Korean Internet Tour Guide is a project that documents and examines the history of the Korean internet from the perspectives of producers and users, insiders and outsiders. It is a collection of moments in which various social factors, such as technological conditions, users, work ethics, and political and economic interests, have shaped the country’s internet.

The technological-cultural pursuit begins with two interface software particular to the Korean context, ActiveX and Zeroboard. Multi-layered moments that span across design processes, the producer’s intention, user experience, protocol-related decision making, knowledge and opinion production and distribution provide us an overview of what the Korean internet has been: the peculiar landscape through the chasm that reveals itself when the design intention does not match the real-world needs and usade patterns.

Consisting of a website, a booklet, and two days of public programming, Korean Internet Tour Guide is a list — a database of loosely structured diverse information and a selective archive — that makes up a kind of tour guide that provides multiple viewpoints from A (ActiveX) to Z (Zeroboard).

See also

• SeMA Biannale Mediacity Seoul

• Public program #1: Korean Internet Tour Day

Korean Internet Tour Day offers two complementary perspectives on the Korean internet. The first session examines the internet as a predetermined environment shaped by government policies. Kim Kee-Chang and Jay Yoon explore the government-imposed security framework represented by ActiveX and authentication certificates. The second session considers the internet as a realm of experience and action for individuals. To address this, the artists invited two other projects to discuss the individual’s experience and behavior, including topics such as making, communities, and online feminism.

Session 1: Internet as Government-Given Environment

• Lecture 1: Jay Yoon (Creative Commons), From law to code
• Lecture 2: Kim Kee-Chang (Korea University), The ecosystem of ActiveX industry: The ‘Korean’ Internet

Session 2: Internet as Field of Experience and Activity

• Presentation 1: E Roon Kang, Wonyoung So, {{Achim Koh}} (Korean Internet Tour Guide)
• Presentation 2: Dalrae Jin (Femidea)
• Presentation 3: Oh Gahyeon, Lee Subin (Open Feminism, Kookmin University)
• Moderator: Choi Seung Joon (Kookmin University)

• Public program #2: Alternate Paths

Alternate Paths is a round table organized to initiate conversations on the past, present and future of the Korean internet, based on the personal and professional experiences of individuals invited by the artists.

Participants

• Jungbae An, Secretariat of Korea Internet History Project
• Binna Choi, Unmake Lab
• Seung Joon Choi, Kookmin University
• Eunjoo Hong, Designer
• Jennifer Kang, Former General Manager of CCKOREA
• Miyoung Lee, Handmade Crafts Maker
• Hojun Song, Artist