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246 Sunny Yoon

Internet users in the context of their subculture. Young Koreans, or
“Generation X,” use the Internet while being affected by dominant
symbolic power and, at the same time, exercising resistance to the
dominant and imminent power of the older generation. In reality,
however, they are the minority group. They are not only at the
margin of capitalist power, but also at the margin of symbolic
power. Examining the process of encouraging young Koreans to
take up the Internet will demonstrate the way symbolic power is
exercised in the virtual world system. The Internet offers a course
of cultivating the habitus of the new generation that relies on sym-
bolic power. It provides legitimate guidelines for how to talk, be-
have and even think in the virtual world system. By stimulating
the distinctive taste of Western culture, the Internet integrates
people at the very margin into the virtual world system.

Korean Journalism: Leading the Internet Movement
Since March 1996, the Korean newspaper industry has been led
through competition to disseminating information about the Inter-
net and its use to the younger generation. Joong-Ang Daily started
to organize the IIE (The Internet in Education) movement on the
3rd of March, one day prior to Chosun Daily’s starting its Kidnet
2
movement. Joong-Ang’s plan was to establish the Internet infra-
structure in junior and high schools, whereas Chosun attempted to
disseminate the Internet among elementary school students. Later,
Dong-A Daily also organized IYC (The Internet Youth Camp) for col-
lege students.
By mobilizing these social movements devoted to Internet use,
Korean newspaper companies have promoted social support of the
Internet among students. Companies encourage support from pri-
vate companies and public agencies as well as volunteers. Kidnet of
Chosun Daily seems to evoke both considerable impact and contro-
versy because children are the target of the movement. Kidnet is
connected to the Global Youth Network, which originated in the US.
Chosun attempts to support introducing computer hardware and
network systems in elementary schools by encouraging financial
support from private companies. It also organizes volunteers who
can teach Internet skills to grade school students. In addition,
Chosun Daily has designed many ceremonial occasions for Kidnet.
Joong-Ang Daily also has diverse plans for IIE. It has selected
sixty middle and high schools, and promotes support from public and