Korean "Netizens" - Will the Hate Comments End?

          You don't have to be a certain race to be able to post a hate comment. But in fact, Koreans are the best at neglecting their mental filters and it has resulted in irrevocable consequences.

            South Korea has the highest suicide rate in the world. There are numerous causes, of course, but it's true that one of them is unfortunately, the hate comments that are posted on blogs and cafe (just a Korean website, basically) posts. It's not that if you have a blog on a Korean site, you will receive hate comments no matter what, but they're so common. They're common because on these blogs and cafes, you have the option of posting anonymously, which you may find weird, because, that option is available on some American websites as well. But, at least in my opinion, Koreans tend to be very expressive of their opinions and by that, I mean they can extremely blunt. They say what they want to say, and it's done. No fluffing it up or using soft diction. 

         Many of these face-less, name-less bullies online have been one of the causes to suicide. The funny thing is, of course celebrities are targeted more, but just everyday people are targeted just as much. It's incredible how far they can go. Naver has created a page where you can comment your condolences to the victims and families of the victims of the Sewol Ferry incident, but instead of condolences, some were commenting their criticisms about the government. Seriously? Why?? Go do that on your own blog or something, tweet about it on your own twitter, use that freedom of speech right, but not on a place specifically for giving your condolences. There are other ways to express your opinions and feelings.

        Wait, let me back up, so I said to exercise your freedom of speech, but not at the expense of other peoples' right to feel secure. If you're thinking these Korean "netizens" (Korean net citizens, so people who are active on the Internet) post death threats, you are wrong. That's just children's games. Many, but not all, Koreans go to the extent of unleashing such horrific profanity that if they were to be translated into English, it wouldn't be possible, because no English word is as harsh as the Korean profanity word is. 

        Koreans have been aware of this craze with the hate comments being posted, and the result of too many victims. But honestly, I've seen a bunch of campaigns to pledge to only post nice comments, however, there has been no apparent change. Maybe anonymous comment posting should be outlawed altogether. But I feel like expressive netizens would post on, with their identities revealed, anyway.  



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