{"id":2198948,"date":"2022-09-14T09:10:39","date_gmt":"2022-09-14T09:10:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nknews.org\/koreapro\/?p=2198948"},"modified":"2023-11-20T19:06:25","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T10:06:25","slug":"fast-internet-speeds-cant-save-south-koreas-terrible-websites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2022\/09\/fast-internet-speeds-cant-save-south-koreas-terrible-websites\/","title":{"rendered":"Fast internet speeds can\u2019t save South Korea\u2019s terrible websites"},"content":{"rendered":"
South Korea may be famous for its <\/span>fast internet speeds<\/span><\/a> and high levels of <\/span>technological innovation<\/span><\/a>, but a visit to government and corporate websites suggests that, at least when it comes to online infrastructure, the country remains firmly stuck in the past.<\/span><\/p>\n Not only do many of these websites look like they were designed decades ago, but many impose archaic security requirements unique to Korea that can be time-consuming to implement and even make use impossible, particularly for foreigners.<\/span><\/p>\n Even more worrisome, the security and web standards that Korean websites utilize deviate significantly from well-tested global norms and can pose additional risks to users.<\/span><\/p>\n All of this is a problem as foreign interest in South Korea and its culture continue to rise, projecting an image befitting the country\u2019s historical moniker of a Hermit Kingdom rather than that of a G20 nation. And if nothing much changes, it could very well hinder Seoul\u2019s ambitions to attract investment, immigrants and foreign tourists and position itself as a \u201cglobal pivotal state.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n FRICTION AT THE FIRST<\/b><\/p>\n Beyond just <\/span>outdated design norms<\/span><\/a>, a range of issues plague South Korean websites and online services, especially relating to creating accounts, security certificates and general website security.<\/span><\/p>\n When it comes to creating accounts, most government websites, financial service providers and online retailers require new users to confirm their identity through a combination of official ID records, banking information and\/or cell phone provider information.<\/span><\/p>\n Foreigners regularly encounter problems<\/span><\/a> when they have to verify their name against the national ID card database. New users often must try <\/span>multiple iterations<\/span><\/a> of their first, middle and last names in different orders to get a match, while dashes in names and spaces between names can also cause problems.<\/span><\/p>\n In other cases, websites require users to link their account to a phone number or bank account that matches their migration records. This can lead to problems, such as in foreign business environments where one expat receives a company device or SIM card not in their name from another staffer. Even if the phone or bank account is in their name, it still must match the format in <\/span>HiKorea<\/span><\/a> immigration records.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While some platforms skip these verification steps, in many cases services are only in Korean, making use difficult for many foreigners residing in South Korea.<\/span><\/p>\n