Ex-President Roh encourages 'free, balanced communication' in his cyber debate room

By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Sept. 18 (Yonhap) -- Former President Roh Moo-hyun launched a Web site for
"free and balanced" political debate Thursday as the incumbent administration
moves to tame the on-line community with tighter rules.
"Citizens must lead the media and the politics via active participation and
communication," Roh said in a keynote message on the Web site, using the on-line
moniker "Nogongisan."
"The current media is tilted so much to one side that it does not have the
capacity to enhance the country's democracy."
"We open this Web site for free and balanced discussion amongst everyone," he
added. "You are the owners and managers of the space."
Roh was among the first South Korean politicians to make use of the Internet to
influence public consensus in the world's most wired country, where a large
majority of households have broadband connections.
Roh beat his popular rival in the 2002 presidential election, largely benefiting
from an on-line political movement, especially among the progressive younger
generation.
"Anyone and everyone" with an approved on-line ID can participate in the
discussions on the newly-launched site, Democracy 2.0 (www.democracy2.kr),
operators said. Registration requires users to submit a Korean mobile phone
number.
Once a debate is concluded by moderators, the contents will be stored on the
site's server, which members can access through the archives at any time.
The outspoken former president will not be participating in the discussions,
aides noted, apparently aware of suspicions that he is trying to gather
supporters to launch a political base.
The governing Grand National Party already seems to be keeping a close eye on
Roh's Web site.
"We must strengthen our communication with netizens in order to combat the
pro-Roh force," said ruling party lawmaker Nam Kyung-pil on the party's homepage
Thursday. "I seriously wonder about the purpose of this new Web site. We must be
prepared."
While staying low-key on current political issues, Roh has been preparing the Web
site since his retirement late February, with help from about 180 volunteers.
"There have been no changes to the the former president's plan to stay away from
politics," said Roh's secretary Kim Kyung-soo. "The Web site is 100 percent for
ordinary people to share opinions on various social and political issues."
In contrast to Roh, incumbent President Lee Myung-bak has not been popular among
Internet users, who have been highly critical of his early administrative
affairs, especially his April decision to resume imports of U.S. beef.
In June, protesters against the move uploaded postings bashing the young
administration and calling for a boycott of the country's three most influential
newspapers, which support the conservative government.
Alarmed by the influence Web activists displayed in organizing massive street
protests against the beef decision and other anti-government campaigns, the
administration has been seeking stricter regulations requiring those posting on
Internet forums to use their real names and obligating portals to blank out
postings considered defamatory or intrusive.
Opposition parties and civic groups criticize the move, arguing the government
has no right to control the public's voice on the Internet, which has long been
considered a "free space of communication" for everyone.