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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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 Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:34 pm Post subject: Only Koreans would tolerate Cyworld (and like it) |
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I was getting my student to create a Cyworld page for me, and was wondering why I just couldn't type in the usual BS and go. There was one type of page for foreigners and another for Koreans. Well it turns out you need to send them a passport scan, amongst other things, to register. It seems ridiculous but since I don't have any nefarious plans why not - I happen to have a passport scan on my computer. Then it turns out my scan is too big. We tried downsizing it and it still didn't work. Finally we gave up.
Do Koreans have to do this and why would anyone bother doing this when there are so many personal website pages one can set up without handing over personal info?
Why doesn't some enterprising Gyopo just set up a similar site in California and lure over every Korean who doesn't want / can't be bothered to go through the fuss of setting up something like a Cyworld page?
It must frustrate the hell out of Korean netizans that sites like Dave's exist where people can freely air their views with complete anonimity. |
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indytrucks
Joined: 09 Apr 2003
Location: The Shelf
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| Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:37 pm Post subject: Re: Only Koreans would tolerate Cyworld (and like it) |
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| Yu_Bum_suk wrote: |
| It must frustrate the hell out of Korean netizans that sites like Dave's exist where people can freely air their views with complete anonimity. |
I would say probably not, as most Korean netizens don't give a flying *beep* about Dave's ESL Cafe. |
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doggyji
Joined: 21 Feb 2006
Location: Toronto - Hamilton - Vineland - St. Catherines
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| Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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They have just launched the US version.
http://us.cyworld.com |
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happeningthang
Joined: 26 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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There was some Korean legislation that went on the books a couple of years ago.
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200507/kt2005070319114710160.htm
Apparently there was a real problem with virtual lynch mobs running hate campaigns online with real life consequences.
Some girl's dog pooed on the subway and she didn't clean it up.
http://www.textually.org/picturephoning/archives/2005/07/009078.htm
Some guy left his girlfriend, and she committed suicide.
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/opinion/200506/kt2005060917161254050.htm
Online rumors were gaining to much momentum and becoming pervasive enough to look like truth. Remember the rumor Boa is a man?? One idiot online starts a rumor, and it takes off with the potential to ruin lives and careers. The legislation forces Korean netizens to be accountable for their online personas. Maybe this is a Korean phenomenon, but seems to me that this is a problem that will be affecting the world in the future.
What do you think?
Is Korea seems to be ahead of the curve on this one? |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:24 pm Post subject: |
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| The problem with the way the Internet is run in Korea is that everyone is held personally accountable for everything. If you don't like what someone says, it's easy to find their real name, home address, university schedule, ID number, whatever you need. The dog girl and the guy with the dead girlfriend would have been fine if their lives weren't pinned up in some databases online. |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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Note: Currently, Cyworld operates sites in Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan and the United States (with more to come!) Please note however, members of one country site are NOT able to clip posts or become neighbors with members of another country site.
http://us.cyworld.com/main/member_email_input_Wview.php
Foreigners Excluded From Korean Sites
non-Korean residents are not allowed to subscribe to most Web sites, including the country's biggest portals. None of Korea's top five most popular portals -- Naver, Daum, Nate, Yahoo Korea and Paran -- provides an English-language introduction to people who want to be members.
In order to subscribe to the sites, foreigners must learn Korean or enlist the help of Korean friends to fill out tons of personal information required by the portals. Foreigners who are ready to go through the lengthy registration process, however, will be frustrated again to find that the Web portals cannot identify foreign residency numbers.
By Kim Tae-gyu, Korea Times (June 20, 2005)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/tech/200506/kt2005062017334312350.htm
http://photo.hankooki.com/gisaphoto/20050620/vnok200506201904541Froeigners2%20copy.jpg |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 12:17 am Post subject: |
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| happeningthang wrote: |
What do you think?
Is Korea seems to be ahead of the curve on this one? |
I love the amounts judges award in these kind of online libel suits. Like $200. I guess it's just about getting satisfaction.
General comments:
The ex pat community in Korea is pretty small. Most of these sites are driven by their banner ads. The costs to translate the site, test everything, maintain the site in another language, create a new system that accepts foreign IDs, and then handle tech support in another language... the costs are immense and probably would take a long, long time to recoup by the small banner ad revenue. |
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djsmnc
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
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| Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 4:07 am Post subject: Re: Only Koreans would tolerate Cyworld (and like it) |
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| Yu_Bum_suk wrote: |
Well it turns out you need to send them a passport scan, amongst other things, to register. It seems ridiculous but since I don't have any nefarious plans why not - I happen to have a passport scan on my computer. Then it turns out my scan is too big. We tried downsizing it and it still didn't work. Finally we gave up.
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W-w-what?? They must have changed the rules since I signed up.
I did it all with my personal information and foreign ID. There is a box you can click on for foreigner registration/ Koreans abroad. I actually learned a bit of Korean from just signing myself up! |
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happeningthang
Joined: 26 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 5:00 am Post subject: |
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| RACETRAITOR wrote: |
| The problem with the way the Internet is run in Korea is that everyone is held personally accountable for everything. If you don't like what someone says, it's easy to find their real name, home address, university schedule, ID number, whatever you need. The dog girl and the guy with the dead girlfriend would have been fine if their lives weren't pinned up in some databases online. |
You're missing the point...
The legislation is to hold to account the people who post pictures and information about other people... Also, I doubt the information on registered posters is being made available to the public. |
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SuperHero
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Location: Superhero Hideout
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| Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 6:14 am Post subject: |
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| cyworld is just as crappy as myspace. |
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mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
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| Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 6:23 am Post subject: |
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| SuperHero wrote: |
| cyworld is just as crappy as myspace. |
*cough**cough*married*cough**cough* |
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SuperHero
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Location: Superhero Hideout
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| Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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| mithridates wrote: |
| SuperHero wrote: |
| cyworld is just as crappy as myspace. |
*cough**cough*married*cough**cough* |
[ulr=http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,127116-page,7-c,sites/article.html]PC world considers myspace to be the #1 worst web site[/url] |
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mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
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| Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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| SuperHero wrote: |
| mithridates wrote: |
| SuperHero wrote: |
| cyworld is just as crappy as myspace. |
*cough**cough*married*cough**cough* |
[ulr=http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,127116-page,7-c,sites/article.html]PC world considers myspace to be the #1 worst web site[/url] |
I agree about MySpace. |
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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Cyworld is for teenagers.
Off topic, but has anyone else noticed how Cy-world-y the Korean internet is? Is there anything out there besides oh-so-cute photoshopped pictures, meaniningless drivel about school life (a.k.a. "blogs"), paid-to-say-this newspapers and flash animation?
I tried to a Google Korea search for a few things and was amazed at how dumbed-down the Korean internet is. Honestly, it seems as though the Korean web is set up for idiots who see it only as entertainment. There is very little of substance out there. |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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| I notice a lot of Korean web sites are much cuter than English language ones. My Korean's not good enough to judge the content usually. |
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