Email: sangwoo.y@gmail.com, sangwoo.y@yonsei.ac.kr

Curriculum Vitae (updated October 2024)

Sangwoo Yang

I am a professor at the Graduate School of Economics at Yonsei University, specializing in media economics, news markets, and the intersection of journalism and economics. I teach courses on the economics of news media and journalism, integrating economic theory into the study of news markets and examining how journalism practices influence news media markets, and vice versa.

In addition to my academic role, I serve as a mentor and corporate advisor at Naver, where I guide their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, helping align business strategies with social and ethical values.

I also have extensive leadership experience in the media industry, having served as CEO of the Hankyoreh Media Group in South Korea for six years. During my tenure, I led the company through a digital transformation while fostering its model of journalistic independence.

Academic Experience

Professor, Graduate School of Economics, Yonsei University | Sep 2021 – Present

~ Teach News Media Economics to the students in the Department of Economics and the Graduate School of Economics, and News Markets and Journalism in the Graduate School of Journalism, Media, and Communication.

~ Focusing on the application of economic theories, conduct research on news markets, media bias, media capture, and the role of digital platforms as intermediaries.

~ Contribute to academic scholarship in media economics through peer review activities for journals such as the Journal of Media Economics

Professor, Institute for East and West Studies, Yonsei University | Sep 2014 - Aug 2021

~ Conducted interdisciplinary research on political economy and media studies, with a focus on the interaction between media systems and economic dynamics.

~ Developed courses related to media economics.

Professor, Korea Press Foundation Media Education Center | Mar 2007 - Mar 2008

~ Led the Career Journalist Retraining Program, managing overall program design and delivering lectures for experienced journalists.

Visiting Scholar, School of Social Work, University of Washington | Sep 2003 - Sep 2004 | Seattle, WA, USA

~ Conducted activities related to social welfare and media intersection.

Education

Ph.D. in Economics, Yonsei University
Dissertation: Media Capture and Media Bias in the Digital Age
B.A. in Business Administration, Yonsei University

Academic Publications

Investigative Journalism and Media Capture (2021), Information Economics and Policy (with J. Choi)

Examines how digital technologies have lowered entry barriers for duplicate reporting, reduced the duration of news exclusivity, and contributed to the decline of investigative journalism while increasing the risk of media capture.

Media Bias with Asymmetric Media Quality (2021). Applied Economics Letters

Develops a theoretical model of media bias, demonstrating that the bias gap between media outlets depends on differences in media quality. Shows that equilibrium biases persist unless high-quality media can adjust their bias at a low cost.

Media Bias with Digital Intermediary (2020), International Telecommunication Policy Review

Explores how digital intermediaries, such as social media platforms, contribute to media bias differentiation.

The Change of News Media Capture Cost with Heavy Increase of Online Media (2017), East and West Studies (with S. Hahn) (In Korean)

Analyzes how the proliferation of online media has reduced the cost of media capture.

Books

Hidden Truths of the Media – Interpreting News Media through Economics (2023), Hanul Academy. (In Korean)

~ Investigates the root causes of declining trust in journalism by applying an economic perspective to the changing media landscape. Rather than attributing the crisis solely to newsroom practices, it emphasizes external factors such as confirmation bias among audiences and the shifting incentive structures of the news market. It presents economics as a critical compass for navigating the sea of mixed truths in modern media and fostering informed public discourse..

Journalism Unmasked – Understanding Its Nature and Crisis (2025), Inmulgwa Sasangsa. (In Korean)

~ Examines the inherent nature of journalism—its structural partisanship, its entanglement with market incentives, and its reflection of collective desires—through the lens of a former journalist, CEO, and media economist. It contends that journalism is not a neutral transmitter of truth, but a mirror of what people want to believe. The book explores the antagonistic coexistence of traditional and emergent media, and argues that quality and partisanship are not mutually exclusive. Ultimately, it calls for critical and self-reflective media consumption as the key to any meaningful reform.

Professional Experience

CSR Mentor & Corporate Advisor, Naver (Mar 2021 - Present)
Advising Naver on CSR strategies to ensure the company's business practices are aligned with broader social and ethical considerations in its role as a leading content platform.
Former CEO, Hankyoreh Media Group (Mar 2011 - Mar 2014, Mar 2017 - Mar 2020)
Led one of South Korea's largest independent newspapers, Hankyoreh, through periods of significant change, focusing on digital transformation and preserving journalistic independence. Managed the newsroom and fostered a unique model where the CEO and Editor-in-Chief were elected by employees.
Chairman, Korea Digital News Association (Jul 2011 - Mar 2014, Jun 2017 - Mar 2020)
Oversaw efforts to support and advance the interests of digital news outlets in South Korea.
Board Member, Korea Newspaper Association (Mar 2011 - Mar 2014, Mar 2017 - Mar 2020)
Contributed to policy discussions and initiatives affecting the Korean newspaper industry.
Advisory Committee Member, Constitutional Court of Korea (Sep 2013 - Sep 2015)
Provided expertise on media law, policy, and broader issues concerning news media, offering comprehensive advisory support on constitutional and legal matters.
Independent Director (Board Member), Celltrion Pharm (Mar 2021 – Present)
Provide strategic guidance and governance expertise to one of South Korea’s leading pharmaceutical companies.

Leadership and Conference Presentations

Asia Future Forum (CEO, Hankyoreh Media Group)
Organized six annual forums, inviting renowned scholars such as Thomas Piketty, Cathie Jo Martin, Richard B. Freeman, and Richard Wilkinson to discuss issues like global inequality, political economy, and media sustainability.
Hosted a Special Lecture, Saving the Media: Towards Sustainable Media Models, by Julia Cagé (2018)
Fall Conference of the Korean Association For Communication and Information Studies (2017)
Presented The Changing Costs of Media Capture in the Digital Age.

Awards and Honors

Distinguished Alumni Award in Academic and Cultural Contributions (2012)
From the Joint Alumni Association of Yonsei University College of Commerce and Economics, and School of Business.
17th Democratic Press Award, Special Prize for Feature Reporting (2007)
Awarded by the National Union of Media Workers, South Korea.
Korean Catholic Mass Communication Award (2006)
Presented by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea.
8th Samsung Press Award in Investigative and Feature Reporting (2004)
From the Samsung Press Foundation.
Commendation by the Minister of Culture and Tourism for Contribution to Journalism (2003)
Awarded by the South Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Organizing a forum

CEO of Hankyoreh

Election for CEO of Hankyoreh

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