부산대학교 도서관

In the mid-1970s, the discourse on biotechnology in Korea was begun under influence of the recombinant DNA debate in the United States. Many news reports in Korea emphasized the negative aspects of genetic engineering when they delivered American debate on the recombinant DNA technology. At that time, mass media treated genetic engineering just as a gossip, not as the subject of scientific and economic debate. The success of the production of interferon in 1980s made the market and economic value of genetic engineering more visible. Accordingly, Korean media paid more attention to genetic engineering. Mass media represent genetic engineering as “modern Alchemy”, “miracle engineering”, “the third Industrial Revolution”, and “the last technological revolution of the century”, creating exaggerated and fantastic image during that period. Because these reports drew much public attention, genetic engineering became social issues in Korea. Then, the scientific community began to use the public interest as opportunity to promote the field of biology. The scientific community preferred the term “genetic engineering” instead of “biotechnology,” and used the image of “genetic engineering tree” to embody image of high technology, future technology, advanced technology, and all-around technology of genetic engineering. Through these strategies, the scientific community formed and developed a discourse on biotechnology, calling for policy support for biotechnology in Korea.