[tlug] [Fwd: [KS] Korea's Internet problems]

[Charles Muller <acmuller@??>]

Here's an interesting piece of news, from, of all places, the Korean
Studies list.

-- Chuck

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	[KS] Korea's Internet problems
Date: 	Tue, 20 Feb 2007 23:22:58 +0900 (KST)
From: 	Brother Anthony <ansonjae@??>
Reply-To: 	ansonjae@??, Korean Studies Discussion List
<koreanstudies@??>
To: 	Korean Studies Discussion List <Koreanstudies@??>



Many members of our List must be using Apple, Linux or Firefox and will
therefore have realized years back that they could not do anything
useful with most Korean sites, especially when financial transactions
are involved, because only Microsoft platforms allow the use of the
notorious Active X plugins, that have long been actively encouraged by
the Korean government. They might like to know that there are (very
faint) signs of revolt. The first sign I noted was an article in the
Korea Times of February 11,
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200702/kt2007021117420210440.htm

but there had in fact already been an article a few days earlier, and
even last year those in the know had begun campaigning,

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200702/kt2007020518003910220.htm

The irony is that the new Microsoft Vista is designed to block the use
of Active X and the government authorities are now desperately trying to
prevent people in Korea installing it because then they will find out
how completely dependent they have become on bad technology. There is
ample room for conspiracy theories as to just why Korea sold its soul to
Active X (or rather to MS) and they will be focussing on the less than
clearly identified Mr Kim. It will be interesting to see what happens,
but it is sad to see the usual response appearing, along the lines
of "it would cost too much to change, and after all, most Koreans are
perfectly happy with Microsoft." I think that this issue is of some
importance to us on this list, since quite a few might well want to be
able to do online business with Korea without being forced to change
computers or systems.



Brother Anthony

Sogang University, Seoul

http://hompi.sogang.ac.kr/anthony/








-- 
-------------------

Charles Muller

Toyo Gakuen University
Faculty of Humanities
1660 Hiregasaki, Nagareyama-shi
Chiba 270-0161 JAPAN
Mobile Phone: 090-9310-1787

Web Site: Resources for East Asian Language and Thought
http://www.acmuller.net

<acmuller[at]jj.em-net.ne.jp>