ID :
68858
Fri, 07/03/2009 - 11:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/68858
The shortlink copeid
Yonhap Feature) Twitter hype raises eyebrows in Korea's political circles
(By Tony Chang
SEOUL, July 3 (Yonhap) -- The global hype surrounding Twitter, a U.S.-based
on-line social networking service, has caught on with a number of political
heavyweights in South Korea seeking to stay in sync with high-tech voters shaping
political discourse here.
Given its direct, unfiltered and real-time character distinct from other
networking services, jumping on the Twitter bandwagon is increasingly seen here
as an inevitable step in efforts to better reach out to the electorate.
The micro-blogging site, run by a U.S. venture start-up of the same name, allows
users to send out "tweets" -- messages no longer than 140 characters -- over the
Internet through computers and mobile devices that are picked up by "followers"
who subscribe to receive such feeds.
The service has captured worldwide attention due to its extensive use by such
high-profile figures as U.S. President Barack Obama during his presidential
campaign last year, and as a source of raw reporting when access is difficult, as
seen in police crackdowns on post-election protests in Iran.
Kim Hyung-o, the National Assembly speaker and a five-term lawmaker, posted his
first Twitter feed on his personal account (http://twitter.com/hyongo) on June
18.
A self-described "digital speaker" who uses his BlackBerry smartphone to
communicate with Internet audiences, Kim is representative of a growing class of
tech-savvy politicians looking to communicate with ordinary voters.
"Unlike other politicians or well-known celebrities, the speaker not only follows
renown Twitter users but many other ordinary users to read their comments and
find out the latest issues floating around in cyberspace," Shin Hae, the
speaker's aide, said, adding that Kim tries to send out at least one message a
day.
Chung Dong-young, an independent and former opposition Democratic Party (DP)
presidential candidate, also created an account on June 23
(http://twitter.com/coreacdy).
In his latest tweet sent out Wednesday, the veteran blogger lamented that small
private-owned supermarkets were struggling due to larger, corporate-style chains
penetrating smaller neighborhoods.
Unlike the Assembly speaker, Chung accesses Twitter from his van via laptop and
WiBro, a wireless broadband service, according to his aide Jeong Jin-hwa.
While not an incumbent, Lee Jae-oh, a former three-term lawmaker and de facto
leader of the biggest pro-President Lee Myung-bak faction in the ruling Grand
National Party, also runs a Twitter account (http://twitter.com/JaeOhYi).
Having returned to Seoul in late March from a sojourn in the U.S. after losing
the 2007 general election, Lee's latest Twitter feed blasted the ongoing
tug-of-war between rival parties over a controversial revision to a workers'
bill.
Sim Sang-jeong, head of the New Progressive Party, was one of the earliest
politicians to enter the "twittersphere," harnessing over 1,000 followers. Others
politicians using Twitter include Kim Yoo-jung and Choi Moon-soon, both members
of the DP, as well as GNP spokeswoman Cho Yoon-sun.
All of the aforementioned Twitter users operate their accounts separately from
their official Web sites.
Some observer say the trend is reminiscent of the heydays of Cyworld, a local
social network service run by SK Communications Co., which saw a boom in the
number of politicians rushing to create the then-popular "mini homepages" to
connect with the country's growing Internet population.
"I think politicians are taking a cue from the sharp rise in the popularity which
Park Geun-hye enjoyed after she created a mini homepage on Cyworld back in 2005,"
said Hwang Sang-min, a psychology professor at Yonsei University, referring to
the former chairwoman of the GNP and a viable presidential candidate in the 2012
election.
Watchers say it is only a matter of time before more politicians flock to the
micro-blogging service, given its rising popularity.
According to a recent survey by Rankey.Com, an online market research company,
monthly on-line traffic originating from South Korea to Twitter's site grew more
than 20-fold between January-May, climbing from some 301,000 to some 5.62
million.
The popularity is reflected in a recent statement by President Lee Myung-bak, who
said during his recent visit to Washington that he, too, was considering joining
Twitter.
The president is still in the process of deciding whether to create an account,
Kim Cheol-kyun, a communications secretary at the presidential office, said in a
Twitter feed on Thursday.
But the public response is somewhat lukewarm, with some warning of a
"bandwagoning" craze.
"I hope that leaders and members of any political party participate in the
twittersphere as ordinary citizens without putting on their politicians' hat," a
user with the handle @revoldaw commented on his Twitter account.
Another user, nicknamed @fromipod, said he was doubtful that politicians would
use Twitter "with a genuine effort to communicate."
"Nowadays, there is a tendency in the political circle for politicians to join a
hot Internet service to come off as cool and up-to-date," said Twitter user
@woojinjeong.
Some are concerned that Twitter may be used as an "online political haven" free
from restrictions in local portals and from having to give private information
before posting comments.
South Korea is the only country in the world where Internet users are required to
input their name and resident registration number, given upon birth, to subscribe
to large Web sites. Many netizens see the requirement as the government's effort
to curtail freedom of expression over the Internet by making identification a
must before posting any kind of message on the Web.
"Its funny that politicians who created the law to uphold such requirements are
flocking to Twitter for the sake of communicating. Its somewhat ironic," said
Kwak Jae-ho, a 29-year old officer worker.
Given such perceptions, lawmakers' aides say the messages sent out, even casual
ones, are carefully reviewed over and over to avoid causing any political
controversy.
Despite the pessimism, some say that politicians should be encouraged to reach
out to the people and try to win the hearts of even the most sardonic observers.
"I'm kind of relieved that politicians are embracing the latest technology to
stay connected with their electorates. Such efforts are what every ideal
politician should embrace, not only the tech-savvy ones," Lee Sang-hyun, a
31-year old worker in Seoul, said.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, July 3 (Yonhap) -- The global hype surrounding Twitter, a U.S.-based
on-line social networking service, has caught on with a number of political
heavyweights in South Korea seeking to stay in sync with high-tech voters shaping
political discourse here.
Given its direct, unfiltered and real-time character distinct from other
networking services, jumping on the Twitter bandwagon is increasingly seen here
as an inevitable step in efforts to better reach out to the electorate.
The micro-blogging site, run by a U.S. venture start-up of the same name, allows
users to send out "tweets" -- messages no longer than 140 characters -- over the
Internet through computers and mobile devices that are picked up by "followers"
who subscribe to receive such feeds.
The service has captured worldwide attention due to its extensive use by such
high-profile figures as U.S. President Barack Obama during his presidential
campaign last year, and as a source of raw reporting when access is difficult, as
seen in police crackdowns on post-election protests in Iran.
Kim Hyung-o, the National Assembly speaker and a five-term lawmaker, posted his
first Twitter feed on his personal account (http://twitter.com/hyongo) on June
18.
A self-described "digital speaker" who uses his BlackBerry smartphone to
communicate with Internet audiences, Kim is representative of a growing class of
tech-savvy politicians looking to communicate with ordinary voters.
"Unlike other politicians or well-known celebrities, the speaker not only follows
renown Twitter users but many other ordinary users to read their comments and
find out the latest issues floating around in cyberspace," Shin Hae, the
speaker's aide, said, adding that Kim tries to send out at least one message a
day.
Chung Dong-young, an independent and former opposition Democratic Party (DP)
presidential candidate, also created an account on June 23
(http://twitter.com/coreacdy).
In his latest tweet sent out Wednesday, the veteran blogger lamented that small
private-owned supermarkets were struggling due to larger, corporate-style chains
penetrating smaller neighborhoods.
Unlike the Assembly speaker, Chung accesses Twitter from his van via laptop and
WiBro, a wireless broadband service, according to his aide Jeong Jin-hwa.
While not an incumbent, Lee Jae-oh, a former three-term lawmaker and de facto
leader of the biggest pro-President Lee Myung-bak faction in the ruling Grand
National Party, also runs a Twitter account (http://twitter.com/JaeOhYi).
Having returned to Seoul in late March from a sojourn in the U.S. after losing
the 2007 general election, Lee's latest Twitter feed blasted the ongoing
tug-of-war between rival parties over a controversial revision to a workers'
bill.
Sim Sang-jeong, head of the New Progressive Party, was one of the earliest
politicians to enter the "twittersphere," harnessing over 1,000 followers. Others
politicians using Twitter include Kim Yoo-jung and Choi Moon-soon, both members
of the DP, as well as GNP spokeswoman Cho Yoon-sun.
All of the aforementioned Twitter users operate their accounts separately from
their official Web sites.
Some observer say the trend is reminiscent of the heydays of Cyworld, a local
social network service run by SK Communications Co., which saw a boom in the
number of politicians rushing to create the then-popular "mini homepages" to
connect with the country's growing Internet population.
"I think politicians are taking a cue from the sharp rise in the popularity which
Park Geun-hye enjoyed after she created a mini homepage on Cyworld back in 2005,"
said Hwang Sang-min, a psychology professor at Yonsei University, referring to
the former chairwoman of the GNP and a viable presidential candidate in the 2012
election.
Watchers say it is only a matter of time before more politicians flock to the
micro-blogging service, given its rising popularity.
According to a recent survey by Rankey.Com, an online market research company,
monthly on-line traffic originating from South Korea to Twitter's site grew more
than 20-fold between January-May, climbing from some 301,000 to some 5.62
million.
The popularity is reflected in a recent statement by President Lee Myung-bak, who
said during his recent visit to Washington that he, too, was considering joining
Twitter.
The president is still in the process of deciding whether to create an account,
Kim Cheol-kyun, a communications secretary at the presidential office, said in a
Twitter feed on Thursday.
But the public response is somewhat lukewarm, with some warning of a
"bandwagoning" craze.
"I hope that leaders and members of any political party participate in the
twittersphere as ordinary citizens without putting on their politicians' hat," a
user with the handle @revoldaw commented on his Twitter account.
Another user, nicknamed @fromipod, said he was doubtful that politicians would
use Twitter "with a genuine effort to communicate."
"Nowadays, there is a tendency in the political circle for politicians to join a
hot Internet service to come off as cool and up-to-date," said Twitter user
@woojinjeong.
Some are concerned that Twitter may be used as an "online political haven" free
from restrictions in local portals and from having to give private information
before posting comments.
South Korea is the only country in the world where Internet users are required to
input their name and resident registration number, given upon birth, to subscribe
to large Web sites. Many netizens see the requirement as the government's effort
to curtail freedom of expression over the Internet by making identification a
must before posting any kind of message on the Web.
"Its funny that politicians who created the law to uphold such requirements are
flocking to Twitter for the sake of communicating. Its somewhat ironic," said
Kwak Jae-ho, a 29-year old officer worker.
Given such perceptions, lawmakers' aides say the messages sent out, even casual
ones, are carefully reviewed over and over to avoid causing any political
controversy.
Despite the pessimism, some say that politicians should be encouraged to reach
out to the people and try to win the hearts of even the most sardonic observers.
"I'm kind of relieved that politicians are embracing the latest technology to
stay connected with their electorates. Such efforts are what every ideal
politician should embrace, not only the tech-savvy ones," Lee Sang-hyun, a
31-year old worker in Seoul, said.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
