Seoul to toughen Web monitoring
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As the suicide of a star actress is sounding alarm bells on malicious online rumor-mongering, the central government is moving to enforce even tougher rules on messages posted on the internet.
The Korea Communications Commission said it will expand the verification system whereby users who post comments on websites are required to use their resident registration numbers.
The so-called identity verification system was launched in 2007 to prevent privacy violations and defamation by anonymous internet users.
The KCC plans to expand the regulation, increasing the number of companies subject to the policy from the current 37 to 178 in November.
"We expect the policy to be implemented as early as November", a KCC official told The Korea Herald.
The policy is currently applied to 37 media outlets, portals and UCC sites that experience traffic of 300,000 or more visitors a day. Under the new plan, those getting 100,000 a day will be subject to the policy.
Cyberspace smearing is a major problem in Korea, which boasts a high broadband penetration rate. Malicious messages have prompted a series of libel suits and even high-profile suicides.
On Thursday, Choi Jin-sil, dubbed "the nation's actress", hung herself after she suffered from malicious rumors and comments leveled against her in cyberspace.
Rumors on the internet claimed she loaned over 2 billion won to an actor-turned-businessman who recently committed a suicide under a mountain of debt. Denying the rumors, she requested a police investigation into the case and the police caught a twenty something woman and brought charges against her for circulating the rumor.
The police are yet to conclude their investigation into the most recent suicide and an autopsy is yet to conclusively determine the cause of death.
"We cannot conclude that Choi's death was caused by malicious online comments", the KCC official said. "But side effects of the internet are not new problems and the issues have been raised constantly", he said, voicing the need to toughen rules on internet postings.
The KCC also seeks to punish internet firms if they do not monitor malicious messages. The agency said it is in its power to temporary block access to violators upon requests of victims.
Currently, no penalties are imposed on portals if they do not comply with the rules.
Rep. Hong Jun-pyo, the floor leader of the governing Grand National Party, said his party will push to pass legislation on online libel.
The move, however, sparked concern that it could hurt freedom of speech.
By Jin Hyun-joo
The Korea Communications Commission said it will expand the verification system whereby users who post comments on websites are required to use their resident registration numbers.
The so-called identity verification system was launched in 2007 to prevent privacy violations and defamation by anonymous internet users.
The KCC plans to expand the regulation, increasing the number of companies subject to the policy from the current 37 to 178 in November.
"We expect the policy to be implemented as early as November", a KCC official told The Korea Herald.
The policy is currently applied to 37 media outlets, portals and UCC sites that experience traffic of 300,000 or more visitors a day. Under the new plan, those getting 100,000 a day will be subject to the policy.
Cyberspace smearing is a major problem in Korea, which boasts a high broadband penetration rate. Malicious messages have prompted a series of libel suits and even high-profile suicides.
On Thursday, Choi Jin-sil, dubbed "the nation's actress", hung herself after she suffered from malicious rumors and comments leveled against her in cyberspace.
Rumors on the internet claimed she loaned over 2 billion won to an actor-turned-businessman who recently committed a suicide under a mountain of debt. Denying the rumors, she requested a police investigation into the case and the police caught a twenty something woman and brought charges against her for circulating the rumor.
The police are yet to conclude their investigation into the most recent suicide and an autopsy is yet to conclusively determine the cause of death.
"We cannot conclude that Choi's death was caused by malicious online comments", the KCC official said. "But side effects of the internet are not new problems and the issues have been raised constantly", he said, voicing the need to toughen rules on internet postings.
The KCC also seeks to punish internet firms if they do not monitor malicious messages. The agency said it is in its power to temporary block access to violators upon requests of victims.
Currently, no penalties are imposed on portals if they do not comply with the rules.
Rep. Hong Jun-pyo, the floor leader of the governing Grand National Party, said his party will push to pass legislation on online libel.
The move, however, sparked concern that it could hurt freedom of speech.
By Jin Hyun-joo
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