Kpopclick
-everything to know about korea’s most popular Internet portals
1. cyworld
https://cyworld.com
What it is: South Korea’s most popular social networking site.
How it works: Cyworld is literally a cyber world-the user has a persona (“mini-me”) and lives in a “mini-room.” His address is a mini-homepage (“mini-hompy”) that also has a personal profile, diary, photo album, bulletin board, and message board options. Dotori (Korean for ‘acorn’) is used to buy virtual goods. Cyworld thrives on popularity, which is ranked according to fame, friendliness, karma, kindness, and sexiness.
Celebrity users: Most celebs use Cyworld for promotion, from Epik High’s Tablo (www.cyworld.com/tablo) to Brown Eyed Girl’s Narsha (www.cyworld.com/hjddabong)
Other side of the world: Daum’s version is planet (https://planet.daum.net)
2. me2day
https://me2day.net
What it is: A micro-blogging site that allows users to post text up to 150 characters. Users can also have linked posts to photos, videos, music, and other sites.
Looks like: Twitter
Most popular celebrity: 2NE1’s Sandara Park (https://me2day.net/21dara) regularly posts about her daily activities through quirky photos and funny captions.
3. naver
https://www.naver.com
What it is: A comprehensive search engine.
Other features: Happybean, an online donation portal linked to civil and welfare organizations and charities; and Jr Naver, an online entertainment site for kids.
Looks like: Google, Yahoo
Did you know: Naver = navigate + “er”
4. gmarket
https://www.gmarket.co.kr
What it is: An online auction and shopping mall site with merchandise ranging from collectibles to soon-to-be-launched items. Buyers and sellers are rated through a feedback system.
Looks like: eBay
Famous endorsers: Lee Hyori, BIGBANG’s G-Dragon
Did you know: A man once offered up his kidneys for auction?
5. daum
https://www.daum.net
what it is: A searcg engine with free web-based email and messaging, news shopping, and a Daum Café.
Grouped sign up: DBSK (soul48), BIGBANG (YGBIGBANG) and 2PM (2PM)
Did you know: In Korea, “Internet café” refers to an online forum?
credit: Sparkling Magazine