random post #5 – On Being a Linux User in Korea

Korea takes pride in being an ‘IT Powerhouse’. Korea DOES have one of the best internet infrastructures in the World. Korea does have global IT companies, such as Samsung. I, until recently, thought that this was true. Recently, however, ever since switching to Lubuntu from Windows 7, my thoughts began to change. If anyone, the government should be responsible to make their services available for everyone, on every platform. However, the computing environment of Korea is polluted with government-backed monopoly. Web standards, and the Idea of ‘Open’, or ‘Free’ software is something that is forgotten in Korea, much to the sacrifice of Mac and Linux users. Let’s look at some of such monopolies, and which companies are involved in them.

The first company that controls Korea is Microsoft. The web environment created in Korea, backed by the government, is nearly impossible to use on any other platform than Windows. Active X controls are necessary for almost everything. Banking, Government services, etc are only accessible through the use of Active X controls, as well as the security programs that the services require you to install. Also, the means of personal verification on the Korean web, the online ‘certificate’, only works on Windows. This practice causes significant problems. Korea is refusing to comply to web standards. This especially becomes a problem when you are a Linux user. Active x controls, and the required programs cannot be used in Linux. Already, many Korean Linux users are expressing their frustration over the security practices of the Korean Web.

Another corporation that controls the Korean computing world, is Haansoft. Haansoft created the Haansoft word processor, and its own format, hwp. .HWP files are nearly impossible to open on Linux. On Windows, Haansoft offers viewers, as well as supported versions of their word processor. On Mac, and on Linux, however, Haansoft does not provide free viewers. Though they do distribute their word processor on Mac, users need to pay in order to view HWP files. This is even more serious on Linux. Haansoft’s word processor is installable on linux. However, it is no longer supported, and was never meant to be installed on the more popular linux Platforms, such as Debian, Ubuntu, or on modern versions fo Fedora. This means that users have to search for ways to install the Word Processor, even after buying their legitimate copy. In recent versions of Ubuntu, it is very difficult to install the word processor. The biggest problem with the HWP file format is that it is one of the most popular document formats in Korea. In fact, the Korean government offers government papers in HWP format, which makes it impossible for most linux users to view government documents. The frustration of the Linux users about the HWP file format is huge. It is nearly beyond description. Though you can install the windows version of the HWP viewer, or the Word processor via Wine, wine is often unable to process certain large, photo-ridden files. The only viable alternative left to Linux users, then, is to install windows on a virtual PC, which would bring them back to the grasps of Microsoft. Therefore, it becomes nearly impossible to work with the government unless you are working on Windows.

The Korean government is fostering a monopoly. This is a practice that must come to an end. As for compliance with Web standards, it can be taken gradually, but in the end, Korea must discard its own security measures, based on the Windows platform, and move towards SSL, the standard security method that is accepted by all browsers on all platforms. As for the HWP file format, the format should either be bought by the government and turned into the Public Domain, or be discarded along with the Active X controls from government usage. Only then would Korea become a internationally recognized IT powerhouse, and only then, would Korea become a safe place to live as a non-windows user.

Yeah. I am an Ubuntu user. Though I do use LXDE over Unity as my DE.