locals, which are mainly related to livelihood, health, and property. It could be biased emotionally, but the fact that residents restrained their emotions and presented their claims through defensive slogans rather than aggressive voices indicates a mature sense of civic consciousness in conflict situations. If long-standing local conflicts are linked to external organizations and conflict with government policy, protests tend to become more striking and volatile.
Protest signage design, format, and slogan content varied over the 10 years, but they were harmoniously constructed to deliver messages effectively. In particular, placards and banners were written succinctly and clearly, with slogans that fit well with the primary background color. This represents the development of the overall appearance of protests. In conclusion, the study discovered that, over time, the general public and groups learned from numerous protests, resulting in a similar appearance of protests.
The first objective of the study, the changes in the appearance of protests over the past decade, were mostly verified, although there were some changes, such as protest marches with flower wreaths or post-it notes. The second objective, the comparison and analysis of the correlation between the content of conflict photos and public conflict awareness, confirmed their mutual consistency.