[WHY] Korean online communities marked by diversity, intensity and a tad of toxicity

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[WHY] Korean online communities marked by diversity, intensity and a tad of toxicity

Published: 28 Sep. 2024, 07:00

LIM JEONG-WON
lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr

Commuting citizens look into their phones on a Seoul subway on Sept. 19. Often on public transportation, people reading posts not only on social media such as Instagram or TikTok but also on online community sites can be found. [YONHAP]

Step onto any subway or bus in Korea, and you’ll find people glued to their phones — but it’s not just TikTok, Instagram or YouTube keeping them captivated. A vast network of online communities draws millions into vibrant discussions on everything from politics to K-pop. These forums, where users can post text, images or videos and freely exchange opinions, have become a cornerstone of daily life for many Koreans.

While some might liken these forums to Reddit, that comparison only scratches the surface. Unlike Reddit, which operates as a single platform with numerous sub-forums, Korean online communities are scattered across countless independent websites, each with its own distinct focus. Whether it's politics, fashion, or hobbies, these communities are shaping public discourse in ways that are often overlooked.

With more than 60 percent of Koreans between the ages of 20 and 59 visiting these forums daily, according to a 2022 survey commissioned by Weekly Chosun, it’s clear that online communities play a pivotal role in the country’s social fabric. Just last month, the top five Korean forums amassed a staggering 571 million monthly active users (MAU), illustrating the massive reach of this digital ecosystem, according to aggregator Waffle Board.

Clearly, online communities are a major part of daily life in Korea. But why do online communities proliferate, what kinds of communities exist, how do they affect society, and how will they evolve in the future?

People look into their phones on a Seoul subway on May 16. [YONHAP]

Diverse range of online communities

Though Korean online communities cannot fully be compared to Reddit, DC Inside is the most similar. Like Reddit, DC Inside is a large website with specific sub-forums dedicated to thousands of topics. However, the tone and culture of DC Inside are quite different, with many users commenting on the toxicity of posts.

According to Waffle Board, DC Inside is the most visited online community in Korea by MAU. But it’s just one of many, and this is where the complex ecosystem of Korean online communities comes into play.

New online communities often emerge when users from an existing forum splinter off, either due to internal conflicts or the desire to create a space of their own. A notorious example is Ilbe, one of Korea’s most controversial online communities. The site, an alt-right forum known for its offensive and sometimes criminal behavior — such as defaming victims of national disasters like the Sewol Ferry sinking and sharing illegal content — was founded by a breakaway group from a DC Inside sub-forum.

While some communities cater to the extreme right, there are also left-leaning and progressive forums. Cafes on Daum, an online platform, are generally considered more progressive, with independent sites like Ppomppu, Bobaedream, and TodayHumor also leaning left in political discussions.

In addition to political forums, there are communities centered on specific interests. Theqoo, one of the largest forums focused on entertainment and K-pop, Soul Dresser for fashion and beauty, and MLB Park for baseball fans, all began with niche topics but have expanded to cover broader discussions as their user bases grew.

Logos of various online communities in Korea, clockwise from top left, DC Inside, Humor Univ, Theqoo and Soul Dresser [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Evolution of online communication

Communication through online communities has evolved significantly since the advent of the internet. Park Hyun-soo, author of “Online Community, Society of Souls,” which explores the history of online communities in Korea, notes that the development of these communities mirrors the evolution of internet-access devices.

“The changes in how we access the internet — from PC communication to the internet and later smartphones — have brought shifts in user behavior,” Park said. He explains that while online communities during the PC era served as extensions of traditional media like letters and newspapers, they began to function as independent societies during the internet age. The rise of smartphones brought yet another transformation.

“The key difference between the internet era and the smartphone era was the level of closeness to everyday life. Compared to older users, new users — ‘newbies’ — quickly became more immersed in online communities,” Park observed. “Statistics show that the number of smartphone newbies is overwhelming, and their influence over older users continues to grow. This shift has created an ongoing conflict, where those who view the internet as a tool clash with those who see it as an integral part of their social lives.”

″Online Community, Society of Souls″ by Park Hyun-soo published by Galmuri Publications [GALMURI]

Fueling polarization

As Korean online communities grow more diverse, they’ve also become more polarized, with users often reinforcing their own views through interactions with like-minded people. This phenomenon, known as the “homophily effect,” is intensified by frequent communication within these forums, according to experts.

“In general, online communities are spaces where people with shared interests or experiences congregate. This strengthens agreement within the group and excludes opposing viewpoints, widening the gap between different groups,” said Bae Young, a professor of information sociology at Pohang University of Science and Technology (Postech). “The atmosphere is naturally centered on agreement on the same ideas, and the exclusion of other ideas or other values is reinforced, so the differences of opinion with other groups are expanded, and polarization increases in this process.”

The stark contrast in responses to recent social and political issues among different online communities highlights this polarization. For instance, forums dominated by male users and those frequented by female users showed vastly different reactions to the recent deepfake pornography scandal in Korea, with little dissent within each group.

The rise of smartphones, with their emphasis on short, sensational content, has worsened this issue, said Suh Yi-jong, a professor of sociology at Seoul National University.

“The decline in political diversity is due to the mobile nature of how people use the internet,” said Suh Yi-jong, professor of sociology at Seoul National University. “The mobile is short and limited in scope. Longer sentences could be written on online communities, but younger people don’t want to read long texts anymore. In the mobile setting, you only see the customized news that you ‘need’ as decided by the algorithms, and you form a bias. Even if you have a critical mind and try to have a different discourse, it's not easy because the algorithm drives it. Alternatives are lost and pushed to one side.”

A technology company employee downloads the newly unveiled Threads app on a mobile phone in July 2023. Threads is a text-based social media app launched by Meta. Many online communities in Korea are text-based, with a number of them offering image and video posts as well. [EPA/YONHAP]

Echo chambers and impact on democracy

This phenomenon, where users encounter only information that aligns with their worldview, creates echo chambers — digital spaces where participants’ preexisting ideas are amplified without challenge. Such echo chambers pose serious risks to democratic discourse.

“Rather than fostering meaningful discussion and debate, online communities often form cliques where people continue to point fingers at those with opposing views,” Suh explained. “This fuels sensationalism, populism, and the deterioration of civil society.”

“The deepening of political polarization not only intensifies the election competition, but also easily causes policy decisions centered on the support base,” said Yoo Sung-jin, a professor of political science at Ewha Womans University.

“Competition in elections is inevitable, but it shouldn't be repeatedly intensified after the election. Since the election competition and the subsequent governance are different, it is natural that we need to listen to the interests of all voters, but the reality is that we are not doing so. It is unfortunate that this tendency seems to be intensifying recently. It is because unilateral decisions and compliance are forced instead of active explanations and discussions about policies.”

Users at a ″PC bang,″ a type of internet cafe or gaming center, are seen at an establishment in Dongjak District, southern Seoul, on Sept. 14, 2020. [YONHAP]

Future of online communities

As Korea’s online communities evolve, experts believe AI will play an increasingly prominent role, potentially deepening polarization. “AI technologies that gather data and drive algorithms will further change the social media landscape, including online communities,” Suh said. “There’s a risk that AI could worsen polarization by tailoring content even more specifically to individual users.”

While legal and policy measures could help mitigate these effects, Suh also questions whether algorithms designed to keep users on websites longer are beneficial in the long term. “There are legal regulations prohibiting certain behaviors, but if the goal is to increase short-term engagement, it could ultimately be detrimental to long-term site visits.”

Both Yoo and Bae stress the need for more forums that encourage open, deliberative discussion as a solution to polarization. “If ideological and political polarization continues unchecked, expectations for online communities as public forums will diminish,” Bae said. “We need spaces where people can engage in thoughtful debate and recognize the seriousness of polarization.”

As the influence of online communities continues to grow, Korea faces a critical challenge: fostering healthy discourse in an increasingly fragmented digital world.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]