hankyoreh

High school student Yoo Han-byeol attempted a routine download of a tutorial video clip for the College Scholastic Ability Test from Gangnam district office’s web site on March 26, but failed. He discovered the tutorial‘s web broadcasting service was not operable under Microsoft’s latest version of its Internet browser, Internet Explorer 8 (IE8), which Yoo installed on his personal computer on March 19 upon hearing the version is faster and complied with Internet standards.

A 43-year-old chief executive of a software company, who is only identified by a surname of Kim, faced a similar hurdle when he attempted to access the Public Procurement Service‘s (PPS) Web site to confirm the bidding results for a project for Web standards. Kim was unable to confirm the results because the government agency’s electronic procurement system, “Nara Jangteo (KONEPS),” was not available within the Internet Explorer 8 environment. In a notice posted on its Web site on March 20, the PPS advised people “to use Internet Explorer 6 or 7 because the ActiveX function can‘t be used at Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 8.”

There have been a number of similar cases where web sites are not displayed or working correctly with the new IE8 browser including Hometax, a Web-based tax service offered by the National Tax Service and an online educational administration system, NEIS, offered by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. 1.8 million visitors access the NEIS, or New Education Information System. Korea Post‘s Web site, a government-run postal agency’s online banking and insurance service, has also been reported as incompatible with IE8.

Difficulties with this latest version of Microsoft‘s Internet browser has dealt an embarrassing blow to the South Korean government, which has promoted the Microsoft product as providing a unique and ubiquitous environment on the Internet.

Due to security factors, analysts suggest it is common sense that people should use latest versions of an Internet browser when they are released. Given a unique situation in South Korea, where interoperability is integrated through ActiveX, Microsoft adjusted the timing of the worldwide launch of IE8 accordingly. But, troubles are occurring again similar to those with the launch of Window’s Vista operation system. ActiveX, a security program, runs only in Microsoft‘s Internet Explorer. Unlike other countries, most users in South Korea are forced to use ActiveX, making it difficult for them to currently use other browsers.

The Korea unit of Microsoft is taking gradual steps to resolve the ActiveX-related problems at government ministries and local government offices. “We can’t simultaneously upgrade operating services with the new browser in all government service offices,” said an official at Microsoft Korea. “At first, we are working on interoperability at property registration services at the Supreme Court, and on issues of resident registration documents at the Ministry of Public Administration and Security.” So far, about 80 percent of some 200 government-run Internet services have secured interoperability, but the work has been done at a relatively slower pace for Web sites with the most frequent visitors.

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