CORÉE DU SUD PERSPECTIVE

South Korean media coverage of the tensions in the Middle East reveals a deeply self-centered perspective, where the Iranian crisis is mainly perceived through the prism of its domestic economic impacts. The dominant emphasis massively focuses on immediate financial consequences: a drop of nearly 3% in the KOSPI, the won collapsing to its lowest level in 17 years, and oil price volatility. This economic focus testifies to the pragmatic approach characteristic of South Korean media, which prioritizes tangible repercussions on the national economy over geopolitical analysis of the deep causes of conflict.

The general tone oscillates between economic alarmism and strategic concern, especially evident in coverage of US pressure regarding the Strait of Hormuz. The media adopts an anxious tone when describing 'attacks on critical energy infrastructure' and 'threats from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard,' but remains remarkably measured in their analysis of broader geopolitical implications. This restraint contrasts with the expressed economic urgency, suggesting diplomatic caution in handling a conflict involving the United States, Seoul's major strategic ally.

The silences in this coverage are particularly revealing: the near-total absence of analysis on the historical causes of the conflict, minimizing Israel’s role (often reduced to 'US-Israeli war'), and systematically avoiding any direct criticism of US Middle East policy. This omission reflects South Korea’s geopolitical constraints, caught between its security dependence on the United States and its regional economic interests, notably oil imports.

The narrative framing positions South Korea as a collateral victim of a distant conflict, passively suffering the economic consequences of decisions made elsewhere. This implicit victimization is evident in descriptions of 'diplomatic pressures' exerted by Trump and unfavorable analogies with Japan concerning the Hormuz mission. Thus, media constructs a story where Seoul navigates difficultly between contradictory demands from its American ally and its own national interests, revealing structural tensions in South Korean diplomacy in a multipolar world.