On November 15th, Seoul National University law professor Sang Jo Jung gave a lecture at the University of Washington (UW). He was featured at "Booksori", a monthly lecture organized by the UW Korean Studies program.
Professor Jung helped the attendees understand the overall effect the Internet has had on South Korea, including judicial precedents and social issues.
Jung considered South Korea as the most advanced internet nation due to the competition between cable companies.
He said that this competition allows the development of the Internet to promote domestic industries. In addition, the abolishment of censorship and the alleviation of regulation on film industries enable the expansion of freedom of expression.
Jung expressed the concern over the infringement on the freedom of expression. This is because internet portal sites are endowed a powerful authority of censorship, rather than the state, due to a Supreme Court decision (an individual filed a lawsuit against a portal site).
In addition, Jung said portal sites exploit users’ personal information for the purpose of targeted advertising, seriously infringing on their privacy.
At last, he suggested that finding an efficient system is the role of jurist, so that the system can be balanced with other countries.
By Sang A Park