Daum Likely to Fall Victim to Online Threat

"Let’s give strong warning to Daum Communications. Let’s call up Daum to protest against its policies. Its phone number is 080-677-****.’

An Internet user, who introduced himself or herself as a big fan of Agora (Daum’s bulletin board designed to promote free discussions among users), uploaded a message on the Web site urging Internet users to give warning to Daum yesterday.

The netizen said, “Since Agora was reorganized, postings on the bulletin board are being manipulated. For example, certain postings have been continuously deleted. Internet users have to upload their messages of warning to Daum.”

Daum, a portal site that has been considered as the hotbed of illegal and militant anti-government demonstrators, now faces strong resistance from users.

Experts in the Internet industry say, "Daum has taken advantage of the beef dispute excessively as a chance to expand its business, engaging in imprudent activities, but their imprudence backfired on them."

In accordance with the decision of the Korea Communications Standards Commission, Daum has recently deleted improper postings urging netizens to make threats against companies that run ads in Korea`s major dailies. Also, Daum created new menus to select best postings on Agora, which has been criticized as a "forum without discussion."

Some Agora users called "Agorian" have expressed their strong resistance against Daum’s new policy, saying, “Daum has betrayed us.”

As Daum keeps deleting the "list of companies running ads in conservative dailies," Agorians are uploading new postings of "special homework," which contains phone numbers and e-mail addresses of Daum’s call center, and a map on which the headquarters of Daum is marked.

Until recently, most subtitles of postings on Agora had been "Withdrawal of Myung-bak" or "Overthrow of Myung-bak." Recently, however, new subtitles of "Let’s protest against Daum," "Maybe Daum wants to go to ruin?" and "Let’s attack Daum" have newly emerged.

In her phone interview with the Dong-A Ilbo, Jeong, a graduate student who describes herself as an Agorian, said, “Daum has been considered a "patriot" among Agorians. Suddenly, however, it has been branded as a betrayer.”

In response, Daum said, “It`s not been a long time since we reorganized Agora. We’ll watch the development for the time being. We cannot make immediate changes, despite resistance of netizens.”

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