바로가기메뉴

본문 바로가기 주메뉴 바로가기

logo

Looking for Salvation beyond a Risk-laden Reality: The Religious Nature of Korean Internet Culture

Korea Journal / Korea Journal, (P)0023-3900; (E)2733-9343
2007, v.47 no.2, pp.12-40
https://doi.org/10.25024/kj.2007.47.2.12

  • Downloaded
  • Viewed

Abstract

This paper reviews the various phenomena arising from the rapid diffu-sion of the Internet in Korean society since the late 1990s, with the viewthat Korean Internet culture has some aspects that can be seen as reli-gious. Here, I approach the religious nature of Korean Internet culturein two dimensions. Firstly, I regard Koreans enthusiasm for cyberspaceitself as a religious phenomenon. For background on this, I argue thatmodern Koreans experiencing excessive anxiety due to the stress ofcomplex risks seek relief by connecting to cyberspace as an alternativeform of reality.Secondly, I examine what might be regarded as religious phenome-na among the events taking place in Korean cyberspace today. For this,I focus on some notable features of Korean cyberspace. Of special noteis the spread of the myth that one can become a different person andenjoy a better life through online consumption, and the formation of anew consumer culture of impulse shopping. I also examine how themyth of another reality in cyberspace generates inner power throughtwo dimensions of online rituals. I believe that analyzing the religiouscharacter of Korean Internet culture, along three axesits background,myth, and ritualswill enable us to reflect on its present state.

keywords
Korean Internet culture, cyber culture, cyber myth, cyberritual, risk society, jireumsin, consumption myth, cyber pilgrimageYoo Ki Bbeum (Yu, Gi-ppeum) is a researcher at the Korea Institute for Religion andCulture. She obtained her Ph.D. in philoso, Korean Internet culture, cyber culture, cyber myth, cyberritual, risk society, jireumsin, consumption myth, cyber pilgrimageYoo Ki Bbeum (Yu, Gi-ppeum) is a researcher at the Korea Institute for Religion andCulture. She obtained her Ph.D. in philoso

Reference

1.

Choe, Du-jin, (2006) The Trend of Informatization Culture and Policy Agendas 2006, Seoul: Korea Agency for Digital Opportu- nity and Promotion

2.

Eun, Ki-Soo, (2005) Relationship between Economic Bipolarization and Suicide: Before and after the Eco- nomic Crisis in 1997,

3.

Jo, Dong-Gi, (2003) How to Promote Wholesome Use of Cybercommu- nity by Youth, Seoul: Korea Institute for Youth Development Research Report

4.

Joffe, Helene, (2002) Risk Society and the Logic of the Other, Seoul: Hanul Academy

5.

Kang, Jun-Man, (2006.February) Kang Jun-mans Dictionary of Humanities,

6.

Kim, Ju-han, (2001) Cyber Addiction and Internet Psychology, Seoul:Changbi Publishers

7.

Korea Agency for Digital Opportunity and Promotion (KADO), (2006) inteonetjungdok siltae josa , Seoul: KADO

8.

Lee, Kun, (2001) Open Community in Cyberspace, Seoul: Changbi Publishers

9.

National Internet Development Agency (NIDA), (2006) Hanguk inteonet baek- seo, Seoul: National Internet Development Agency

10.

Nisbet, Robert, (2001) The Quest for Community,

11.

Rho, Jin-Chul , (2004) Condensed Modernization and Structural Risks: The Case of the Daegu Subway Dis-aster,

12.

Seo, I-jong, (2002) Inteonet keomyuniti-wa hanguk sahoe, Seoul: Hanul Academy

13.

Seong, Kyoung-ryung , (1998) Unemployment and Social Disintegration: Emergence of an All-around Risk Society,

14.

Social Development Research Institute, Seoul National University, (2005) Hanguk sahoe-ui wiheom gujo byeonhwa , Seoul: Korea Information Society Development Institute

15.

Tuan, Yi-fu, (1995) Space and Place: The Perspective of Experience, Seoul: Doseo Chulpan Daeyun

16.

Ramo, Joshua Cooper, (1998) Finding God on the Web. In Composing Cyberspace: Identity, Community, and Knowledge in the Electronic Age, NJ: McGraw-Hill

Korea Journal