Malicious Postings on Internet

Dear editor,

Regarding an Oct. 6 article on top actress Choi Jin-sil's suicide, I don't agree with your opinion that Korea is a country of rumors, another shameful remnant from its long history of colonization and dictatorship.

Malicious postings and spreading groundless slander are serious problems in our society, but they are just part of our Internet culture, not the whole culture. It is exaggerated to say that it is part of our sad history.

In fact, many people don't want to listen to and easily accept others' ideas, even though people want to speak and express their opinions. On the Internet, they can say everything they want to without restriction.

The dilemma here is that this anonymity not only gives freedom of speech but also increases the possibility of irresponsible, malicious slander. As the number of victims of such slander increases, the pressure to pass a bill to crack down on bad Internet users increases.

Can legislation really prevent someone from spreading Internet rumors? I think people who like to spread bad rumors on the Internet already know ways to dodge the Internet slander law. Plus, people who want to make the law can't propose how to enforce it.

After all, these are problems of attitude on the Internet and only a mature society and people's conscience can be a true solution. A social campaign rather than a law would better solve the problem.

Kim Ji-yeon Seoul thehappylife@empal.com