hankyoreh

The Korean-language Internet is overflowing with comments about the abduction of Koreans by the Taliban. This is only natural since the situation is something that concerns the whole country, but the problem is that the response is largely irrational and malicious. Many suggest that the government does not need to try to save people who put themselves in danger, while many others are suggesting that Korea should take revenge on the Taliban. Bursts of hate are problematic enough, but there is also the danger that it will lead to misrepresentations of Korean public opinion in the world. If that happens, it will only make resolving the situation more difficult.

Misrepresentations are already happening to some degree. Several days ago it was discovered that something about the activities of Koreans in Afghanistan, found on someone’s personal homepage, was spreading over the Internet after have been deliberately distorted in translation. You also hear talk of how video clips of Korean Christians and their activities overseas are spreading on foreign video sharing websites. Things like these risk giving birth to prejudice when they are conveyed in fragments without any context. Things like these could spread and get reproduced in the foreign news media since the world is watching Korea because of the kidnapping.

Information spreads over the Internet so fast it makes borders irrelevant. Talk among Koreans is no longer “our little secret.” There is nothing that can be done after talk that is emotional or uncontrolled is distorted or exaggerated and starts to spread. Korea is not an isolated island.

That is what makes the negative comments and other responses about this kidnapping all the more worrisome. Malicious comments not only push out the serious and thoughtful ones, but are also expressions of reckless hate. Most are expressions of hate towards Korean Christianity, but no small number of comments express hate towards the kidnappers. The people writing these malicious comments may enjoy relieving their pent up emotions, but hate spreads hate as if it were contagious. The vicious cycle of infectious hate eats away at people’s good disposition and makes the whole of society sick.

It is time for the silent majority to exhibit civic consciousness so that the Internet is not filled with hate. Let us have our society show some mature and sober civic consciousness so that this situation, which has the whole country in a state of shock, can be resolved. We believe it would also assist with the safe return of the 22 hostages. Thoughtful people need to act.


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