The Internet in Korea — The Development and Application of

Broadband

Korea's spectacular achievements in network development have turned the country into a successful role model for the rest of the Asia-Pacific region. The rate of application of broadband technology to networks in Korea has also outstripped that of many countries in Europe and North America. According to the results of a survey published in eMarketer in May this year, 50% of household Internet users in Korea are broadband subscribers. The survey, carried out by Pyramid Research, placed Korea in the leading position regarding broadband development in Asia.

The practical application of broadband technology in Korea is especially apparent in the current popularity of online games and the Internet cafes that are mushrooming all over the country. A survey by Netvalue discovered that 65% of Korean Internet users visited game web sites in January 2001.

So what is the secret of Korea's success, and how has the nation managed to gain worldwide respect for its Internet development? In order to explore these issues, TWNIC has arranged a symposium on the development and application of broadband networks in Korea. It is hoped that an examination of the experience of Korean networks will help stimulate the practical application of broadband technology in Taiwan. The symposium will take place on August 27 at the Grand Hotel in Taipei. Guest speakers will include Kwan Ho Song, President of KRNIC; Kilnam Chon, CEO of Networking, Inc.; Hyunje Park, CEO of ZooInNet Co., Ltd.; and Taekjin Kim, CEO of NcSoft.