Korean Digital Justice Network
The Digital Justice Network (DJN) (Korean: 디지털정의네트워크), formerly known as the Korean Progressive Network Center (Korean: 진보네트워크센터) or Jinbonet (Korean: 진보넷), is a non-profit ISP and advocacy organization based in South Korea.[1][2] It was launched in 1998, and it joined the Association for Progressive Communications in 2001.[3] DJN provides ICT services including web hosting, mailing lists, and webmail to South Korea's progressive movements, civil society, and workers' unions.[1] DJN advocates for digital rights in the face of corporate and government threats to freedom of speech, artistic freedom, privacy, and access to information.[2]
Founding
[edit]The DJN was created in the aftermath of the 1997 Seoul International Labor Media conference, a three-day, broadcast event held at Yonsei University.[4] During the conference, activists from around the world discussed labor movements in the context of a globalized, networked, and digital era.[5] These activists included members of JCA-NET and the United States and United Kingdom chapters of LaborNet.[6] 'Jinbonet', the first incarnation of the DJN, was not officially launched until the following year.[6]
The DJN initially sought to provide independent network services for progressive communication.[6] Oh Byoung-il, a founding member of the DJN and its current president,[7] argued that an independent network was necessary because "any network of state and capital can easily be transformed into a network of censorship and oppression."[6]
Evolving mission and name change
[edit]Since its initial founding, the DJN has expanded its mission from technology to advocacy. It has challenged the corporate use of resident registration numbers,[8] as well as legislation seeking to erode informed consent,[9] net neutrality,[10] privacy,[11] and other digital rights.[2] It engaged in a five-year campaign against South Korea's Real-Name System, which it considered to be an unconstitutional violation of freedom of expression.[12] This included a 2011 written statement to the United Nations Human Rights Council.[13]
In October, 2025, the DJN changed its name from the Progressive Network Center to the Digital Justice Network in order to "better reflect [its] transformed identity."[14]
Structure
[edit]The DJN has a twelve-member board which includes lawyers, politicians, developers, and journalists.[15] It also has one auditor, a president (Oh Byoung-il), and five listed staff.[15] The DJN is supported by paying members, who are entitled to its ICT services and inclusion in yearly general meetings.[16]
The DJN has collaborated with various external civil society groups in its capacity as an advocacy organization.[9][10][17]
Services
[edit]The DJN has reported that, as of 2010, they provided ICT services for 500 organizations.[2] Their services run on free and open-source software.[18]
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Digital Justice Network". www.apc.org. 1997-01-01. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
- 1 2 3 4 "About Jinbonet". 디지털정의네트워크 (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-06-19.
- ↑ "Jinbonet, 20 years defending internet rights in Korea". Association for Progressive Communications. 2019-02-20. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
- ↑ "[금주의 사이버 화제]민간단체서 첫 인터넷 음성 생중계". 중앙일보 (in Korean). 1997-11-19. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
- ↑ LM, Labor Media (1997), Seoul International Labor Media '97, Seoul: Labor Media (LM), retrieved 2026-06-19
- 1 2 3 4 "Ten years of building progressive social movements in South Korea". www.apc.org. 2008-11-25. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
- ↑ Byoung-il, Oh (2024-02-28). "A Digital Policy Report Card for South Korea". In Feigenbaum, Evan A.; Nelson, Michael R. (eds.). Korea's Path to Digital Leadership: How Seoul Can Lead on Standards and Standardization. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (Report). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ "Change of resident registration numbers sought after leak - The Korea Times". www.koreatimes.co.kr. 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
- 1 2 Young Su, Park; Shroeder, Doris; Drummond, Orla; Ock-Joo, Kim (2026-06-09). "Defending Informed Consent: Civil Society's Victory Against Emergency Research Deregulation in South Korea". Health and Human Rights. 28 (1): 155–166 – via Harvard University.
- 1 2 "Stop 'Paid Prioritization' Bill: Joint Open Letter to President Moon Jae-in | Human Rights Watch". 2021-11-11. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
- ↑ Jacobs, James R. (2011-02-02). "There is no so-called illegal download! (Jinbonet) - Free Government Information (FGI)". freegovinfo.info. Retrieved 2026-06-21.
- ↑ "Victory for freedom of expression in South Korea". www.apc.org. 2012-09-07. Retrieved 2026-06-21.
- ↑ Human Rights Council Session 17 Agenda item 4. Human rights situations that require the Council's attention : written statement / submitted by the Korean Progressive Network "Jinbonet" A/HRC/17/NGO/23 page 2. 2011-05-23. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
- ↑ 디정넷 (2025-10-31). "네트워커 190호". 디지털정의네트워크 (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-06-19.
- 1 2 "Board and Staff". 디지털정의네트워크 (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-06-19.
- ↑ "디지털정의네트워크". 디지털정의네트워크. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
- ↑ "SOUTH KOREA: The authorities' conducts to take DNA samples from those Yongsan displaced persons and SSangyong workers and to establish and use a database containing said samples are constituted the serious violation of the constitutionally protected human". Asian Human Rights Commission. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
- ↑ "Jinbonet: Ten years of commitment, courage and innovation". www.apc.org. 2008-11-12. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
External links
[edit]- (in Korean)Jinbonet