Websites Blocked in South Korea

The Republic of Korea (ROK) or South Korea has extensive internet censorship. In 2023, South Korea systematically enforced the law for online content blocking on behalf of the Korea Communications Standards Committee and its related orders. The censorship includes the blocking of pro-North Korean websites with some Japanese websites.

In this article, we are going to learn about the websites blocked in South Korea and the laws and motivations behind the ban.

Table of Content

Websites Blocked in South Korea
Websites Blocking and Censorship in South Korea
National Security Act and Website Blocking in South Korea
Agenda Of Blocking Websites in South Korea

Websites Blocked in South Korea

Here is the list of 32 North Korean, US, Australian, Chinese and Japanese websites that are blocked in the Republic of Korea (ROK) or South Korea :

List of Websites Blocked in South Korea
Serial Number	Site Name	Description	Host Location
1	Air Koryo	Website of North Korea’s national airline	North Korea (Pyongyang)
2	Chochong	Website of the League of Korean Youth Living in Japan (재일본조선청년동맹)	Japan (Tokyo) by Nippon Rad
3	Cholsan Patent and Trademark Agency	A Pyongyang-based patent and trademark attorney	North Korea’s IP block on the website of Korea Computer Center
4	Chongryon	Japanese language website of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon)	Japan (Tokyo) by Kai Creates
5	Choson Sinbo	English and Korean language website of Choson Sinbo, a newspaper published by the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon)	Japan (Tokyo) by Usen
6	Elufa	Korean language video portal of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon)	Japan (Tokyo) by Otsuka
7	Faster Korea (Korean Sports Fund)	Multilingual website with information about international sports	North Korea’s IP block by Star JV
8	Friend (Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries)	News, e-books, and information on cultural exchange	North Korea’s IP block by Star JV, on the same server as Naenara
9	Great National Unity (Pyongyang Broadcasting Station [ko])	Korean language website targeted at audiences in South Korea, Japan, and China	North Korea
10	Korea Education Fund	English and Korean language website of a non-governmental organization coordinating support for education	North Korea’s IP block by Star JV
11	Korea Elderly Care Fund	English and Korean language website of a non-governmental organization dedicated to the well-being of the elderly	North Korea’s IP block by Star JV
12	Korea International Film Festival	Official website of the Korea International Film Festival and North Korean film industry	North Korea
13	Korea National Insurance Corporation	Website of North Korea’s state-run insurance company	North Korea (Pyongyang)
14	Korea News Service	Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) news	Japan (Tokyo) by GMO Internet
15	Korea Photo Service (Korea News Service)	Distributes Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) photos	Japan (Tokyo) by Usen
16	Korea Publication	Sells North Korean books, DVDs, and stamps. Run by Beijing Sunyong Scientific Technology Trade company	China (Beijing) by China Telecom
17	Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)	Multilingual website of the main state news agency	North Korea’s IP block by Star JV
18	Korean Dishes	Website of the Korean Association of Cooks. Includes recipes and restaurant reviews	North Korea
19	Koryo PAT Rainbow	Website of a patent and trademark agency	North Korea’s IP block on the website of Korea Computer Center
20	Minjok Tongshin	English and Korean language news	US (Pennsylvania) by 1&1 Internet
21	Naenara (Korea Computer Center)	Multilingual web portal with news, magazines, and music	North Korea’s IP block by Star JV
22	National Democratic Front of South Korea	Korean language news of the National Democratic Front of South Korea’s branch in Japan and English language news of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front, a South Korean underground political group	Dynamic host
23	North Korea Books	Canadian online bookstore selling North Korean books, magazines, and newspapers	US (Andover, Massachusetts) by NaviSite
24	North Korea Tech	Technology blog by British journalist Martyn Williams	US (Provo, Utah) by Bluehost
25	Our Nation School (Kim Il-sung Open University [ko])	Korean language teachings on the Juche idea	China (Shenyang) by China Unicom
26	Pyongyang International Trade Fair	Information on the Pyongyang International Trade Fair	North Korea’s IP block on the website of Korea Computer Center
27	Rodong Sinmun	Website of Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea	North Korea’s IP block by Star JV
28	Ryomyong	Website of the National Reconciliation Council. Contains books and music. The domain is owned by Rio IT Production based in Shenyang, China.	Australia by Net Quadrant
29	Ryugyong Clip	Pyongyang in videos and images	China (Shenyang) by China Unicom
30	Tong Il Han Ma Eum (Association of Peaceful Reunification of the Motherland)	Korean language news of the Association of Peaceful Reunification of the Motherland based in Japan (Tokyo)	Japan (Tokyo) by KDDI
31	Uriminzokkiri	News portal	China (Shenyang) by China Unicom
32	Voice of Korea	Multilingual website of North Korea’s international shortwave broadcaster	North Korea’s IP block by Star JV, on the same server as Naenara

Though the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) does not provide a published list of blocked websites, it does release statistics on the number of websites blocked based on various categories of prohibited content.

Internet Censorship in South Korea

Various laws are used to enforce censorship in South Korea The National Security Act empowers the government to restrict expressions that may be perceived as supportive or provocative toward anti-state entities. It is the misuse of the constitution and government snatched the Freedom of speech of the citizens.

During the time when strict rulers were in charge from 1948 to 1993, people could not freely express themselves.
There was a lot of control over what could be said or written.
Since President Lee Myung-bak started leading in 2008, there has been less freedom for journalists and the public to speak out.
In 2011, South Korea’s rating for press freedom got worse, going from “Free” to “Partly Free” because the government started censoring more news and information.
Under President Moon Jae-in, the government watched people’s internet activity more closely and made laws to control how certain events from the past were talked about.
The government controls what can be said or shown on TV, in newspapers, on the radio, in movies, on the internet, and other places.
While the government says censorship is needed for safety and the good of the public, some people say it stops people from freely expressing themselves.
South Korea does not allow pornographic material, and there’s a law against saying harmful things online, even if nobody complains, which has led to people getting in trouble.

National Security Act

South Korea’s government has controlled media since 1948 through the National Security Act to stop information they see as dangerous from reaching the public. The law was made during unrest between the anti-communist government and the People’s Committee.

It was aimed at North Korean forces, but it expanded to include any group opposing the government.
People can be jailed for up to 7 years for supporting these groups and at least a year for working with them.
Even after South Korea became more democratic in the 1990s, the law is still used.
In 2011, Amnesty International said 90 people were charged under the law, leading to more people being jailed, showing a big increase from 2008.
Amnesty International described the law as a way to silence people who speak out against the government and to stop discussions about North Korea.

Agenda Of Blocking Websites in South Korea

Here are some agendas of the website blocking in South Korea as mentioned below.

Speech and Media

South Korea has a free press, but there are laws under the National Security Law that limit certain expressions.
The law also bans reading books published in North Korea.

Pornography

South Korea bans all types of pornographic materials, including websites, books, films, and photos.
Distributing porn is illegal and can lead to fines or jail time.
The government blocks porn websites to protect children.

Public Libraries

Libraries in South Korea censor topics like sexuality, North Korea, violence, and anti-government materials both online and in their collections.
They also refuse to let people use meeting spaces to talk about these topics.

Military

Certain books are banned in the military, and soldiers are monitored for having critical apps on their smartphones.

Education

People have been punished for criticizing the government or possessing North Korean books.

Internet

South Korea’s internet is not completely free.
The government censors certain websites and controls online content, especially during elections.
They have also arrested people for expressing views online, even on personal blogs or social media.

Music

People can get in trouble for possessing instrumental music titles that the government thinks praise North Korea.
Some songs are also classified as harmful for young people.

Broadcasting

The government regulates TV, radio, and the internet. There are laws against listening to North Korean radio programs at home.
The government has been accused of influencing the media and punishing journalists who criticize the government.

Film

South Korean films are also censored, especially for sexual content.
Certain body parts and extreme violence are not allowed on screen, and films are rated based on age appropriateness.

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FAQs on Websites Blocked in South Korea

Is Internet Banned in South Korea?

No, the internet is not banned in South Korea. South Korea has one of the world’s highest rates of internet penetration and the fastest internet speeds.

What is Restricted in South Korea?

Guns, narcotics, pornography, subversive material, treasonous material, and counterfeit goods are prohibited from entering Korea.

Is WhatsApp Banned in South Korea?

WhatsApp is allowed in South Korea, and most of its population uses this app to communicate with friends and family and even with their colleagues.

Is Google Blocked in South Korea?

South Korean MPs passed a law banning Apple and Google from forcing app developers to use the tech giants’ payment systems, effectively declaring their lucrative App Store and Play Store monopolies illegal.

What do Koreans use instead of Google?

More than 25 million Koreans have Naver as the start page on their default browser and the mobile application has 28 million daily visitors. Naver has also been referred to as ‘the Google of South Korea’.

Is iPhone Not Allowed in South Korea?

Until now, Apple iPhone sales were illegal in South Korea, despite the fact that an overwhelming majority of residents (93 percent of a 48.6 million) subscribe to mobile phone services.

Is VPN Allowed in South Korea?

Yes, using a VPN is legal in South Korea, even though it is notorious for its pervasive internet censorship.

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