It was established in 1988 after widespread purges forced out dissident journalists, and was envisioned as an alternative to existing newspapers, which were regarded as unduly influenced by the authoritarian government at the time.

[23] The Hankyoreh was intended to provide an independent, left-leaning and liberal-nationalist alternative to mainstream newspapers regarded as blindly pro-business and opposed to national reunification.

On October 7, 2016, it published article arguing that South Korea's anti-Japanese and Japan's anti-Korean sentiments were completely different, and that it was wrong to conflate the two.

[27][28][29][30] In line with the newspaper's nationalism and aspirations for reunification, its reporting of inter-Korean and East Asian affairs is based on its editorial policy seeking reconciliation, stability and peaceful co-prosperity through dialogue rather than pressure on the government of North Korea.

"[47] It strongly encouraged coverage of the 2008 demonstrations and a greater understanding of "candlelight spirit" that academics are referring to as an emergence of a new social movement and form of democracy in South Korea that protests policy development on trade, liberalization of public education, the privatization of health, and the environmental consequences of a cross-country canal project without substantial public opinion gathering.

[51][52] The Hankyoreh has a fairly favorable view of feminism,[53] LGBT rights, opposes discrimination against ethnic minorities and supports political correctness.

[55] The Hankyoreh shows a favorable tone for the Democratic Party of Korea, but opposes their somewhat socially conservative approach to LGBT rights.

The Hankyoreh described Joe Biden's protectionist policy in 2022 negatively, referring to the reactions of experts and European countries, and pointed out that it was "economic nationalism" (경제적 민족주의) similar to Donald Trump's.

The company remains intentionally unlisted to avoid hostile takeover; it has also never shown three consecutive years of profit, one of the requirements for listing.

[80] The climate section is called "ClimateChange&" and covers topics such as nuclear power, environmental and ecological destruction, endangered and at-risk species, and green pledges.