Online political participation will have the most positive results when combining the strengths of government-initiated and netizen-led models. Study on the paper of Prof. Seong-Yi Yun

1. Political Participation in the
Internet Era
Study on the South Korea Political Netizen
Since 2002 to 2007

2. Agenda
• The beginning
• The facts
• The development of netizen
• Dilemma of online political participation
– Advantages
– Disadvantages
• Suggestions
• Conclusion

3. Current case studies
• Study on the South Korea political netizen
since 2002 to 2007
• Study on some events of netizen.

4. The Beginning (1)
• The beginning in 2002
– Roh Moo Huyn use internet-based group
supporting in president election 2002.
– Provided supporters more DIRECT ACCESS to
information by using Internet.
– Internet become major online campaign tool
(candidate's website, online campaign strategies).
– Young civilian period, with age under 40, attempt
using Internet quickly.

5. The Beginning (2)
• The appearance of NOSAMO
– 70,000 people before election
– 80,000 people after the election
• Roh's website absorbed MILLION of people by:
– Video clips
– Messages
– Audio broadcast

6. The Facts (1)
• Roh’s campaign was successful with fund
raising, visitors donate money
– Raised 7 billion won ($7.7 million USD)
– Donation came from 200.000 individuals.

7. The Facts (2)
• The percentage age of netizens has changed
and developed over years

8. The Development of Netizen
• The raise events of netizen in Korea after years
– Red Devil supporters during the 2002 FIFA World
Cup.
– Candlelight vigils in memory of two middle school
girls who were killed by a U.S. military vehicle
(2002).
– The presidential impeachment and general
elections in 2004.
– The Hwang Woo Suk scandal over stem cell
research in 2005.

9. The Development of Netizen (2)
• Significance of the spread of "online citizen
participation" after years
– Getting new attention
– Representative democracies
– The creation of "electronic democracy".

10. Dilemma of
Online Political Participation

11. Advantages (1)
• Improve the exchange and flow of information
between citizens and political leaders.
• To achieve essential participatory democracy
in which all citizens take part freely and
equally.
• The model of political participation has
changed from group-based to network-based
individuals.

12. Advantages (2)
• To direct participation that comprises the
establishment of agenda, mobilization of
public opinion, and decision-making
• Presented the possibility of "rule by the
people". (Which is the core of the democratic
political system)
• Democratization and Informatization bring
about a decentralization of the power
structure.

13. Disadvantages (1)
• Public debates can be distorted through
expanded reproduction of one-sided opinions
without any filtering.
• Internet communication can create social
vices that threaten democracy.
– Emotional and sensational propaganda and
instigation
– Indiscriminate personal attacks
– Groundless rumors

14. Disadvantages (2)
• Speed and Anonymity may generate an
ORWELLIAN "Big Brother" scenario and
POPULISM.
• e-Participation does not guarantee the quality
of policy outcome.
• An increase in political participation does not
always lead to political development.

15. Suggestions

16. Suggestion (1)
• The political e-participation should be
deliberately designed considering:
– Purpose.
– Target.
– Role.
– Power and method of online participation.

17. Suggestion (2)
• Online political participation can be classified
into two models:
– The government-initiated top-down model
– The netizen-leading bottom-up model

18. Suggestion (3)
• Bottom-up model benefits
– Advent of a new political culture.
– Government provide a healthy structure for online
political participation.
– Promote netizens' online political participation.
– Promote a participatory political culture. (Base on
the appearance of a SMART MOB GENERATION)

19. Suggestion (4)
• Top-down model benefits
– REMAINS an agenda-setting power in the hands of
the POLITICAL ELITE.
– Avoid facing political inefficiency and populism.

20. Conclusion
• Online political participation should be
developed by:
– Maximizing the strengths of the two models.
– Minimizing their weaknesses, disadvantages.
• Online participation model can start from:
– Building the online public sphere.
– Educating netizens.

21. FAQ ?
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