Thursday, June 07, 2007

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: Roh continues online love affair

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: Roh continues online love affair: "The Korean president does not falter in his preference for cyberspace as his political battlefield

Korea Times
Thursday, March 23, 2006
By Ryu Jin

Having spent three years in the cloistered Chong Wa Dae, President Roh Moo-hyun's peculiar infatuation with the so-called cyber politics shows no sign of dying down anytime soon.

Roh held an Internet forum with the people at the presidential office on Thursday. Co-hosted by five major portal sites of the country, the forum was first arranged as an event to mark the third anniversary of Roh’s inauguration on Feb. 25. The five were Daum Communications, Empas, Nate.com, Paran and Yahoo! Korea."

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: Parties to begin online campaigns to attract young voters

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: Parties to begin online campaigns to attract young voters: "Online political campaigns come of age ahead of the May 31 local elections

Korea Times
Sunday, May 7, 2006
By Jung Sung-ki

As campaigns for the May 31 local elections move into high gear, the governing and opposition parties are seeking ways to make the best of online campaigns to reach young voters.
Beginning May 18, the parties will begin online and offline election campaigns. Under the revised Election law passed last year, parties can advertise their candidates or election pledges on Internet portal sites.
The governing party decided last week to launch online advertising for the party's 16 mayoral, gubernatorial hopefuls on popular portal sites, such as 'Naver' and 'Daum.'"

AsiaMedia :: UCC likely to influence election

AsiaMedia :: UCC likely to influence election: "Despite lingering concerns about ambiguous copyright laws, experts expect user-created content to play a major role in Korea's December presidential election

Korea Herald
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
By Kae Yun-ah

The 2002 presidential election demonstrated the enormous impact the internet can have on politics. Nosamo, the fan group for President Roh Moo-hyun, used both the internet and text messages to boost his popularity during the campaign, helping him win the presidency."

AsiaMedia :: User created content takes on political role

AsiaMedia :: User created content takes on political role: "The Internet played a key role in the last presidential election in Korea; UCC is expected to do the same this year

Korea Herald
Monday, January 29, 2007
By Hwang Si-young

The rapid growth in user created content or UCC will likely have sizable impact on this year's presidential election, in much the same manner as the internet took a political role in the 2002 presidential election campaign.

Free video sharing websites such as Pandora TV (www.pandora.tv) -- that are profiting by allowing users to upload, view and share video clips -- are now introducing more and more video clips of presidential hopefuls. The UCC buzz is also resonating at Naver, Daum and Yahoo Korea."

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: UCC websites tackle copyright issues

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: UCC websites tackle copyright issues: "Video-sharing website asks National Internet Promotion Agency of Korea to allow Web users to edit TV programs

Korea Herald
Saturday, February 3, 2007
By Hwang Si-young

Pandora TV, a free video-sharing website, yesterday suggested applying 'reference rights' to video clips of less than five minutes in an effort to stave off copyright problems involving broadcasters.
An official at Pandora TV yesterday said the company has submitted a written statement to the National Internet Promotion Agency of Korea and the three national broadcasters -- KBS, MBC and SBS -- asking them to guarantee Web users the right to 'freely edit' a certain part of a TV program, be it news, documentary, drama or entertainment."

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: 51% of Koreans generate UCC

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: 51% of Koreans generate UCC: "Official hopes Korean public creates user-generated content for practical purposes like education rather than just for entertainment value

The Korea Times
Monday, May 22, 2007
By Kim Tae-gyu

A majority of Korean Web surfers have created their own materials to be uploaded on the Internet, dubbed user-created content (UCC), according to a recent government survey."

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: Virginia Tech tragedy sweeps Internet news

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: Virginia Tech tragedy sweeps Internet news: "Internet statistics show words about last week's massacre top Naver search queries

Korea Times
Saturday, April 22, 2007
By Bae Ji-sook

The Virginia Tech tragedy swept the online world last week as Cho Seung-hui, the shooter of the massacre, topped the nation's No. 1 search engine Naver's most searched word list.
Cho, who reportedly committed the crime out of anger toward the rich and the unfairness of the world, killed 32 innocent students and professors attending early morning classes.
His 'vengeance' shocked the world and thousands of people debated over whether possession of a private weapon should be allowed."

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: Anchor's photo leakage tops Internet news

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: Anchor's photo leakage tops Internet news: "Private photos of celebrity anchor Park Ji Yoon and her boyfriend replace the past two-week's no. 1 searched inquiry, Virginia Tech shooter Cho Seung-hui

The Korea Times
Sunday, May 6, 2007
By Park Chung-a

Celebrity anchor Park Ji-yoon topped the country's No. 1 search engine Naver's 'Most Searched Word List,' due to her private photos with her boyfriend being posted onto the Internet by anonymous users.
The photographs were originally posted on her boyfriend and anchor Choi Dong-sok’s personal blog in private, not open to others. Choi took the ninth place on the list."

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: Internet portals to be held responsible for news posts

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: Internet portals to be held responsible for news posts:
"Seoul Central District Court's ruling says Internet portals are responsible for monitoring the content of news stories featured on their sites

The Korea Herald
Monday, May 21, 2007
By Hwang Si-young

Internet portals such as Naver and Daum will be held more responsible for posting news on their own sites following the Seoul Central District Court's ruling against portal operators over bad, slanderous or obscene postings last Friday.

The court ruled in favor of a person, surnamed Kim, who sued four domestic portals on libel charges since the portals randomly carried articles saying he was to blame for his girlfriend's suicide. Four domestic portals were each ordered to pay 16 million won ($17,000) to Kim."

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: Behave yourselves online, say campaigners

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: Behave yourselves online, say campaigners:
"The Sunple movement, led by educators, lawyers, and TV celebrities, promotes positive messages on Internet bulletin boards

The Korea Herald
Thursday, May 24, 2007
By Jeong Hyeon-ji

Educators, lawyers and TV celebrities yesterday launched a campaign to clean up online message boards.
The Sunple Movement, spearheaded by professor Min Byoung-chul of Chung-ang University, will promote the posting of positive messages on internet bulletin boards and aims to protect victims of cyber bullying and abuse."

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: Ministry of Information sets guidelines on UCC

AsiaMedia [quoting The Korea Herald 5.5.07] Ministry of Information sets guidelines on UCC: "Guidelines for wser created-content include a code of conduct and legal parameters"

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: Constitutional court to decide on press rooms

AsiaMedia [quoting The Korea Times 23.5.07] Constitutional court to decide on press rooms:
"Opposing Grand National Party and the conservative Lawyers for Citizens will file a petition against Roh's decision to close most press rooms"

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: GNP calls Roh's media policy 'dictatorial'

AsiaMedia [quoting The Korea Times 21.5.07]: GNP calls Roh's media policy 'dictatorial':
"GNP says Roh's policy is a reminder of former President Chun Doo-hwan's strict media policy"
AsiaMedia [quoting the Korea Times 23.5.07]: Press rules draw fire from media, political parties:
"Press rules draw fire from media, political parties
Media groups, ministry officials and presidential potentials denounce Roh's measure to close press rooms"

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: GNP vows to block new press rules

AsiaMedia [quoting The Korea Herald 25.5.07]: GNP vows to block new press rules:
"KOREA: GNP vows to block new press rules
Grand National Party pledges to nullify Roh's press-room policy and abolish the Government Information Agency"

Newsletter: Issue No.273 / 'Beauty of Seoul' Opens - Welcome to Seoul Selection - Shop for Korean Cultural and Intellectual Products(Books, Movies DVD, Gifts etc.) :::

[Seoul Weekly 9.6.2007] Newsletter: Issue No.273

"Confessions of a Naver Junkie

The Korea Times has been running a three-part series on Naver.com, the Korean portal site that's so influential that it's sometimes been called the 'Republic of Naver.' As its influence grows, so do its detractors --- today's Korea Times piece discusses the 'dark side' of Naver and calls for the portal site to open up and exercise more social responsibility. A confession.
I'm a Naver.com junkie."

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

[The Hankyoreh, May 27, 2007] S. Korean wins best actress award at Cannes

South Korean actress Jeon Do-yeon won the best actress award at the Cannes film festival Sunday for her role in "Secret Sunshine" depicting a woman struggling to rearrange her life after the tragic deaths of her husband and only son.

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/212180.html
[The Hankyoreh, Geurimpan, 26 May 2007] Two sides of the same coin

(1) This is when there is hostility. President Roh and the head of the Government Information Agency are at odds with the conservative media, which accuse him of attacking press freedoms with his new plan to restructure the media system of contact with the government.

(2) This is when things are all good and dandy. The conservative media could not be more pleased with the text of the free trade agreement with the United States soon to be up for ratification by Korea’s National Assembly.

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/211938.html

[The Hankyoreh, May.26,2007] After heydey during democracy movement, leftist reviews reemerge Publication of quarterly progressive magazines on the rise

Will the era of liberal social criticism come again?

With social literary review magazines, which have disappeared over the past three or four years, being revived one by one, progressive writers have again come onto the scene. Observers said such a situation was due to a need felt within society to analyze and explain social changes, including the rise of neo-liberalism and informatization.

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/211936.html
[[The Hankyoreh Geurimpan, 25 May 2007] Take this down quickly

President Roh Moo-hyun tells the media to "Get this all down," as he approves the measures to consolidate 40 press rooms in government agencies into three in the pretext of reforming government-press relations.

But the Government Information Agency, in charge of the measures and also the mike President Roh holds in his hand, has had its line cut, as voices opposing the measures came from nearly all political circles, including the pro-government Uri Party as well as most civic activist groups as well as journalists, who see it as an effort to repress freedom of speech. In particular, members of the main opposition Grand National Party have threatened to legislate this agency out of existence.

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/211742.html
[Tha Hankyoreh, May.25,2007] Korean films set to be clobbered by Hollywood this summer Lack of fresh material, reluctance of producers to invest cited as behind poor performance

Hollywood films are sweeping the Korean cinema scene as domestic movies are losing their audience pull after a surprise boom last year.

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/211737.html
[Then Hankyoreh, May.23,2007, Editorial] Roh administration stifles criticism and debate

The cabinet met yesterday with president Roh Moo-hyun present, and approved the "Scheme to Elevate the News Coverage Support System." All the criticism and suggestions by the media, academics, and media watch groups were written off as "trying to justify the practices of old." Roh’s government is pushing to have its own way, despite the fact even media reform groups like the National Union of Media Workers and the Citizens Coalition for Democratic Media are expressing concern. This forces one to ask just what the government thinks the media is.

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_editorial/211307.html
[The Hankyoreh, May 22.2007] Universal Studios to open theme park in S. Korea by 2012

Universal Studios said Tuesday it plans to open a theme park in South Korea by 2012 as part of its efforts to expand in the country's growing theme park industry.

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_business/211176.html
[The Hankyoreh, May.22,2007] Presidential hopefuls bash gov't plan to curtail press rooms

In a rare move, South Korean presidential hopefuls spoke with one voice Tuesday in criticizing President Roh Moo-hyun for pushing to drastically slash the number of press rooms to reform the media circle. In a Cabinet Council meeting earlier Tuesday, President Roh approved a plan to shut down 40 press rooms installed in government offices throughout the country and reconsolidate them into three integrated ones at main government complexes. Roh's government says the plan is part of efforts to put an end to outdated reporting practices and introduce advanced systems, but critics argue that it will only result in restricting the freedom of press.

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/211174.html
[Hankyoreh Geurimpan, 22 May 2007 ] How about my plan?

President Roh Moo-hyun, hiding behind a new curtain of secrecy at the Blue House press room, presents reporters there with his idea of "media reform," which includes restricting the ability of the media keep watch and cover government activity and getting rid of similar press rooms in government buildings.

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/211030.html
[The Hankyoreh, May.22,2007] South Koreans seek books for self-improvement In wake of financial crisis, readers simultaneously seek competitive edge, solace

A majority of Korean readers picked up books that they believe could help make money and improve their ability regarding jobs and social life.

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/211027.html
[The Hankyoreh, May.22,2007] Gov’t plans to consolidate pressrooms bring controversy Experts divided over whether plan will increase quality of coverage or media manipulation

The government is due to endorse a plan on May 22 to consolidate about 40 pressrooms at government agencies into three and to prohibit journalists from access to offices of government agencies or police stations.

Starting July, the government is scheduled to apply the plan, called a ‘plan for the modernization of media support,’ after a trial period. Under the plan, there would be only one pressroom each to cover the three major government complexes in Gwanghwamun, downtown Seoul; Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province; and Daejeon.

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/211025.html
[The Hankyoreh, May.22,2007] Is the ‘Korean wave’ dead in Japan? Don’t bet on it, say experts Other cooperative projects grow out of surge in interest in Korean culture



A photo of South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun was covering almost half of Cinemart Roppongi, a movie house in the heart of Tokyo exclusively devoted to showing Asian films, on May 16. The theater has screened 16 South Korean films since late March in a festival to mark its first anniversary, but has attracted only about 2,300 viewers during the entire festival.

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/211022.html