The first English-language work on Korea's unique experiences with telecommunications, this book focuses on Korea's distinct political, economic, legal, socio-cultural and personal dimensions. It includes chapters on the relationship between political liberalization and telecommunications,education and public promotion of the information society, together with the role of new technologies in the reunification of Korea.
This book explores the role of digital information and communications technology in South Korea’s development, starting with and building upon the crucial developments of the 1980s. Its perspective draws on the information society concept and on a conceptual model of strategic restructuring of telecommunications. It also draws on firsthand experience in formulating and implementing policies. The analysis identifies aspects of the Korean experience from which developing countries around the world might benefit. Oh and Larson describe the revolutionary developments of the 1980s including the TDX electronic switching system, a major surge forward in semiconductors, the start of privatization and color television and the thoroughgoing restructuring of Korea’s telecommunications sector. They further explore government leadership, the growing private sector and international trade pressures in the diffusion of broadband, mobile communication, and convergence toward a ubiquitous network society. The role of education in these developments is explored in detail, along with both the positive and negative aspects of Korea’s vibrant new digital media. The book also looks at Korea’s growing international involvement, its role in efforts to build a world information society, and finally, its future place in cyberspace. This book will be of interest to students, scholars and policy makers interested in communications technologies, Asian/Korean Studies and development studies.
Why are North Koreans so eager to get cell phones? What is the impact of growing cell phone usage on the economy and society? Which segments of the population are most influenced by cell phones and have seen the biggest changes in their lifestyles accordingly? Meanwhile, mobile telecommunications service is a double-edged sword for the North Korean government. [...] On the other hand, historically, cell phones tend to strengthen individuality and social movements, provide an opportunity for dissent and eventually lead to political upheaval, such as the 2001 "text-message revolution" in the Philippines and the Arab Spring in the Middle East. [...] The second broker physically aligns the microphone of each phone with the earphone of the other phone so the remitter and recipient can talk to each other and confirm the remittance.63 Jae-pyong Seo, Secretary-General of the Committee for the Democratization of North Korea, says that when the real time "international" call is not available, the recipient has the broker in town record a confirmatio. [...] Again, the second broker physically aligns the microphone of each phone with the earphone of the other cell phone, so the remitter can hear the recorded message.64 According to Chosun Ilbo reporting, in early 2013, North Korea decided to allow international calls in the Rajin- Sonbong (Rason) SEZ near the Chinese border, in a bid to attract foreign investment.65 Dr. [...] Cell phones and texting played an important role in the "People Power" revolutions of 1986 and 2001 in the Philippines.82 Effective use of social media on cell phones was a crucial element of the Arab Spring, the spread of pro-democracy movements in North Africa and the Middle East starting in late 2010.
China's telecommunications industry has seen revolutionary transformation and growth over the past three decades. Chinese Internet users number nearly 150 million, and the PRC expects to quickly pass the US in total numbers of connected citizens. The number of mobile and fixed-line telephone users soared from a mere 2 million in 1980 to a total of nearly 800 million in 2007. China has been the most successful developing nation in history for spreading telecommunications access at an unparalleled rapid pace. This book tells how China conducted its remarkable "telecommunications revolution". It examines both corporate and government policy to get citizens connected to both voice and data networks, looks at the potential challenges to the one-party government when citizens get this access, and considers the new opportunities for networking now offered to the people of one of the world's fastest growing economies. The book is based on the author's fieldwork conducted in several Chinese cities, as well as extensive archival research. It focuses on key issues such as building and running the country's Internet, mobile phone company rivalry, foreign investment in the sector, and telecommunications in China's vibrant city of Shanghai. It also considers the country's internal "digital divide", and questions how equitable the telecommunications revolution has been. Finally, it examines the ways the PRC's entry to the World Trade Organization will shape the future course of telecommunications growth.
This book explores the role of digital information and communications technology in South Korea’s development, starting with and building upon the crucial developments of the 1980s. Its perspective draws on the information society concept and on a conceptual model of strategic restructuring of telecommunications. It also draws on firsthand experience in formulating and implementing policies. The analysis identifies aspects of the Korean experience from which developing countries around the world might benefit. Oh and Larson describe the revolutionary developments of the 1980s including the TDX electronic switching system, a major surge forward in semiconductors, the start of privatization and color television and the thoroughgoing restructuring of Korea’s telecommunications sector. They further explore government leadership, the growing private sector and international trade pressures in the diffusion of broadband, mobile communication, and convergence toward a ubiquitous network society. The role of education in these developments is explored in detail, along with both the positive and negative aspects of Korea’s vibrant new digital media. The book also looks at Korea’s growing international involvement, its role in efforts to build a world information society, and finally, its future place in cyberspace. This book will be of interest to students, scholars and policy makers interested in communications technologies, Asian/Korean Studies and development studies.
The mobile telecommunication industry has been one of the fastest growing industries in the global economy since the late 1990s. As the first country to offer commercial Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) cellular service in the world, Korea was able to jump right into the digital mobile markets, enhancing its status as a leading manufacturer of mobile equipment. While the growth of the telecom industry occurred with the emergence of worldwide market-oriented regulatory reform and liberalization in telecommunications, the state-market relationship in Korea evolved from state monopoly toward “centralized governance” and later toward “flexible governance,” which is substantially different from “liberal governance” of the US. This book examines the uniqueness of Korean regulatory reforms of the mobile telecommunication sector, and argues that the market-oriented regulatory reform and liberalization should be explained by focusing on the interactions among the state, the private sector, and international political economic environment. It will appeal to scholars and policy-makers alike concerned with market regulation, Asian development and political economy.
The Korean government believes it can turn the country into one of the top 10 competitive economies by 2010. This volume offers an in-depth analysis of the Korean innovation system and shows how its science and technology policies actually work. As Korea’s economy is now reaching the status of a newly advanced economy, the book also takes a close look at ongoing structural changes in the course of economic globalization.
This Review presents an integrated assessment of regulatory reform in framework areas such as the quality of the public sector, competition policy and enforcement, and market openness in Korea.
Law in Korea has historically been viewed as merely a tool of authoritarian rule, but since the transition to democracy in 1987 it has served a more important and visible role as a force for social change. With contributions from leading US and Korean scholars, Legal Reform in Korea explores this response to domestic and international pressures, applying a socio-legal perspective to both legal practices and the legal institutions themselves, which have become a major political issue throughout the developing world. An invaluable resource for students of Asian law and Korean studies.
