The Korean situation of Online Censorship becomes more dangerous

From JinboNet, 27 June 2001

Dear friends,

My name is PatchA.

I’m a member of Korean Progressive Network (Jinbonet). The Korean situation of Online Censorship becomes more dangerous. The government will announce the enforcement ordinance related to Internet content rating system and prohibition of online demonstration. So we are now gathering and organizing international solidarity. Please Join our struggle. Below is detail struggle contents. And you can see more information about our struggle on the Free online website

http://www.freeonline.or.kr/english

Thank you.

In solidarity
PatchA

Show International solidarity with Korean activists fighting online censorship.

Last year, the Korean Ministry of Information & Communication (MIC) of the Kim Dae-jung government tried to pass the Korean Communication Decency Act. The Act included a very dangerous Internet Content Rating System provision. So, many Korean progressive groups fought against the legislation and finally, before being passed, the clauses related to the Content Rating System were deleted from the Act.

But, this year, the MIC snuck new provisions relating to a Content Rating System into the enforcement ordinance of the Act and announced that it would be carried out from July 1st. In addition to a content rating system provision, this enforcement ordinance also has very strict clause making online demonstrations illegal. For example, writing protest messages on internet bulletin boards, sending many protest messages to one server (like the MIC server), and Virtual sit-ins (known as, DOS— Denial of Service) etc. So, after July 1st, most online demonstrations will be illegal.

Korean Progressive groups, including the Collaboration Action Group Against Information and Communication Censorship (CAG) have organized events against the Act over the last two months, such as protest performances, one person demonstrations in front of the MIC, Press Conferences, and on/off-line debating conferences etc. However, the government has ignored these people’s voices.

We strongly encourage international progressive groups, including NGOs (Non-government Organizations), CSGs (Civil Society Groups) etc. to join our international solidarity struggle. And Please send solidarity messages to us (della@www.jinbo.net, patcha@patcha.jinbo.net).

Before July 1st, hundreds of Korean progressive groups are preparing actions, such as the following:

1. Online Website Strike

When : From June 29 to July 1, for about 72 hours What : Site Strike will be on a lot of web sites How : GAG will provide a common protesting web page. All participating groups will make a common web page and place it so it appears when people first enter the site. This common web page will contain protest messages against this policy and include links to bulletin boards where people can discuss it.

2. Send online Protest Messages to Cheong Wa Dae (Korean Government), the MIC, and Korean Information Communication Ethics Committee by E-mail

Cheong Wa Dae

No Bulletin Board System
Email : webmaster@cwd.go.kr

Korean Ministry of Information & Communication

Bulletin Board System:
http://www.mic.go.kr/jsp/mic_z/mail_10_1.jsp?menu_code=m101_0001_1
Email : webmaster@mic.go.kr

The Information and Communication Ethics Committee

No Bulletin Board
E-mail : webmaster@icec.or.kr

3. Send off-line Protest Messages by telephone or Fax.

Cheong Wa Dae

- Tel : +82-730-5800

Korean Ministry of Information & Communicatio

- General inquiries : +82 2 750 2000
- Help desk : +82 2 750 2114

The Information and Communication Ethics Committee

- Tel : +82-2-3415-0154
- Fax : +82-2-3415-0199