In this study, the symbols and visual expressions employed in the food culture content of official website designed to promote three cities in Korea, Seoul, Jeonju and Jeju, were subjected to semiotic analysis. In this study, it was assumed that these websites reflected the varying perspectives of the people behind the development and management of these routes of Internet communication, and the semiotic choices made in order to exemplify each city’s food cultural image. The aim of the study was to analyze the communication strategies of food cultural branding in the terms of the online content regarding Seoul, Jeonju, and Jeju with a focus on the comparative points in these cities’ official websites. This study included conducting semiotic content analyses of the aforementioned cities’ official web pages in an attempt to determine the food branding strategies used to differentiation and produce more favorable perceptions of these three cities. Building upon the findings drawn from this comparative study, the present work can be used to determine more effective ways of strategically differentiating the images of local food culture associated with these cities from the view of brand communications. This study also demonstrates viable directions for designing web content for a city where the food cultural messages can be delivered in a thoughtful and effective manner.

• 전형연(인하대학교 대학원 문화경영학과) | Hyeong-Yeon Jeon Corresponding author
• 김정수(인하대학교 대학원 문화경영학과) | Jung-Soo Kim