The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Wed, May 18, 2022 | 21:57
Business
Google Korea Head Blasts Real-Name Requirement
Posted : 2009-04-22 21:15
Updated : 2009-04-22 21:15
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down

Lee Won-jin
Managing Director of Google Korea
By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter

The head of Google's South Korean operations blasted the government's recent attempt to limit anonymity on the Web.

``Our business is based on thinking from the user's point of view, and we believe that the real-name requirements do not benefit users in any way and do not contribute to creating a vibrant Internet culture,'' said Lee Won-jin, the managing director of Google Korea in Seoul Wednesday.

``In any country, Google intends to respect the local law and do business within its boundaries. However, since the Internet renders geography irrelevant, it is sometimes difficult to define how far the law of a certain country should extend.

``For services that are not customized or launched particularly for Korean users, we believe it would be better to make our judgments based on moral principles, rather than local law.''

The country has obliged Internet users to make verifiable real-name registrations to post comments on Web sites with more than 100,000 daily visitors since April.

Google, which is reluctant to bend its principles only for Korea and set a precedent that might affect its business in other countries, chose to avoid the requirements by disabling users from uploading videos and comments on the Korean language site of YouTube (kr.youtube.com), its online video service.

However, since the changes are only applied to YouTube's Korean sites, users could easily upload content by setting their country preference to other countries.

This has clearly miffed the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), the country's broadcasting and telecommunications regulator, with KCC chairman Choi See-joong threatening a review of whether Google is violating the local law with its YouTube decision.

Choi's stance, apparently affected by the sentiment within Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling Grand National Party (GNP), differed from the initial response by lower-ranked KCC officials, who had been saying YouTube's Korean site wouldn't be subject to the real-name requirements if content uploading is blocked.

Lee, who said the company is talking with KCC officials, stressed that Google's decision to limit YouTube's Korean site represents its commitment to abide by local laws. Google had no discussions with KCC officials before making the YouTube decision, because ``we didn't think there was any need to do so,'' Lee said.

``YouTube is subject to Korean law, because we have launched a localized service,'' Lee said.

``I can't talk about what will happen with our future services, but if we are pressed to make another decision about real-name registration, I believe we will have no other option but to repeat what we did with YouTube.''

The Lee Myung-bak government has been looking at more ways to monitor the Internet, after being repeatedly attacked by bloggers, first for its controversial decision to resume U.S. beef imports and more recently for its supposed ineptitude in economic policies.

The latest attempt comes from the efforts by GNP lawmakers to rewrite the communication privacy law and allow authorities further power to observe and track Web browsing habits.

According to the bill, law enforcement authorities get expended surveillance power beyond fixed-line telephone calls and are enabled to intercept mobile phone and Internet communications, which include e-mail, chats and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) calls.

Lee revealed that the company received about 10 requests from Korean investigators last year to hand over the e-mail records of some Korean users of Gmail, Google's e-mail services.

However, Google refused to oblige, arguing that Gmail services are based on servers in the U.S. Despite the possible legal changes here, Lee said Gmail wouldn't become anymore vulnerable to surveillance.

``Gmail is not a service developed for Korean users, and a localized version wasn't launched either,'' Lee said.

``As in any country, we will decide our level of cooperation with local investigators following our judgment of the matter at hand, and considering both the Korean law and our principles.''

Google Korea doesn't operate any servers here for its local services, according to company officials, as even the server for its Korean digital map services is operated by a partner company.

thkim@koreatimes.co.kr
 
  • Competition heats up in urban air mobility market
  • 5 Woori Bank branches open exclusively for foreign customers every Sunday
  • India's wheat export ban feared to raise prices of bread, instant noodles
  • The Collective brings 'Bootycandy' to Korea
  • As China says goodbye to 2023 Asian Cup, should Korea step in?
  • Immigrant voter turnout declines in local elections
  • Air Seoul to resume Incheon-Boracay flights next month
  • Ex-baseball coach accused of assault suspended for 100 games by KBO
  • Korean volunteer fighter in Ukraine doesn't regret his action despite facing imprisonment at home
  • Gov't urged to increase support for creators when K-culture is hot
  • BTS wins three Billboard Music Awards, marking 6th year to win an award BTS wins three Billboard Music Awards, marking 6th year to win an award
  • Le Sserafim member Kim Ga-ram's bullying allegations resurface Le Sserafim member Kim Ga-ram's bullying allegations resurface
  • Yeo Jin-goo offers glimpse of his role in new series 'Link: Eat, Love, Kill' Yeo Jin-goo offers glimpse of his role in new series 'Link: Eat, Love, Kill'
  • How did TikTok become main marketing tool for K-pop? How did TikTok become main marketing tool for K-pop?
  • 'Broker,' 'Decision to Leave' to kick off summer blockbuster season 'Broker,' 'Decision to Leave' to kick off summer blockbuster season
DARKROOM
  • 2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

    2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

  • Worsening drought puts millions at risk

    Worsening drought puts millions at risk

  • Our children deserve the best

    Our children deserve the best

  • End of mask mandates

    End of mask mandates

  • Rio Carnival returns after two-year hiatus

    Rio Carnival returns after two-year hiatus

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group