Comments on: Censoring Korean Public Opinion — Freedom Is Not Free?

By: Robert Koehler

Robert Koehler — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:44:36 +0000

Considering the fawning coverage North Korea receives from the South Korean media, one wonders why the government bothers.

I think it’s mostly a Korean Police Agency thing. The Unification Ministry, on the other hand, has talked of lifting the ban.

As for the ban on netizen commentary, well, yes, it’s stupid, but not any more so than the ban on newspapers doing so. Or, for that matter, the president. Just ask President Roh what he thinks about the election law preventing him from making political statements during the campaign period.

By: Sonagi

Sonagi — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:24:45 +0000

They already block websites some from outside Korea, it’s been done already. If you want to read the hilarious DPRK “news” site you need to use a procksy! MSINT.

Considering the fawning coverage North Korea receives from the South Korean media, one wonders why the government bothers.

By: R. Elgin

R. Elgin — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:59:03 +0000

I thought “Zenkimchi”’s comment on the Globalvoices site was interesting:

. . . South Korea is one of the few democracies left with criminal libel still on the books and actively enforced, which I’m sure is the root of the NEC tactics.

If this is the case, then this is a matter of legal reform then. Meanwhile, this smells much like the same repression that many 386ers suffered under, thus they should seriously reconsider what their definition of free speech in a democracy is — especially considering the Roh administration’s ideas regarding the media.

By: Brendon Carr (Korea Law Blog)

Brendon Carr (Korea Law Blog) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:05:55 +0000

So disagreement is now “censorship”?

By: globalvillageidiot

globalvillageidiot — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:56:47 +0000

cinemagauche, the Chosun Ilbo and Dong A Ilbo are already countered by the bias of KBS and MBC on TV. But, as you pointed out, blog and and other online discussion censorship is invasive.

By: cinemagauche

cinemagauche — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:59:43 +0000

while news media have an obligation to ensure neutrality in reporting (needed with the likes of the Chosun Ilbo around), censoring blogs and online discussion is just plain invasive - its a symptom of State psychosis. Reminds me of that lawyer here who called for my death the other day when I dissed Obama.

By: SomeguyinKorea

SomeguyinKorea — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:10:36 +0000

Good one on the Korean blogger who, with a few smart questions, revealed the extent to which they make up rules as they go, not that I’m surprised. Censorship is arbitrary in nature.

By: captbbq

captbbq — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 13:44:11 +0000

Keith, my point was: its one thing to delete comments on naver, blocking a website country wide is another…

By: keith

keith — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:36:48 +0000

They already block websites some from outside Korea, it’s been done already. If you want to read the hilarious DPRK “news” site you need to use a procksy! MSINT.

The also block sites related to gambling, false health products and porn.

It’s a problem more for Koreans than anyone else. Most of us know how to use browsers and sites where everything is not written down in Korean. Korean’s don’t.

Media control-happens everywhere.

By: captbbq

captbbq — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:13:34 +0000

thats why you get a website registered outside the country, then WTF can they do? They have to block the website.