Expanding the presidential debate by tweeting: The 2012 presidential election debate in South Korea

This study investigates Twitter issue networks formed in response to the 2012 presidential debates on TV in South Korea. The overall network structure and the communication pattern of users were mapped over time, and then the gatekeepers playing roles as hubs in each candidate’s issue network and their framing practices were identified. Network analyses (a keyword analysis and a CONCOR analysis) were conducted and gatekeepers’ political ideologies were identified. The results indicate that issue networks evolved in concert with the viewership of televised debates. According to the profile analysis of gatekeepers and the keyword analysis, gatekeepers on Twitter formed homogenous groups in terms of their political ideologies and geographic locations. In addition, Twitter users tended to form networks critical of the major conservative candidate, whereas they constructed networks of support for the major opposite candidate. This study contributes to understanding the role of Twitter in reflecting the political landscape in the offline world by revealing the structure, contents, and gatekeeping practices of issue networks.