Comments on: The Police and Blog Restrictions http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/ Korea... in Blog Format Fri, 9 Jan 2009 07:12:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: sanshinseon http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/comment-page-1/#comment-124542 sanshinseon Wed, 19 Dec 2007 05:01:57 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/#comment-124542 > I told her to just vote for the guy with the highest IQ. Yeah, Hur with 430... He'd be the most entertaining Prez! > I told her to just vote for the guy with the highest IQ.

Yeah, Hur with 430… He’d be the most entertaining Prez!

]]> By: Hwarang http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/comment-page-1/#comment-124441 Hwarang Tue, 18 Dec 2007 22:21:36 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/#comment-124441 I also don't fully understand the legal boundaries of discusing politics online -- not that it matters this close to the election. I also don’t fully understand the legal boundaries of discusing politics online — not that it matters this close to the election.

]]> By: My contribution to the election betting pool | The Marmot's Hole http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/comment-page-1/#comment-124414 My contribution to the election betting pool | The Marmot's Hole Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:48:00 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/#comment-124414 [...] do, I will subject myself to ridicule by posting my prediction of the final results.  BTW, if any NEC officials are reading this, I am not saying what should happen, just what I think will [...] [...] do, I will subject myself to ridicule by posting my prediction of the final results.  BTW, if any NEC officials are reading this, I am not saying what should happen, just what I think will [...]

]]> By: My contribution to the election betting pool | The Marmot's Hole http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/comment-page-1/#comment-124415 My contribution to the election betting pool | The Marmot's Hole Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:48:00 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/#comment-124415 [...] do, I will subject myself to ridicule by posting my prediction of the final results.  BTW, if any NEC officials are reading this, I am not saying what should happen, just what I think will [...] [...] do, I will subject myself to ridicule by posting my prediction of the final results.  BTW, if any NEC officials are reading this, I am not saying what should happen, just what I think will [...]

]]> By: skindleshanks http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/comment-page-1/#comment-124411 skindleshanks Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:32:48 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/#comment-124411 I would like to know exactly what the rules are for discussing politics online. Surely Korean langage blogs hosted outside of Korea are beyond the reach of the NEC (unless they can prove that the post originated inside the country). Six years in Korea and I still can't get my mind around the politics. For example, the presidential candidates can opt to go through the primaries and be backed by their party through the election, but once elected, the president is supposed to be "neutral." I think that's what Roh got in trouble for a couple years back, right? Kind of seems like buying a prize bull and then castrating him. If a president can't actively support the mandate of those who elected him, then it seems the democratic exercise tomorrow is a waste of time. Rather ridiculous laws, IMO. It's less than 6 hours till polls open, and my wife still doesn't know how she'll vote. I told her to just vote for the guy with the highest IQ. I would like to know exactly what the rules are for discussing politics online. Surely Korean langage blogs hosted outside of Korea are beyond the reach of the NEC (unless they can prove that the post originated inside the country).

Six years in Korea and I still can’t get my mind around the politics. For example, the presidential candidates can opt to go through the primaries and be backed by their party through the election, but once elected, the president is supposed to be “neutral.” I think that’s what Roh got in trouble for a couple years back, right? Kind of seems like buying a prize bull and then castrating him.

If a president can’t actively support the mandate of those who elected him, then it seems the democratic exercise tomorrow is a waste of time.

Rather ridiculous laws, IMO.

It’s less than 6 hours till polls open, and my wife still doesn’t know how she’ll vote. I told her to just vote for the guy with the highest IQ.

]]> By: wolfgang http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/comment-page-1/#comment-124403 wolfgang Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:24:36 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/#comment-124403 Look what happened after that dang guy went on the internet talking about politics! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22303434#22303434 Look what happened after that dang guy went on the internet talking about politics!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21.....4#22303434

]]> By: R. Elgin http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/comment-page-1/#comment-124235 R. Elgin Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:29:04 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/#comment-124235 Actually, repressing online discussion would have a negative effect upon alleged conservatives such as Hanara because Koreans will resent such and will use it as an excuse to vote against them. Additionally, this will have the same effect as banning books on Communism did in the 70's here in Korea. It will push young people towards the forbidden fruit of "anything-but-Hanara". Considering such, Hanara is preparing the future for its own eventual demise. Actually, repressing online discussion would have a negative effect upon alleged conservatives such as Hanara because Koreans will resent such and will use it as an excuse to vote against them. Additionally, this will have the same effect as banning books on Communism did in the 70’s here in Korea. It will push young people towards the forbidden fruit of “anything-but-Hanara”.

Considering such, Hanara is preparing the future for its own eventual demise.

]]> By: Hwarang http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/comment-page-1/#comment-124229 Hwarang Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:44:23 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/#comment-124229 I doubt this ban on election blogging will be around for the next election without some serious changes. Korean blog readerships (the ones that can speak a foreign language, at least) will just turn to foreign blogs for their election news. Once the ROK government realizes that censoring their own internal media merely encourages its citizenry to turn to the foreign media to be influenced, perhaps they'll have second thoughts. I doubt this ban on election blogging will be around for the next election without some serious changes. Korean blog readerships (the ones that can speak a foreign language, at least) will just turn to foreign blogs for their election news. Once the ROK government realizes that censoring their own internal media merely encourages its citizenry to turn to the foreign media to be influenced, perhaps they’ll have second thoughts.

]]> By: cinemagauche http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/comment-page-1/#comment-124202 cinemagauche Mon, 17 Dec 2007 09:16:23 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/#comment-124202 " Harsh censorship by the National Election Commission also discourages many Internet users and bloggers... Under the circumstances, who wants to express his or her opinion on politics? Internet users are not allowed to criticize candidates, therefore it’s hard to find much creative election-related content. The spirit of UCC is meant to criticize or satirize, but if it loses its edge, nobody wants to watch it." Yoon Young-tae, - Democratic Labor Party #2 The answer rests more in Korea's definition of "citizenry" - as a mass of mindless drones, incapable of discernment and independent thought - and thus easily swayed by forceful opinion-holders. That is how the NEC treats Koreans - like imbecilic children that need to be shielded. ” Harsh censorship by the National Election Commission also discourages many Internet users and bloggers… Under the circumstances, who wants to express his or her opinion on politics? Internet users are not allowed to criticize candidates, therefore it’s hard to find much creative election-related content. The spirit of UCC is meant to criticize or satirize, but if it loses its edge, nobody wants to watch it.” Yoon Young-tae, - Democratic Labor Party

#2 The answer rests more in Korea’s definition of “citizenry” - as a mass of mindless drones, incapable of discernment and independent thought - and thus easily swayed by forceful opinion-holders. That is how the NEC treats Koreans - like imbecilic children that need to be shielded.

]]> By: R. Elgin http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/comment-page-1/#comment-124192 R. Elgin Mon, 17 Dec 2007 07:35:55 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/17/the-police-and-blog-restrictions/#comment-124192 Is it that democracy is being stifled or is the point that the definition of "democracy" is different for those that currently run the South Korean Government? They do not seem to understand it at all. I add for good measure a quote from the Rodong Shinmun about Western-style democracy (American):<blockquote>. . . If we fall for American's honey-coated fabrication of democracy, we will lose our sovereignty, our national destiny and the trophies of revolution that were attained with blood.</blockquote>and then there is the liberal South Korean version of the Rodong's hardcore diatribe that merely focuses upon the nationalistic qualities. Is it that democracy is being stifled or is the point that the definition of “democracy” is different for those that currently run the South Korean Government? They do not seem to understand it at all.

I add for good measure a quote from the Rodong Shinmun about Western-style democracy (American):

. . . If we fall for American’s honey-coated fabrication of democracy, we will lose our sovereignty, our national destiny and the trophies of revolution that were attained with blood.

and then there is the liberal South Korean version of the Rodong’s hardcore diatribe that merely focuses upon the nationalistic qualities.

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