Comments on: How to Screw Over Internet Users in Korea and Commit Suicide at the Same Time http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/ Korea... in Blog Format Fri, 8 Aug 2008 21:17:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: exseoulman http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/#comment-54698 exseoulman Tue, 07 Nov 2006 15:36:03 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/#comment-54698 I remember a couple of years ago that any e-mail sent to Hanmail, on which,of course, because it name instills national pride in all its users,nearly all Koreans had,would bounce back if you sent the mail from Hotmail of any other mail. Korea and Koreans,yeesh. I remember a couple of years ago that any e-mail sent to Hanmail, on which,of course, because it name instills national pride in all its users,nearly all Koreans had,would bounce back if you sent the mail from Hotmail of any other mail.

Korea and Koreans,yeesh.

]]> By: hardyandtiny http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/#comment-54611 hardyandtiny Mon, 06 Nov 2006 20:32:19 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/#comment-54611 The internet's dead. The internet’s dead.

]]> By: Linkd http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/#comment-54571 Linkd Mon, 06 Nov 2006 05:22:05 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/#comment-54571 The references to Goldman Sachs and Carlyle may not be entirely apt. AIG et al indeed have a controlling interest in Hanaro - over 30% of shares, seats on the board, etc. Goldman Sachs tends to act more like a 'market maker' in Korea. That is, they'll hold a small pile of stocks in their own account, and stand ready any time to buy more of those same stocks if the price is low enough, or sell if it's high enough. They do deal in KT stocks, but it's probably not an 'investment' in KT any more than a grocer has invested in the food on his store shelf. Today, in fact, GS is the top seller of KT stock. Carlyle, as a private equity group, has different motivations. They rely on acquiring large stakes in companies and gaining managemet control, a strategy that is often nimbler when devouring small and mid-size companies. I don't know of any evidence that Carlyle is trying to swallow a fish as big as KT or Dacom. What Powercomm's gambit does show off quite nicely is the fundamental difference between Korean (LG in this case) and foreign management motivations. Foreigners just want to make a profit, Koreans just want market share. The references to Goldman Sachs and Carlyle may not be entirely apt. AIG et al indeed have a controlling interest in Hanaro - over 30% of shares, seats on the board, etc. Goldman Sachs tends to act more like a ‘market maker’ in Korea. That is, they’ll hold a small pile of stocks in their own account, and stand ready any time to buy more of those same stocks if the price is low enough, or sell if it’s high enough. They do deal in KT stocks, but it’s probably not an ‘investment’ in KT any more than a grocer has invested in the food on his store shelf. Today, in fact, GS is the top seller of KT stock. Carlyle, as a private equity group, has different motivations. They rely on acquiring large stakes in companies and gaining managemet control, a strategy that is often nimbler when devouring small and mid-size companies. I don’t know of any evidence that Carlyle is trying to swallow a fish as big as KT or Dacom.
What Powercomm’s gambit does show off quite nicely is the fundamental difference between Korean (LG in this case) and foreign management motivations. Foreigners just want to make a profit, Koreans just want market share.

]]> By: Origami http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/#comment-54559 Origami Mon, 06 Nov 2006 02:53:16 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/#comment-54559 Carlyle Group: Is this the evil Carlyle group that Bush belongs to? Carlyle Group:

Is this the evil Carlyle group that Bush belongs to?

]]> By: Brendon Carr http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/#comment-54555 Brendon Carr Sun, 05 Nov 2006 22:37:47 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/#comment-54555 Dana, I done told you, girl, <b>that ain't my baby</b>! Dana, I done told you, girl, that ain’t my baby!

]]> By: SomeguyinKorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/#comment-54554 SomeguyinKorea Sun, 05 Nov 2006 22:29:47 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/#comment-54554 or rather, open to abuse...although 'open for abuse' seems fitting, somehow. or rather, open to abuse…although ‘open for abuse’ seems fitting, somehow.

]]> By: SomeguyinKorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/#comment-54553 SomeguyinKorea Sun, 05 Nov 2006 22:24:08 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/#comment-54553 ...although I have no way of verifying this, the reason I think some pages may have been blocked due to the actions of unscrupulous businessmen is that the notice you get when you try to access blocked site provides a list of phone numbers that users can call to 'inform' on sites. The system is obviously open for abuse. …although I have no way of verifying this, the reason I think some pages may have been blocked due to the actions of unscrupulous businessmen is that the notice you get when you try to access blocked site provides a list of phone numbers that users can call to ‘inform’ on sites. The system is obviously open for abuse.

]]> By: SomeguyinKorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/#comment-54551 SomeguyinKorea Sun, 05 Nov 2006 22:04:56 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/#comment-54551 Powercomm has set up a firewall that blocks some foreign websites that cater to South Koreans. You'll get an official looking notice if you try to access any of these sites. Some of them are pornographic sites, but others are businesses that offer everyday products at highly competitive prices. Two of these websites, speedns.com and mass119.com (although they aren't blocked anymore), sell sports supplements and vitamins. If you've ever bought domestically produced or imported sports supplements in Korea, you'd understand why unscrupulous businessmen would want to eliminate that competition. Powercomm has set up a firewall that blocks some foreign websites that cater to South Koreans. You’ll get an official looking notice if you try to access any of these sites. Some of them are pornographic sites, but others are businesses that offer everyday products at highly competitive prices. Two of these websites, speedns.com and mass119.com (although they aren’t blocked anymore), sell sports supplements and vitamins. If you’ve ever bought domestically produced or imported sports supplements in Korea, you’d understand why unscrupulous businessmen would want to eliminate that competition.

]]> By: slownews http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/#comment-54550 slownews Sun, 05 Nov 2006 21:05:28 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/#comment-54550 Brendon, it's Dana (khs 87). Send me your new email. Sorry to interrupt. Thanks. Brendon, it’s Dana (khs 87). Send me your new email.
Sorry to interrupt. Thanks.

]]> By: usinkorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/#comment-54547 usinkorea Sun, 05 Nov 2006 19:00:14 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/05/how-to-screw-over-internet-users-in-korea-and-commit-suicide-at-the-same-time/#comment-54547 I am not a tech person. I have watched on C-Span once or twice where different "experts", spokesmen, and lawyers for the different sides debated each other --- to me it was like being on a jury and hearing two sets of well-paid "expert" witnesses - they cancelled each other out. I don't really buy the bandwidth usage argument, however, because I assume the technology is goin gto continue to improve in leaps as it has since I got my first Commadore 64 and hooked up to Q-link over the phone. Also, around the world, the availability of internet access is going to continue to increase exponentiually (sp?) and put pressure on usage anyway. ------ so technology will either keep up with the pace of demand - or demand will slow things down - regardless of whether governments and companies move to satiate their blood-sucking vampireish need for more and more money or not. And it is also inevitable that the blood suckers were going to sink their teeth into this huge cash cow. The balance has always been between how much revenue growth (whether for the company and the state and the nation) greater consumer access via the internet and the growth in small and new businesses would bring ---- ---- and how much revenue growth could be made by forcing users to pay more. It seems we are finally getting into the time period in which big players are deciding that the growth in money flowing to them via the freedom of access is not good enough compared to the huge blood vein waiting to be sucked by making more and more things on the internet cost money to see or download. It is inevitable. It always has been. The only hope is somehow there will be enough rogue players out there with enough internet infrastructure and newer and newer and advancing technology to allow those who want to skirt the system to do so ------ kind of like the nations who set up their banking system so mafia and rich people hiding money from the internal revenue services can clear their money and store it. I just hope the areas of internet lawlessness aren't accessible by only the rich and powerful (like that) too. I am not a tech person. I have watched on C-Span once or twice where different “experts”, spokesmen, and lawyers for the different sides debated each other — to me it was like being on a jury and hearing two sets of well-paid “expert” witnesses - they cancelled each other out.

I don’t really buy the bandwidth usage argument, however, because I assume the technology is goin gto continue to improve in leaps as it has since I got my first Commadore 64 and hooked up to Q-link over the phone. Also, around the world, the availability of internet access is going to continue to increase exponentiually (sp?) and put pressure on usage anyway. ——

so technology will either keep up with the pace of demand - or demand will slow things down - regardless of whether governments and companies move to satiate their blood-sucking vampireish need for more and more money or not.

And it is also inevitable that the blood suckers were going to sink their teeth into this huge cash cow.

The balance has always been between how much revenue growth (whether for the company and the state and the nation) greater consumer access via the internet and the growth in small and new businesses would bring —-

—- and how much revenue growth could be made by forcing users to pay more.

It seems we are finally getting into the time period in which big players are deciding that the growth in money flowing to them via the freedom of access is not good enough compared to the huge blood vein waiting to be sucked by making more and more things on the internet cost money to see or download.

It is inevitable. It always has been.

The only hope is somehow there will be enough rogue players out there with enough internet infrastructure and newer and newer and advancing technology to allow those who want to skirt the system to do so —— kind of like the nations who set up their banking system so mafia and rich people hiding money from the internal revenue services can clear their money and store it.

I just hope the areas of internet lawlessness aren’t accessible by only the rich and powerful (like that) too.

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