Welcome to BASE21

⒑ Struggling in the Cyber Way

It is a fact that labor unions, these days, do not gain much popularity with the younger generation. In Korea, especially, the employees end up getting caught in the ungrounded words that the capitalists throw into the air, such as," all employees are part of our big, happy family" or "be the one to have the billion dollars worth of stock option". These talks prevent many workers from joining unions, said Park Jum-kyu of Korean Confederation of Trade Union (KCTU).

One of the workshops at the 4th Labor Media was about one of the possible solutions on the hardship labor unions go through. Park was the main speaker of this workshop, with the title, “using the internet for labor movement”. He pointed out the difficulties labor unions were having in the current times. Organizing a union was not as simple as the past. As the number of workers increased, various demands and voices asked for more individualism. A need for an adequate means, to reach all workers as quickly and effectively became a primary concern to stand against the conglomerates, the users.

Internet was thought up to be the master key to this problem. This year have been meaningful to KCTU and numbers of labor unions for their success in spreading the usage of internet for solidarity struggle with the rest of the unions around the world. Already more than 200 homepages by the different unions were launched. These homepages were a great way for stronger cooperation and struggle within a union and even with other unions as well. Some good examples were presented. One of them was a site criticizing the violent repression the police used on the workers at the Lotte Hotel, known better as the anti-Lotte movement. This site had grand effect by uploading hundreds of articles and pictures accusing the Lotte users on its homepage. KCTU led this cyber project.

While wrapping up the workshop, concerned members of the KCTU gave suggestions for more effects. Firstly, the union had to give enough preparation before starting this project. Secondly, more participants were very necessary. Thridly, it was important that the site be registered at the well-known searching engines on the net. Lastly, letting other unions and others concerned informed on the hot labor issues were emphasized.

⒑ Control in the Cyberspace

On the 27th of November, in the Graduate School of Public Health of Seoul National University. They started the workshop with the question, "Is the world changing along with the development of technology?" It is hard to admit or deny this fact totally as to say the technology has enabled us to lead a more comfortable life. However, it has been pressing hard down at us as technology can be used as a controlling devise.

Internet was known as one of the most effective area to express one's freedom. But currently, the need for control in the cyberspace is thought as an essential thing for three main reasons. First, is for political reasons, to protect the society for "cyber-terror". Secondly, for moral reasons. This is to do with the "internet-porno" and last but not least is for the economical reasons.

The government has tried to control and filter the internet. In response to this, the citizens made lots of moves like holding assemblies and paralyzing the internet site of the government. But unfortunately, the people wanting a peaceful and enjoyable cyber area have not been able to find an answer to the problem. The internet should be filtered in some way, yes, but not like this. Therefore in order to carry out the movement going against the government, there needs to be an alternative plan.

In relation to this, they talked about the Lotte Hotel where the laborers were not able to used their homepage.