Are we living in an information-oriented revolution period? The diffusion rate for home use computer is 80%, the number of users in Korea is 24,380,000 and the diffusion rate of super high-speed Internet is a first grade among the countries of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development). A grade sheet about IT (Information Technique) of Korea is also excellent compared to the OECD countries. IT books of the country are exported in the USA, and Japan imports Korea's IT system and human power. This is one thing to increase our self-confidence as a strong IT country. According to the above contents, almost all Koreans use the internet.
In this time, adverse criticism occurs about the present internet charge of Korea.
Now, the charge system for the internet in Korea has used is a flat sum system. What is the flat sum system? If internet users pay a fixed amount of money per month, they are able to use the internet for as long as they want. In April last year, the connection overcrowding phenomenon occurred from the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) lecture of EBS online. So, internet providers said that "because of an  excessive number of internet users, communication currency has increased from time to time" and revealed the introduction of an internet volume-rate system. However, real discussion has not progressed by opposition of netizens. On February 10, Chin Dae-je, minister of MIC (Ministry of Information and Communication) stated that "internet flat sum system is a structure that service company suffers from the misuse of  some users." As a result, internet volume-rate became an issue again.

Internet volume-rate
Internet volume-rate is a system where a charge is levied according to the using time and amount of downloaded dates. As presented by ISP (Internet Service Provider) from the end of 2002, the Internet volume-rate become an issue in our society.
 
Supporting argument for the internet volume-rate
Supporters of the Internet volume-rate including KT, described the that problems of a flat sum system. According to Ahn Sung-hun, date charge manager of KT, because of 5% of high user netizens that spent their time using they internet, sometimes, currency confusion happens in internet. As a result, ISP invested 50~ 60 billion in security of addition circuit. If internet volume-rate is introduced, this communication currency will decrease and the quality of the internet service will increase. For this reason, KT showed a positive attitude toward the introduction of internet volume-rate. KT added that even if the internet volume-rate is enforced, it will not increase the burden of netizens who the use internet for searching and playing online games, but the burden of some netizens (those who use multimedia) will actually increase. However, a fare that netizens must pay for using multimedia is used as a reinvestment cost. Like this, reinvestment is profit to internet users because the quality of service is improved. After all, the introduction of internet volume-rate can solve the internet poisoning that occurs due to the by internet flat sum system.

Argument against the internet volume-rate 
All phenomenons do not only have good point but also bad points. Some people object the internet volume-rate system by pointing out the bad points of internet volume-rate. They think that if internet volume-rate is introduced, recent charge (20~30 thousand won per month) will be increased to up to one hundred-thousand won per month. The gap between the rich and the poor occurs from this burden, because the low income bracket can not access much information. Also, businesses to such as PC-rooms, online games would suffer a great hit. As a result, the special internet culture of Korea might be disjointed. As a sample of this case, Europe an countries introduced the internet volume-rate, and fell to backward countries of the internet.

As the problem concerning the internet volume-rate became crucial, KT decided to twice detail items that part volume-rate or part flat sum system that maximum is 60,000 won, minimum is 30,000 won. As soon as the item finishes, KT is going to discuss it with the MIC. So, the MIC will have to prepare a solution so that both netizens and ISP can be satisfied. And, the Korea will have to solve this problem well and maintain Korea as a location of strong IT industry.

Interview with Kim Yang-Eun

The Chung-Ang Herald (CAH) met Kim Yang-Eun, the head of the cyber culture laboratory, and asked her about the internet volume-rate.


CAH : What is a cyber culture laboratory?
Kim : In the middle of the 1990s, the internet was introduced in Korea. So, the cyber culture laboratory started from the association of people for research the about the internet. We studied about internet and thought over the method that our study can be practiced.  Finally, we established a corporation. Now, we are performing an education program and projecting the spread of internet culture in Korean  society.

CAH : What do you think about the internet volume-rate?
Kim : Users used the internet freely from the flat sum system. As a result, the industry which is based on the internet became active. However, if we change the charge system from the internet flat sum system to the internet volume-rate, our internet industry will suffer from the damage. And confusion will happen on the side of users. Finally, it will shake the services based an multimedia.

CAH : How can we overcome the problem that occurred because of the use of the internet flat sum system?
Kim : The Internet is a space where the control from others is nearly impossible. As a result, it is easy for individual information to run out and for children to access a harmful site. Finally, the problems of internet addiction and currency confusion can not be solved with the internet charge system. Internet addiction must be solved through education of  habits of healthy internet use. And Currency confusion problems can be solved by controling the internet line which is opened for 24 hours.

CAH :How must we solve this problem of the introduction of the internet volume-rate system?
Kim : After all, favor or opposition of internet volume-rate is a problem and a burden for users. Until now, the actual people that pay a charge did not  decide the policy plan and charge. Always, a managerial officer and an enterprising man decided all the plans. However, society is opened and actual users now participate in the policy. In this market, it is necessary that to find mutual agreement between users, enterprising men, and managerial officers. If we pass this process, it will draw the affirmative mind and culture of internet use.

                          
                            By Kim Chul-hwan
Social & Political reporter


 


 

 

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