The Wave

I found Sze Hui’s research paper entitled “Wired and Wireless Korea: Information Technology and its Effects on Korean Culture” very interesting and a good encapsulation of a phenomenon that is soon to sweep other countries as the Internet already has begun to.
One point which indicates that literacy in Korea facilitated the ease of the internet spread is noteworthy on a globalist scale. Although the infrastructure in 1996 was not there this made spread very feasible. This extends to other countries like China, Thailand, or other Southeast Asian Countries as although they may have the capability to actually build the fiber optic lines necessary for ICT, their languages may not easily support the catch on. As Hui pointed out, in China there are too many characters to represent on the keyboard for ease, but I was thinking more globally as literacy among citizens may not be set up to even read the emails they are sending to a potential client!
I think that also it is important to note that when “selling” or trying to get the internet to catch on in certain areas, it is important to phase it in as an essential utility as Hui brings up. Internet would be considered part of utility in the United States in most populated areas. Just consider how your cable company bundles high-speed internet as part of your TV package. It is important to stress to Koreans how the internet will facilitate unprecedented communication and essential.
PC Bangs are so cool! I have been to an internet café in Japan but nothing like what Hui describes in his paper. What intrigued me was how these places facilitated meeting in person places, almost like Starbucks. Instead of asking the girl next to you to join you for a cup of coffee you can IM computer #23 and ask her to join you on a love seat or for a cup of noodles. I disagree with how Hui organized the paper because in reality although people are less and less likely to spend face-to-face contact, the system is already setup in these PC Bangs to take breaks and actually meet face to face with the surrounding people.
In conclusion, Hui sheds light on a unique community and developing phenomenon. Possibly the best example of this explosion are the PC Bangs which point to the next generation, the youth who as the ultimate users will carve the way towards a more and more wired Korean future.