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Cyber bullying rises in S Korea | Cyber bullying rises in S Korea |
(1 day later) | |
By Dan Simmons Reporter, BBC Click Online | By Dan Simmons Reporter, BBC Click Online |
TV comedian Yungchul Kim was threatened onlineSouth Korea is one of the most connected places on earth, but as Dan Simmons reports, spending so much time online has created a whole new set of social problems. | |
Last year Korean TV Comedian Yungchul Kim starred on a game show that can still be seen on the internet today. | Last year Korean TV Comedian Yungchul Kim starred on a game show that can still be seen on the internet today. |
In the TV programme, XMen, celebrities have to provoke their opponent into reacting to put-downs. | In the TV programme, XMen, celebrities have to provoke their opponent into reacting to put-downs. |
Yungchul joked that the pop star he was up against had a fake smile. While the singer held his nerve, his fans used chat rooms and forums to turn on the comedian. | Yungchul joked that the pop star he was up against had a fake smile. While the singer held his nerve, his fans used chat rooms and forums to turn on the comedian. |
"It was just fun," said Yungchul Kim, "but a fan doesn't think about that." | "It was just fun," said Yungchul Kim, "but a fan doesn't think about that." |
"They are very serious. They said 'I'm going to kill you', that they'd pray for me. It was a kind of curse. It was the worst day I've ever had." | "They are very serious. They said 'I'm going to kill you', that they'd pray for me. It was a kind of curse. It was the worst day I've ever had." |
The spiteful comments and threats continued for 12 months. This is a mild case of a growing phenomenon Koreans call cyber violence. | The spiteful comments and threats continued for 12 months. This is a mild case of a growing phenomenon Koreans call cyber violence. |
Spreading rumours | Spreading rumours |
In a society where social networking is as popular as meeting up for a drink, information spreads quickly. | In a society where social networking is as popular as meeting up for a drink, information spreads quickly. |
We need a system which blocks individuals from using the net in cases of defamation Sung-Ho Kim, Korean Internet Service Providers Online mobs first demonise those they disagree with, then the victim's home address, credit card details, and even their boss's phone numbers get passed around. | We need a system which blocks individuals from using the net in cases of defamation Sung-Ho Kim, Korean Internet Service Providers Online mobs first demonise those they disagree with, then the victim's home address, credit card details, and even their boss's phone numbers get passed around. |
All of Korea's police stations now have a cyber terror unit to help deal with the problem. | All of Korea's police stations now have a cyber terror unit to help deal with the problem. |
The number of cases referred to Korea's Internet Commission tripled last year. | The number of cases referred to Korea's Internet Commission tripled last year. |
"Often using other people's login to a website, these people spread bad rumours aimed at affecting the victim's social status," said Chun Seong Lee, Liaison Officer at the Cyber Terror Response Centre. | "Often using other people's login to a website, these people spread bad rumours aimed at affecting the victim's social status," said Chun Seong Lee, Liaison Officer at the Cyber Terror Response Centre. |
"It's happening a lot. In these situations people could lose their job, or it could affect their social life, even causing mental illness. That's all happening because of the development of the internet, of course." | "It's happening a lot. In these situations people could lose their job, or it could affect their social life, even causing mental illness. That's all happening because of the development of the internet, of course." |
Restricting freedom | Restricting freedom |
The 1988 Seoul Olympics changed everything in South Korea. It was a watershed before which any criticism of the leadership was quashed. | The 1988 Seoul Olympics changed everything in South Korea. It was a watershed before which any criticism of the leadership was quashed. |
Net games such as Lineage are very popular in South KoreaThen came a change at the top, and an economic boom put Korea in a gold medal position to lead the world into the broadband age. | |
Suddenly, Koreans had free speech and somewhere to express it. Often anonymously. | Suddenly, Koreans had free speech and somewhere to express it. Often anonymously. |
But now, while the vast majority do not stir up trouble online, cyber violence is leading many to support greater restrictions on these freedoms. | But now, while the vast majority do not stir up trouble online, cyber violence is leading many to support greater restrictions on these freedoms. |
Next year a new law will come into force which will force Koreans to reveal their name and ID number before they share their opinions online. | Next year a new law will come into force which will force Koreans to reveal their name and ID number before they share their opinions online. |
But some say that does not go far enough. | But some say that does not go far enough. |
Forcing portals to collect national ID numbers is just one tactic. | Forcing portals to collect national ID numbers is just one tactic. |
Sung-Ho Kim represents Korean Internet Service Providers. He says they cannot remove offensive material quickly enough. He wants the government to cut off some people from the internet altogether. | Sung-Ho Kim represents Korean Internet Service Providers. He says they cannot remove offensive material quickly enough. He wants the government to cut off some people from the internet altogether. |
"Because on the internet information spreads quickly we need a system which blocks individuals from using the net in cases of defamation - something that will stop the spread of information before it happens, to save the victim." | "Because on the internet information spreads quickly we need a system which blocks individuals from using the net in cases of defamation - something that will stop the spread of information before it happens, to save the victim." |
Some psychologists say Koreans simply love to provoke a reaction. Perhaps that is why XMen is so popular. | Some psychologists say Koreans simply love to provoke a reaction. Perhaps that is why XMen is so popular. |
But how the authorities try to put-down this growing trend will be closely watched by other countries, worried this sudden boom in bullying could spread elsewhere. | But how the authorities try to put-down this growing trend will be closely watched by other countries, worried this sudden boom in bullying could spread elsewhere. |
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