ABSTRACT

Korea is a mountainous peninsula, with mountains occupying over 70 percent of the land area. The mountain ridges and the rivers that fl ow through adjacent valleys form a dense network, clearly visible from space, that has shaped Korean culture and patterns of human communication from time immemorial. As long ago as the Chosun Dynasty, smoke and fi re beacons were used to speed communication throughout the nation’s mountainous terrain. Mountains are not just an indelible part of Korea’s physical world, but of her mentality and consciousness as well. The infl uence of mountains is deeply embedded in the emotions, knowledge, beliefs and values of Korea. 3

Today a new, denser set of advanced, digital communication networks weaves its way throughout the southern half of the Korean peninsula. Less visible to the human eye, these fi ber optic, mobile and satellite networks have propelled South Korea from a follower in electronics and telecommunications to a world leader in these fi elds. One new report suggests its broadband networks are half a generation ahead of other countries. 4 Taking into account both fi xed and wireless services, Korea is now the world’s most digitally networked nation. The claim frequently appearing in the media that Korea is one of the most “wired” nations in the world is actually a misnomer, harking back to the day when copper wire was the heart of the public telephone network.