Internet Regulations

A panel discussion in a policy debate on easing Internet regulations at the National Assembly, Seoul, on May 22.
A panel discussion in a policy debate on easing Internet regulations at the National Assembly, Seoul, on May 22.

 

Many participants strongly called for the necessity of relaxing regulations on the Internet in a policy debate on easing Internet regulations hosed by Yoo Seung-hee, member of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, at the National Assembly building on May 22.

Choi Sung-jin, executive secretary of Korea Internet, remarked, “According to app developers, foreigners comprise 70 to 80 percent of people who download apps.” He also stressed, “Sometimes, foreign customers cannot use the apps, owing to Internet regulations intended for Korean users who only make up around 20 percent of the total.” 

He continued by saying, “The Internet has become a single ecosystem. Currently, leading companies usually do not consider moving overseas after laying the foundations for their business.” He added, “As long as regulations that are out of touch with reality continue, local Internet companies’ declining global competitiveness will be inevitable.” 

Kwon Heon-young, professor of Kwangwoon University, pointed out, “There are 7 government agencies related to regulating the Internet industry, which include the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; the Ministry of Health and Welfare; and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.” He went on to say, “Given that all the other global Internet enterprises are competing freely, the fact that only Korea is regulating the industry is unfair.”

Professor Kwon named the Internet real-name system, the mandatory game shutdown system, the ActiveX-based payment system, and the application of different regulations to online and offline businesses as major issues related to Internet regulations.

Lee Kyung-jeon, a professor at Kyung Hee University, noted, “The Internet real-name system hinders foreigners from subscribing to services provided on the Korean Internet. The game shutdown system is also one of the worst regulations, which is entirely without merit, since it is possible to bypass the regulation using a parent’s resident registration number.” The professor added, “The Chinese e-commerce market is growing ten times as fast as that of the US. But our country is still talking about Internet regulations.” 

Rep. Yoo Seung-hee stressed, “Controversy surrounding regulations on the Internet is an odd phenomenon only found in our country,” adding, “Without absurd government regulations, local companies will be more competitive.”

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