This paper investigates various factors that have fostered a wide range of Internet connection and facilitated rapid diffusion of broadband in South Korea as it describes what made South Korea the most successful case for broadband Internet diffusion. It also discusses the impact of broadband diffusion on the digital divide.
This research delves into documenting and describing the path South Korea has traversed in terms of achieving a high penetration rate of broadband diffusion. The factors contributing to the diffusion consist of policy and market factors in which the government and private sector are the main actors, respectively. Each factor is described separately, followed by a general description of the current status, a brief history of the diffusion process, and the characteristics of South Korean’s Internet usage pattern. The interaction of these various aspects has resulted in a boost in Internet penetration.
This paper also discusses the digital divide in South Korea from the perspective of the diffusion of broadband. Broadband is a necessary condition for achieving digital information faster and easier. However, since broadband use is heavily concentrated in urban areas, this limited diffusion of broadband causes digital divide problems. Therefore, the digital divide in South Korea should be re-examined from the perspective of the expansion of broadband.