http://global.cyworld.com/docs/serviceIntro01
create mini-home of your own on global.cyworld
Launched in 1999,[6]
Cyworld was purchased by SK Communications in 2003[1]and became one of the first[4] companies to profit from the sale of virtual goods.[2]
 | |
| Web address | cyworld.co.kr (Korea) cyworld.com.cn (China) |
|---|---|
| Type of site | Social network service |
The idea for Cyworld was born in August 1999 by the ‘EC club’, a club in KAISTtechno graduate school that took on online business transactions. The club members got the idea to create a social networking website while discussing topics for a research project. Though most club members abandoned the project after graduation, Dong-Hyung Lee remained to pursue the project, taking the role of CEO from December 1999.[11]
The word 'cy' is a Korean word which means ‘between people’ underlining the networking aspect of the website and connoting a close relation between the website users. However, most misinterpret ‘cy’ as an abbreviation for ‘cyber’ due to its fortis; ‘sai’ corresponds to a more accurate pronunciation of a Korean word for ‘between.’[11]
The original nature of the term 'cy' demonstrates Dong-Hyung Lee's vision for the site. He wanted to create an Internet community that allowed people to form close relationships rather than an Internet community where people seek information for business prospects.
The co-founder and former CEO of Cyworld, Dong-hyung Lee
The CEO of Cyworld Dong-Hyung Lee was appointed as the general manager of theCyworld department and he moved on to be the CEO of Cyworld Japan.
Cyworld at its early stages was quite different from that of today. It was a website that showed a list of members from the same hometown or school.[11] The address book for each member was updated automatically according to the personal information that the members were asked to fill out.[12] It was not a cyber space where people could express themselves but rather a website that allowed people to gain means of contact so members could meet offline. Cyworld at its early stages was far from successful, once at a deficit of 1.5 billion won.[11]
The "Cy" in Cyworld could mean "cyber" but is also a pun on the Korean word for relationship (Hangul: 사이 'between').[1]
Revenue is generated through the sale of dotori (Hangul: 도토리), or acorns,[4]which can then be used to purchase virtual goods,[2] such as background music, pixelated furniture, and virtual appliances.[1]
Members cultivate relationships by forming Ilchon (Hangul: 일촌, Hanja: 一寸) or "friendships" with each other through their minihompy.
Avatars and "mini-rooms",[1] small, decorate-able, apartment-like spaces in anisometric projection,[2] also feature. All of this can make for a The Sims-like experience.[3]
Cyworld (Hangul: 싸이월드) is a South Korean social network service operated by SK Communications (Hangul: SK커뮤니케이션즈),[1] a subsidiary of SK Telecom (Hangul: SK텔레콤).
------quote;
To identify the term ‘Networked Individualism’, I want to introduce the biggest and the most significant social networking site in Korea called “Cyworld” as an example of ‘networked individualism’
If you want to go to see example of mini-homepage click here; Kim, Yuna’s mini homepage
“Cyworld” is the very example of the pioneer, which opened up the new era of ‘networked individualism’ in Korea. Simply it is the web based individual mini- homepage service for Korean internet users. It is so much in common with Facebook in a way of personal space on the World Wide Web.
Main page for choosing templates and other options
When you log in you can see this info page for your personal mini-homepage
In 1999, Cyworld was created by one small web programming company. The founder and also the former CEO of Cyworld, Dong Hyung, Lee said that he saw the desire of people who wanted to express their individual identity to the world of internet and also he realized every person has desire to be seen, and recognized by others. Before Cyworld, Korean social networking sites were mostly ‘group’ oriented platforms such as ‘…club’ or ‘….café’ existing under the huge portals. There was also another individual homepage service called “Netian”, but it couldn’t fully satisfy the vanity of people, who wanted more attention from more people. So he wanted to create the easiest, and also the most user-friendly homepage service for those who want their own space where they can show off their individuality and also create social networking connection between individual mini-homepage through the networking web called ‘IL –Chone’, which is originally comes from the word indicating the closest relationship between family members within family tree. Even though people mostly use the Cyworld mini- homepage to maintain existing relationship, you can also create further relationship through ‘Il Chone wave’ , which function as ‘adding mutual friends system’ in Facebook. The most important aspect of Cyworld to be called the example of networked individualism is that Cyworld users can make their own mini- homepage by choosing its millions of existing templates and texts, as well as avartar and music options. Using its existing source people can express their own identity through their mini homepage. I believe that every Korean who use internet has mini-homepage on Cyworld, including entertainers, celebrities and even politicians. They use Cyworld mini-homepage for their personal promotions and space for communication with fans. Cyworld gave significant impact on the Internet to change the Korean internet society away from groups and towards networked individualism. This change is not only occurring at the interpersonal level but at the organizational, interorganizational and even the national systems levels.
However the monster social networking site Cyworld is now waned in influence. Cyworld is surely the greatest tool for ‘networked individualism’ however, its characteristic as ‘private intercasting’ doesn’t satisfy people’s new need of ‘public broadcasting’ power, which Twitter and Blog have. In other words networked individual wants to keep their individual identity and freedom but also they want to be known to the world not within Korean network but also global network.
