Anonymity was not invented with the internet. Anonymity is developed through the history. It has been used in many purposes. A famous person did not use a real name to write messages. They do not want to be highly influenced by people's prejudice. Also, other people want to hide certain information about themselves to get evaluation of their message without prejudice and bias. For example, women authors commonly used the pseudonym of male and Jews used pseudonym to hide their religion. Women authors were discriminated just because of their genders. If the books were written by the real name of women authors, peolple did not read the books and ignored their writings. Anonymity is often used to protect the privacy of people, for example, when reporting results of a scientific study, when describing individual cases. Many countries even have laws that protect anonymity in certain circumstances. Internetanonymity has been developed since internet was developed. Especially, it was developed with development of World Wide Web (WWW). Internet was first started in 1969. Its first name was Arpanet. After Arpanet was converted to open network system, it became the current form. In 1990s, appearance of World Wide Web (WWW) make internet grow rapidly.
Information communications network law of Korea was amended in the January, 2007. In the late 1990, internet was spread through the whole country. As the users of the internet increase, the adverse effects of internet increase. - verbal violation, defamation and distribution of illegal information. The government considered that internet anonymity is the biggest factor of these situation. For that reason, The Department Of Justice added the article of name verification in information communications network law. However, In 2010, the constitutional court of Korea gave a verdict that internet anonymity is conflicted with the constitution of Korea. They argued that they recognized the legitimacy of purpose of the legislation and suitability of way, but the law limited the freedom of expression. In the constitution of Korea, there is article that the government should guarantee freedom of expression. They said that there is no specific public interest effect to justify the limitation of freedom of expression, which is the value of the constitution.
There are reasons why internet anonymity is needed in Korea in two aspects. One of the reasons is constitutional reason. As mentioned in the narration, internet anonymity is against the constitution. According to Article 1 of 21 of the Constitution, the citizen has a duty to be guaranteed freedom of expression. Freedom of expression is basic essential human rights. It has to be guaranteed because it is the basic requirements of existence and development of the country. People express their opinion anonymously or in pseudonym to express their idea without restriction. It makes criticism of the power of country or majority opinion of society can be possible. Anonymity on internet is combined with speed and reciprocality of internet and overcome the hierarchical structure of the economy. Thus, it can develop the democracy of Korea. Internet anonymity is important thing because of that reason.
Universality is one of the reason. Most governments of the country do not regulate about internet anonymity. However, Korea is a nearly only country that make a law restrict the internet anonymity - except autocracy countries such as North Korea and Iran. The most characteristic feature of the internet society is openness. In other words, everyone can reach the cyberspace regardless of border. Our regulation of internet anonymity is far away from the regulation of internet anonymity in foreign country. It will restrict the connection between South Korea and foreign countries. Therefore, freedom of foreigners who want to connect with interent of South Korea will be restricted. It will cause social-economic loss in South Korea. For example, Iran is the representative country that restrict internet anonymity and America is the respresentative country that has open cyberspace. American company can not trade with Iran company in cyberspace and Iran company can not make a profit.
It is true that internet anonymity has some side-effects. There are some people who argue that internet anonymity can increase using of abuse. According to study of Woo Ji Suk, Na Hyun Soo and Choi Jung Min, there are no specific results that internet anonymity is effective. After using internet anonymity policy, there is little decreasement of using abuse and slander. It is hard to argue that internet anonymity plays an important role. Without the certain effects of internet anonymity, it is difficult to ignore the freedom of expression and claim internet anonymity. The most important thing is that those side-effects are not remarkable than benefits in Korea. In Korea, internet has been developed since the latter 1990s. It is developed at a surprisingly fast pace, and level of Korea internet is ranked in the top. In this situation, it is difficult to say that the main reason of cyber abuse and cybercrime is internet anonymity. The benefits of internet anonymity are more remarkable than its side-effects.
Internet is opened place and everyone regardless of ages, and sex can reach cyberspace. Openness is the most remarkable feature of internet, and internet anonymity is the most important rule that should be guaranteed in cyberspace. Internet anonymity is helpful to make people express their opinions. Expression of one's opinion is the basic essence today, and it can be assured with internet anonymity. For those reasons, internet anonymity is obviously needed in Korea to make assure that people can express their opinion without restriction.
References
1. Annika M. Hughes () Mary Ann Evans and George Eliot: One Woman.
Retrievd from http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/imow-Eliot.pdf
2. Barry M. Leiner () A Brief History of the Internet
3. 대한민국 헌법 전문 The constitution of Korea
4. Daegon Cho () Real Name Verification Law on the Internet: A Poison or Cure for Privacy?
Retrieved from http://weis2011.econinfosec.org/papers/Real%20Name%20Verification%20Law%20on%20the%20Internet%20-%20A%20Poison%20or%20Cu.pdf
5. Harry R. Lewis () The Internet and Hieronymus Bosch: Fear, Protection, and Liberty in Cyberspace
Retrieved from http://lewis.seas.harvard.edu/files/harrylewis/files/internet_and_hieronymus_bosch.pdf
6. Woo Ji Suk, Na Hyun Soo and Choi Jung Min (2010) 인터넷 게시판 실명제의 효과에 대한 실증 연구: 제한적본인확인제 시행에 따른 게시판 내 글쓰기 행위 및 비방과 욕설의 변화를 중심으로
