"A" strikes again!

"A" writes again with more juicy info:

Kevin

I just found this. Read it and weep.

News World JUNE. 2003 :
Netizens take law into their own hands
from which we discover the "e-clean Korea campaign" and learn of

The e-Clean Korea Charter (Issued on June, 12 2003)

We all live in a society of knowledge and information.

With the enormously rapid development in the information and communications technologies, the entire world dwells on active exchanges of knowledge and information sources to unify the whole world in the cyberspace.

Being committed to global citizenship, we pledge to practice the following points so that we can bring a cyber world which pursues mankind? love and the ideals of human dignity and value.

One, We respect and care for each other to build a sound human relationship in cyberspace.

Two, We pledge to fully abide by the rules in compliance with ethical norms in cyberspace.

Three, We keep righteous words and expressions as the forefront runner to improve the quality of life in cyberspace.

Four, We do our best to help youngsters unfold their dreams safely in cyberspace.

* * * * * * *

Ministry of Information and Communication indeed. Orwell, thou shouldst be living at this hour. Do read the article. Perhaps you remember the campaign. Who are Newsworld anyway? They sound like a government agency.

And from Donga Tower:
Greetings from the Chairman of the Information Communication Ethics Committee.
The committee 's vision is to bring you a more ethical cyberworld.
Motto: Commitment, Mastermind & Trust
They operate Internet 119, control internet rating, and have responsibility for Other matters related to vitalizing sound information distribution as entrusted by the Minister of Information & Communication.

Yes, it says vitalizing. There is more about them in Kim's essay on Internet filtering, blocking and government censorship in South Korea. It's a long essay, not the lightest of reading.

The crux of the who-ordered-what confusion is probably here, on page 8:
"Since ICEC could request the Minister of Information and Communication to issue an order to the ISP if the ISP does not follow its recommendation, the ISP rarely refused to follow the recommendation of ICEC. As most of ISPs have no power to delete or revise the materials or the websites in issue by themselves, rather they often cut off the access to entire websites."

So perhaps there didn't need to be a formal order at all for everyone to jump. Especially with the police involved. I don't profess to understand.

As for the e-clean Korea campaign - e-Clean Korea
I don't have either broadband or Korean. It takes ages to download and even then I'm none the wiser. There doesn't seem to be an English button. Does the site contain any useful information, or is it all publicity: flash movies and slogans?

For background info on internet freedom in RoK, see this recent rreport: Reporters sans frontières - Internet - South Korea
Reading the report one one's home country is a humbling experience.


A

Commitment, Mastermind, and Trust. Those last two almost sound mutually exclusive.

_