• Site Map
  • PDF
  • Subscription
  • Register
  • LogIn
  • Site Map
  • PDF
  • Subscription
  • Register
  • LogIn
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columnists
  • Reporter's Notebook
  • Blogs
  • Guest Column
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Times Forum
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
Sat, February 23, 2019 | 10:34
      • North Korea
      • Entertainment
        • Hallyu
        • Music
        • Dramas & TV shows
        • Movies
        • Performances
        • Exhibitions
      • Opinion
        • Editorial
        • Columnists
          • Park Moo-jong
          • Choi Sung-jin
          • Mark Peterson
          • Troy Stangarone
          • Tong Kim
          • Lee Seong-hyon
          • Andrew Salmon
          • John Burton
          • Jason Lim
          • Donald Kirk
          • Kim Ji-myung
          • Michael Breen
          • Hyon O'Brien
          • Younghoy Kim Kimaro
          • Deauwand Myers
          • Bernard Rowan
          • Casey Lartigue, Jr.
          • Stephen Costello
          • Semoon Chang
          • Korean Historical Sense
        • Reporter's Notebook
        • Blogs
        • Guest Column
        • Thoughts of the Times
        • Letter to the Editor
        • Times Forum
        • Cartoon
        • Today in History
      • Economy
        • Policies
        • Finance
        • Photo News
      • Biz & Tech
        • Automotive
        • IT
        • Game
        • Heavy industries
        • Light industries
        • Science
        • Photo News
      • National
        • Politics
        • Foreign Affairs
        • Defense Affairs
        • Labor & environment
        • Investigations
        • Seoul & provinces
        • Diseases & welfare
        • Foreign Communities
        • Easy Korean
        • Embassy News
        • Education
        • Obituaries
        • Photo News
      • Culture
        • Books
        • Hotel & Travel
        • Fashion
        • Food
        • Fortune Telling
        • Religions
        • Korean Traditions
        • Trend
        • Healthcare
      • Sports
        • Football
        • Golf
        • Baseball
        • Other Sports
      • World
        • Asia Pacific
        • Americas
        • Other Regions
        • SCMP
      • Video
        • News
        • Feature
        • On the spot
      • Photos
      • Community
        • Time Forum
        • Market Place
        • Study Plaza
        • Talk Box
      • Learning English
    Reporter's Notebook
    [Reporter's Notebook] Can Korea imitate China?
    Posted : 2017-10-24 16:56
    Updated : 2017-10-24 18:41
    By Yoon Sung-won

    One of the telltale signs reminding foreign visitors they are in China is that they do not have access to global online platforms such as Google and Facebook.

    While expressions such as "I can't use Google anymore" and "I can't post on Instagram" mean they are simply away from these online services, they also complain of China's exclusion of itself from the international information and communications technology industry.

    It is hardly news that those in China who do business or need to communicate internationally gain access to global online services via virtual personal networks (VPNs). The widespread use of VPNs, which has been going on for years, is proof that the Chinese government is providing a technical bypass.

    There may be many reasons why China is condoning this, even though it still locks itself against global online services. It is strongly believed that China does not cut these bypasses to global online services because it sees the competitiveness in them, with the intention of adopting them to domestic services. In other words, China is pursuing a practical interest.

    Interestingly, some Korean politicians and government officials argue that Korea needs policies similar to China's.

    Rep. Byun Jae-il of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea recently said Korea must show some nerve like China and stand up to global internet companies such as Google and Facebook. Byun is a member of the National Assembly Science, Technology, Broadcasting and Telecommunications Committee.

    The lawmaker stressed that Korea has local internet services such as Naver and LINE if the government blocked Google and Facebook, and so it must not be swayed by such global companies.

    Science and ICT Minister You Young-min made a similar remark during his National Assembly hearing as a nominee. Asked how to deal with the rising influence and presence of the global internet giants, he said, "Korea must benchmark China."

    You's words are unclear. But his comments caused some controversy.

    For what reason did a Korean government official and an assemblyman talk about following China's policies?
    It is not known. If they are suggesting threatening global IT giants with a ban on their local services, it is a very emotional approach to the matter.

    Another idea possibly behind the remarks is that Korean internet businesses are suffering from discrimination over global service providers. The term suggests that the Korean government is imposing unnecessarily strict rules on domestic internet businesses while global service providers are often overlooked.

    There might be some truth in the claim. But it still cannot make imitating China the right strategy, especially for an open economy like Korea.

    What if we really follow the communist country and terminate the services of Google and Facebook? We would instantly lose our brand value as a "hotbed of cutting-edge technologies" and face economic retaliation.

    That would be good news for U.S. President Donald Trump, who is trying to press Korea to make more concessions by renegotiating the free trade agreement between the two countries.

    What Korea needs is to lift unnecessary regulations for all players in the market ― while not making one side feel neglected ― through a more balanced government policy.

    We need to move forward instead of going backward.


    yoonsw@ktimes.com More articles by this reporter



     
    • 'Insuretech' changes industry paradigm
    • What is so special about Toss?
    • Speculation abound as Hanoi summit approaches
    • Prize that belittles winner
    • Student transferred to Korea 52 days after Grand Canyon fall
    • Is Kim Jong-un traveling to Vietnam by train?
    • Police zero in on cozy ties between police and Burning Sun
    • 'Ridiculous' 1970s
    • Korea, India to strengthen defense cooperation
    • Korea, India agree to strengthen defense, economic ties [PHOTOS]
    • Fans pan BLACKPINK's 'lame' US performances
    • K-pop girl band without Koreans to debut
    • Around Town 2
    • 'SKY Castle' actors Kim, Cho dating
    • Rain's revelation: 'Why I don't reveal my daughter to public'
    • Fine dust alert

    • Pre-concert excitement heats annual Korea Times festival [PHOTOS]

    • Scholarships for students

    • Best bond issuer in Asia

    • Renault executive in Busan

    • Attracting investment for startups

    • Celebrating Korea-Czech relations

    • To-be-built dormitory

    Cobra Gold 2019
    • About Korea Times
    • CEO Message
    • Times History
    • Contents Distribution
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Location
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • Mobile Service
    • RSS Service
    • Ombudsman