President of South Korea’s unprecedented event made internet history. President Roh Muh-Hyun’s live-open discussion with South Korean panel via online portal made a historical mark, opening doors to future of internet driven government operations.
March 23rd, 1.p.m. over 300,000 South Korean internet users were watching live video stream of open discussion between their president and pre-selected panel of people. This was quite different from watching just another TV broadcast of president’s message to public. The difference was in format; online discussions from public panel were made to participate in real time with the President Roh.

Conversation watched by 300,000 viewers
Panel comprised of Internet giant portals Daum, Nate, Yahoo Korea, Empas, and Paran discussed with the President about national issues especially in nation’s income gap and effects from it. The five panels were represented by a housewife, college student, professor and a blue collar worker in a forum with their President.

All five portals had setup a special event WebPages a week prior to the actual discussions on online to collect publics view on education, real estate, job market and social systems to base their questions on the forum.

Scheduled one hour event from 1 to 2 p.m. ended up taking extra one hour insisted by the President to address all concerns raised. The live internet broadcast was viewed by 130,000 via Daum, 80,000 via Yahoo Korea respectively among others tally totaling to 300,000.

Political Ad strategy, concerns of portals being misused by government
The event brought new opportunities from the political side to the internet market, but there were drawbacks too. The biggest concern was public’s sentiment toward possibility of abuse of political power and government’s influence over controlling internet portals.

In actuality, although opinions and concerns were relayed to the President in real-time, it was not that effective in terms of both sides exchanging smooth two way conversation. Rather it felt more like that President was just announcing his prepared speech on administration’s policies. Other negativism was that some of the portals used this event to their advantage by clarifying their stands on the previous issues over public’s and netizen’s consensus.

Because of these concerns being raised, it is probable that South Korea’s biggest internet potal site Naver, did not join in this event to remain its neutral position and thereby avoiding any possible negativisms toward itself from the general consensus. Their absences from the participation were felt big as the result of event’s total tally showed. It also revealed problems in commercial relations with political sector.

Start of Electronic Democracy
In spite of the possible side effects it may bring, the last event must be praised for its significance. It’s still ideas of limited advocates but it also showcased how “direct participation’ can result in most ideal forms of democratic society. There is no doubt that we need to check for government not to abuse its power of controlling the internet market with its politics but continued efforts toward better development and effective two way open discussion forum is needed.

The internet forum has shown a real case where internet cyber space is not only limited to the individuals needs but also to handle its national interest. Basing from the recent South Korean government’s approach, we can see the limitless possibility in internet and its usage. One can ponder about internet’s infinite possibility, future rolls and its destiny in our future.