ABSTRACT
A Study on Internet Election and Political
Participation
-Focused on the Millenium Democratic Party's 2002 Primary Race
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The Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Commnunication |
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Lee, Eun Young |
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Public Relations |
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The Graduate School of Masscommunication |
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Yonsei University |
The internet is expanding extremely fast without. This study strives
to provide insight in the political reformation powered by the participation
of internet election that may be able to secure the understanding
and participation of the whole country and realize democracy in
Korea. To guide our future through the new political reformation,
we will examine the existing problems of internet election in As
there are no theoretical basis to achieve the goals of this study,
we try to look in to references regarding 'Electronic Democracy'
and internet election. The study has also positively analyzed Millenium
Democratic Party's the internet Primary Race results which was held
from April 18th to April 26th 2002.
The summary of this positive analysis are as follow: First, internet
is already a part of our everyday life.
Second, political participation through internet is yields high
participation.
Third, the demeanor of the press is an important factor for in
the participation of the internet election.
Fourth, the prospect of internet election is most positive. Fifth,
the difficulty of the internet election process doesn't have much
effect on the participation rate.
Sixth, preparation of security systems or certification systems
are needed to prevent the extrusion of any personal information
or hacking. The surveys shows that the internet is a media that
has the characteristics of holding, deviation and interest. Additionally,
the internet is not limited to time and place, unlike other media,
which is a characteristic that can lessen the void votes and increase
the participation rate. Especially, the internet election is expected
to increase the participation of young people who are familiar to
the use of the internet.
In the current antinomy, where the desire of the people for political
participation increases as the low voting rate shows political indifference,
internet election might be an alternative system that could increase
the current political participation rate.
As the internet election is not a form familiar to people, there
are still some problems to solve. Those problems include construction
security and certification systems for voters, network equipment
and education of internet beginners, and insurance of freedom and
fairness of internet election.
Accordingly, we suggest to promote the following social environment
to fully utilize internet voting:
First, an effective communication system must be structured. Second,
a national education program about internet election must be implemented.
Third, law and systems regarding internet election must be revised
in order to prevent any ill effects.
Though the patent system assisted the development of science technology
by guaranteeing the exclusive rights and profits, it was accompanied
by ill effects of collisions of those rights and profits. Accordingly,
to effectively implement internet election, a systematic installation
is needed to effectively implement internet election and a preparation
plan is required to prevent any other side effects such as monopoly
of information, drop of political efficiency, and disproportion
of participation.
Key Word : Internet Voting, Electronic Democracy, Political
Participation
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