The invention of the Internet has brought about an unprecedented revolution that has altered human lives forever. It has created, among other things, an alternative world called cyberspace, in which even misfits and self-proclaimed pundits thrive and prosper. Cyberspace provides a space in which anyone can publish his or her opinions, criticizing or praising people and things freely.

Nevertheless, the Internet has brought about a number of negative side effects. For example, so many young people are now addicted to the Internet and gadgets like the iPad and iPhone. Some time ago, Newsweek published a special edition entitled, “iCrazy: Panic, Depression, Psychosis ― How connection addiction is rewiring our brain.” According to the feature, when young people accidentally leave home without their smartphones and lose connection to the Web, they commonly suffer from symptoms like panic, depression and psychosis. The problem is that when one becomes a connection addict, it is easy for one to be controlled, brainwashed and manipulated by invisible online forces.

The Internet is also problematic because it is severely contaminated with foul language and vulgar expressions, since anybody can post anything without much consequence. In the past, only men of letters could publish pieces after careful thought and editing. Thus, most published articles were decent and refined, if not graceful and noble. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. Since anybody is allowed to write on the Internet these days, the Internet is full of indecent, obscene words that inflict serious wounds on people.

Recently, on May 18, for example, when people celebrated the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, a number of Korean right-wing Internet sites desecrated the memorable day by arguing that the uprising was nothing but a riot instigated by a group of plain-clothed North Korean troops who disguised themselves as citizens of Gwangju. Such accusations must have severely hurt the people of Gwangju who experienced the incident first hand. Just recently, we as a nation expressed our fury at the outrageously insolent remarks made by right-wing Japanese politicians that tried to justify Japan’s invasion of Korea in the early 20th century. While condemning those Japanese politicians, how can we desecrate the Gwangju Uprising by uttering equally impudent remarks about the incident? Sadly, it proves that some of us are no better than the right-wing Japanese politicians.

Some people argue that since we have freedom of speech, we should be allowed to write freely on the Internet. But genuine freedom of speech is not necessarily about writing whatever one wants. Freedom entails responsibility. If your writing unduly disgraces another’s honor, for example, you can be sued for defamation of character. If you write a political statement in which you deny the sovereignty of the Republic of Korea and praise the North Korean regime instead, you will be apprehended for interrogation. Contrary to popular belief in Korea, freedom does not mean that you are free to do whatever you want. Freedom does not come free, and it must be protected and defended.

Others maintain that writing whatever you want online is “Internet democracy.” Surely, the Internet has helped advance democracy by providing a grand space for political expression. However, demagogues spewing ideological propaganda or “iCrazy” mobsters tend to hide behind the banner of “Internet democracy.” After witnessing the plethora of obscene phrases and slander on the Internet, one cannot but be disillusioned by the vulgarity of the people writing in cyberspace. One can only be dismayed by the indecency of certain “netizens” who do not understand the responsibility the word “citizen” entails.

Surfing the Internet, one can easily find that contemporary Korean society is divided not into liberal and conservative camps per se, but into pro-North Korea and anti-North Korea groups, and into Southwest and Southeast factions. It is lamentable these groups antagonize each other on the Internet, senselessly cursing at each other. When surfing the Internet, one can also find that racial prejudice still runs deep in Korean society. The recent racial slurs proliferating online against the child performer, “Little Psy,” is a good example of such racism. Why do we see Little Psy as a foreigner? He is a Korean with official Korean citizenship, even though his mother may not be ethnically Korean.

Using privacy protection and the freedom of speech as excuses, some Koreans oppose the bill that would make it mandatory to use one’s real name when writing on the Internet. Ironically, however, it is those who insist on anonymity who invade others’ privacy and insult other’s reputations. And these people simply want to continue doing such mean things. But it is cowardly to speak ill of others while hiding behind a pseudonym or an ID number. You should have the courage to step forward and reveal your name when you want to criticize others. A healthy, true and vigorous “Internet democracy” can only begin then. 

By Kim Seong-kon

Kim Seong-kon is a professor of English at Seoul National University and president of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea. He can be reached at sukim@snu.ac.kr. ― Ed.