VANK
Encyclopedia
VANK, an acronym for Voluntary Agency Network of Korea, is a non-governmental South Korean organization made up of 16,000 volunteers, including 1,000 youth members and 5,000 foreign members. According to its website, VANK consists of elementary, middle and high school students who "provide correct information about Korea to international textbook publishing companies and publishers". It was started in 1998 by Park Ki-tae and a group of 300 young students concerned about the "distorted" image non-Koreans had of Korea. It was originally founded as an international pen pal
organization.
, and about Jikji
, the world's oldest extant book printed using movable metal type.
VANK insisting that the website rectify its "error" in using the name, such as the CIA World Factbook, for posting "mistakes or inappropriate expressions" about Korea, including using geographic names, Korean history. The head of the Voluntary Agency Network of Korea said the organization has corrected hundreds of mistaken statements by foreign governments about South Korea.
In 2002, Japanese internet users sent numerous large-capacity e-mail bomb
s to VANK members almost everyday. Japanese also sent numerous threatening e-mails to VANK members, such as "I will kill you," "Bombing at South Korea".
In 2005, Google Earth
's decision to use the name "East Sea" instead of Sea of Japan
in their online maps led to widespread news coverage in Japan
, including a profile in the Asahi Shimbun
. In response, a Japanese website posted guidelines on how to write an English-language letter of protest to Google, and how to attack VANK's website; they were quoted as stating, "We must fight against VANK ... We lost our sea, but this does not mean a defeat. This is only the beginning". Japanese visitors flooded VANK’s homepage, paralyzing the site. Though it is undergoing a checkup, some of the documents have been destroyed. The Chosun Ilbo also reported that an insulting graphic was also inserted onto their front page.
In 2008, after Mao Asada
of Japan won a come-from-behind victory against Kim Yu-Na in a figure skating GP final, a Japanese Web site called 2ch
, Japan's largest online community where members often espouse nationalist views, apparently helped some of its members target VANK online. It has posted online instructions that could be used to hack into VANK's homepage. They teach how to coordinate cyber-attacks and shut down the Korean group's computer servers. VANK were forced to cut off all access to their website from outside of Korea as a result.
Japanese users often target VANK and their members by vandalism, hacking and a denial-of-service attack by Japanese internet activists.
organization but VANK’s mission no longer involves friendly exchange. Instead, its members scour Web sites for “errors” about Korea, then barrage violators with protest e-mails. For instance, VANK wages a continual campaign to change the name of the Sea of Japan to the East Sea. “We are aware that some people criticize us as nothing but nationalists who give one-sided facts to foreigners. But it is a misconception,” says Park Gi-Tae, VANK’s founder and director. Korea’s government encourages this cyber-vigilantism. The Korean Information Service (KOIS), the government’s public affairs branch, sponsors contests to hunt down foreign Web sites that have “incorrect” content about South Korea.
spokesman, relating his company's decision to use the name "East Sea" to refer to the body of water, stated that they chose to use the name "not necessarily because it agreed with the South Korean geography activists but because the e-mail bombardment was annoying." It was reported in the Asia Times Online
that they received as many as 20 e-mails per day regarding this issue from VANK.
Pen pal
Pen pals are people who regularly write to each other, particularly via postal mail.-Purposes:A penpal relationship is often used to practice reading and writing in a foreign language, to improve literacy, to learn more about other countries and life-styles, and to make friendships...
organization.
Activities
VANK describes themselves as cyber diplomats who want build up friendship with foreign friends by exchanging sincere letters and sharing dream and visions before promoting Korea. They share friendships with foreigners. Young Koreans are volunteering to share their sincere friendship via the internet with those interested in their nation. In addition, one of their goals is to provide information about Korea and Korean history, culture. Examples of campaigns they have conducted include spreading information about the ancient kingdom of GoguryeoGoguryeo
Goguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
, and about Jikji
Jikji
Jikji is the abbreviated title of a Korean Buddhist document, whose title can be translated "Anthology of Great Buddhist Priests' Zen Teachings". Printed during the Goryeo Dynasty in 1377, it is the world's oldest extant movable metal print book...
, the world's oldest extant book printed using movable metal type.
VANK insisting that the website rectify its "error" in using the name, such as the CIA World Factbook, for posting "mistakes or inappropriate expressions" about Korea, including using geographic names, Korean history. The head of the Voluntary Agency Network of Korea said the organization has corrected hundreds of mistaken statements by foreign governments about South Korea.
Attack by Japanese internet users
VANK is an often target of attack by Internet users in Japan.In 2002, Japanese internet users sent numerous large-capacity e-mail bomb
E-mail bomb
In Internet usage, an email bomb is a form of net abuse consisting of sending huge volumes of email to an address in an attempt to overflow the mailbox or overwhelm the server where the email address is hosted in a denial-of-service attack....
s to VANK members almost everyday. Japanese also sent numerous threatening e-mails to VANK members, such as "I will kill you," "Bombing at South Korea".
In 2005, Google Earth
Google Earth
Google Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program that was originally called EarthViewer 3D, and was created by Keyhole, Inc, a Central Intelligence Agency funded company acquired by Google in 2004 . It maps the Earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite...
's decision to use the name "East Sea" instead of Sea of Japan
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
in their online maps led to widespread news coverage in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, including a profile in the Asahi Shimbun
Asahi Shimbun
The is the second most circulated out of the five national newspapers in Japan. Its circulation, which was 7.96 million for its morning edition and 3.1 million for its evening edition as of June 2010, was second behind that of Yomiuri Shimbun...
. In response, a Japanese website posted guidelines on how to write an English-language letter of protest to Google, and how to attack VANK's website; they were quoted as stating, "We must fight against VANK ... We lost our sea, but this does not mean a defeat. This is only the beginning". Japanese visitors flooded VANK’s homepage, paralyzing the site. Though it is undergoing a checkup, some of the documents have been destroyed. The Chosun Ilbo also reported that an insulting graphic was also inserted onto their front page.
In 2008, after Mao Asada
Mao Asada
is a Japanese figure skater.She is the 2010 Winter Olympic silver medalist, the 2008 & 2010 World champion, the 2008 & 2010 Four Continents champion, a two-time Grand Prix Final champion, the 2005 World Junior champion, the 2004–2005 Junior Grand Prix Final champion and a four-time Japanese...
of Japan won a come-from-behind victory against Kim Yu-Na in a figure skating GP final, a Japanese Web site called 2ch
2CH
2CH is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia, at 1170 kHz AM. It broadcasts an oldies format, and is aimed to an older age demographic...
, Japan's largest online community where members often espouse nationalist views, apparently helped some of its members target VANK online. It has posted online instructions that could be used to hack into VANK's homepage. They teach how to coordinate cyber-attacks and shut down the Korean group's computer servers. VANK were forced to cut off all access to their website from outside of Korea as a result.
Japanese users often target VANK and their members by vandalism, hacking and a denial-of-service attack by Japanese internet activists.
Donation
The VANK is an independent non-governmental and private organisation. They state that they do not receive money from any organisation or corporation, and are run by donation only. However the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of South Korea also donates to VANK. VANK has received monetary support from the South Korean government; however, the amount has been decreased in recent years, from 80 million won in 2006 to 30 million won in 2008. VANK is not controlled by the Korean Government. VANK was originally an international pen palPen pal
Pen pals are people who regularly write to each other, particularly via postal mail.-Purposes:A penpal relationship is often used to practice reading and writing in a foreign language, to improve literacy, to learn more about other countries and life-styles, and to make friendships...
organization but VANK’s mission no longer involves friendly exchange. Instead, its members scour Web sites for “errors” about Korea, then barrage violators with protest e-mails. For instance, VANK wages a continual campaign to change the name of the Sea of Japan to the East Sea. “We are aware that some people criticize us as nothing but nationalists who give one-sided facts to foreigners. But it is a misconception,” says Park Gi-Tae, VANK’s founder and director. Korea’s government encourages this cyber-vigilantism. The Korean Information Service (KOIS), the government’s public affairs branch, sponsors contests to hunt down foreign Web sites that have “incorrect” content about South Korea.
Criticism
An About.comAbout.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
spokesman, relating his company's decision to use the name "East Sea" to refer to the body of water, stated that they chose to use the name "not necessarily because it agreed with the South Korean geography activists but because the e-mail bombardment was annoying." It was reported in the Asia Times Online
Asia Times Online
Asia Times Online is a bilingual English‒Chinese, Internet-based newspaper covering geopolitics, politics, economics and business "from an Asian perspective"...
that they received as many as 20 e-mails per day regarding this issue from VANK.