Korea’s Government Communication Model: A Grounded Theory Perspective

This study employs grounded theory to examine government communication in South Korea and to develop a theoretically grounded model that addresses limitations in existing approaches to government communication, particularly those that emphasize functional or organization-centered perspectives. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 20 participants, including government officials, communication practitioners, academic experts, and civil society leaders, the study analyzes how communication operates within complex governance environments. Data were systematically examined through open, axial, and selective coding. The findings identify a central phenomenon, a persistent trust gap between government communication and public expectations, which emerges from two interconnected causal conditions: information disorder and institutional fragmentation. This phenomenon is further shaped by contextual conditions such as the digital communication environment, public sentiment dynamics, and audience segmentation, as well as intervening factors related to governance structures and collaborative practices. In response, government communication is shown to operate through integrated strategic orientations (mission-oriented, anticipatory, and data-driven approaches) that collectively contribute to managing trust, coordinating stakeholders, and facilitating social dialogue. While prior models of public relations and government communication have emphasized information dissemination, relationship management, and engagement processes, the present findings suggest that communication also operates as an embedded component of governance, linking institutional processes, public expectations, and trust formation. The study advances public relations and government communication scholarship by offering an integrated, process-oriented framework that connects communication, trust, and governance dynamics. It also provides analytically grounded insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to enhance trust, strengthen social capital, and navigate complex digital and political environments.