David Tizzard is a professor at Seoul Women’s University, holds a PhD in Korean Studies, and hosts the Korea Deconstructed podcast. He has lived and worked in Seoul for more than two decades. Reach him at datizzard@swu.ac.kr.
K-pop, suicide and free speech
From left, Han Jeongmun and David Tizzard.
By David A. Tizzard
By Han Jeongmun and David Tizzard
The history of social thought can be largely divided into two categories: those who wish to “tighten” social bonds and those who wish to “relax” them. These two approaches to issues are, however, complementary and interdependent.
We need both of them if a society is to function correctly. Just like night and day, hot and cold, and male and female are not enemies, they are both required in an ever-shifting balance.
Recently in Korean society, however, the balance has begun shifting in a noticeable direction. Online, at least.
Two months ago, Daum announced that it had indefinitely removed the comments section on its entertainment pages. Despite what CP Scott claimed, comment is seemingly not free.
Daum's decision was certainly influenced by the recent loss of the young female celebrity, Sulli. While assigning a single cause as to the reason for her suicide would be foolhardy, she suffered a great deal as a result of the many insulting comments made online about her.
And yet before the country had even had time to properly mourn Sulli's passing and consider what responsibility it bore vis-a-vis the lack of protection she received in the face of cyber bullying, Korea lost another star.
Goo Hara - a close friend of Sulli - took her own life just six weeks later after a long personal battle with online criticisms and comments.
Her name appeared on the top of the nation's real-time search rankings as citizens desperately sought the release of a private sexual video her ex-boyfriend, Choi Jong bum, was threatening to release in an effort to derail her career.
Choi was found guilty of physical assault, blackmail, intimidation, and destruction of property and is serving an 18 month suspended sentence. Many, however, claimed that this wasn't enough and a hashtag demanding his punishment was seen all over the internet.
A recent government petition to the Blue House website which has received more than a quarter of a million followers is demanding reform of the criminal justice system when it comes to the punishment assigned to crimes of a sexual nature. This, the country believes, is some of the real reform needed and that has been sadly lost in the on-going Cho Kuk saga.
Daum - Korea's second largest webportal site - has decided to take action, however. Citing the “recent tragedy”, Minsoo Yeo, co-CEO of Daum announced that they would be removing the comment sections on entertainment articles as well as the ability to search for related search words which shot these stars' names into an unwelcome spotlight.
While the original intention of the comment section was to provide a place of free and fair communication composed of informed public opinion, it soon became a hotbed of mockery, trolls, and vindictive attacks.
Jo Soo Yong, co-Ceo, said, “Since we have a societal responsibility, we will take preemptive measures rather than wait until that time.” A noble position in a country backlogged by political in-fighting on all sides of the aisle.
Naver has also announced a change in its comments section, introducing a new self-developed AI system. Where previously offensive comments were censored but still shown, the 'Clean-bot' is designed to now automatically remove all insulting comments and those that include swear words making them invisible.
Reaction to Daum's position has been mixed.
A large number have welcomed the change, seeing the comments on such articles and news sites of little value. Moreover, many have suggested that these malicious and barbed actions had become an important social evil that needed addressing in a serious way by people in positions of authority.
Conversely, there remain those who insist that such opinions and comments are a social window and an important part of a democratic society. Removing comments won't address the fundamental nature of the problem - just send it underground.
It is more important, they say, to catch and punish the “ak-puller” (troll) while implementing a real-name system on the comments rather than the current anonymous system.
A similar discussion has arisen in British football grounds with a spate of horrible racist chants being directed against players, including Korean star Son Heung-min: Is the solution to find and punish those guilty, to change the very nature in which fans are allowed to attend stadiums, or - as Gary Neville bravely suggested - to consider the broader societal context which has allowed these attitudes to ferment?
A recent Hankyoreh article welcomes Daum's changes but believes any positive effects will ultimately be limited if Naver, the country's number one portal site, does not follow suit. Naver is changing, but is it doing enough to handle these malicious comments that have had such tragic consequences?
The Hankyoreh piece suggests that even if such changes result in an inevitable loss of profits, these very real social problems cannot be ignored. Instead, it is necessary to promote a more refined and collated social opinion so as to develop freedom of speech and embrace diverse social opinion in a more mature manner.
Will simply removing the comments section or applying the 'Clean-bot' really enlighten people as to the nature of cyber bullying? Will it prevent continued social polarization?
Society is one of Heraclitean change and media is no-longer a one-way channel. People now have the freedom to speak their opinions through various platforms and the role of “influencer” isn't limited to only those with social authority.
Forms of communication have changed from vertical to horizontal and this has brought its own advantages but also set off a series of serious social controversies: Everybody can talk about everything, everywhere - and free and fair speech has arisen alongside its evil influence.
Social change cannot happen overnight, but starting the discussion about those evil influences and social controversies will help us better anticipate future problems and move forward together. We cannot ignore or neglect these problems just because they may seem uncomfortable.
Not only do people have social power, more importantly, we have the capacity to reflect on ourselves, to talk about what is needed to be done, and to work towards avoiding such tragedies happening again.
We cannot change the past, but we can still write our future. And to do so, we need to have a serious conversation about society, our internet use, and - most of all - ourselves.
Perhaps we should start today.
Han Jeongmun studies Fashion Marketing at Seoul Women's University.
David Tizzard (datizzard@swu.ac.kr) is an assistant professor at Seoul Women's University. He also presents economic and cultural issues on "Business Now" on TBS eFM (101.3FM) live every Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.