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 Cyworld (Hangul: 싸이월드) is a South Korean social network service operated by SK Communications (Hangul: SK커뮤니케이션즈),[1] a subsidiary of SK Telecom (Hangul: SK텔레콤). Members cultivate relationships by forming Ilchon (Hangul: 일촌, Hanja: 一寸) or "friendships" with each other through their "minihompy" (mini-homepage), which encompasses a photo gallery, video, message board, guestbook, friend list, and personal bulletin board. Users can also have avatars and "mini-rooms",[1][2] small, decorate-able, apartment-like spaces in an isometric projection,[3] all of which makes for a Sims-like experience.[4] The "Cy" in Cyworld could mean "cyber", but is also a play on the Korean word for relationship (Hangul: 사이 'between').[1] Revenue is generated through the sale of Dotori (Hangul: 도토리), or "acorns",[1][3][5] which can then be used to purchase virtual goods,[3] such as background music, pixelated furniture and virtual appliances.[1] Cyworld also has operations in China and Vietnam.[6]
[edit] HistoryLaunched on Sep 1, 1999,[citation needed] Cyworld was purchased by SK Communications in 2003,[1] and became one of the first[5] companies to profit from the sale of virtual goods.[3] Cyworld soon became wildly popular in its home markets, with 2005 claims that practically every South Korean in their 20s[7] and 25 percent of the total population of South Korea[2] were registered users. Its reception in developed, overseas markets did not prove as enthusiastic, and by 2010 Cyworld had shuttered its operations in Germany, Japan and the United States.[6] As of 2009, it continues to provide service to the Chinese and Vietnamese markets, where it has subscriber bases of seven million and 450,000, respectively.[6] [edit] NateOnMain article: NateOn Cyworld collaborates with Nate.com, a widely used instant messenger service in Korea. If Cyworld users buy fonts with Dotori in Cyworld, they can use those with NateOn, too. [edit] DotoriCyworld uses its own virtual currency called Dotori (Hangul: 도토리), or "acorns".[1][3] One dotori costs 100 won, and they are used to purchase virtual goods.[3] Prices vary from about 2 acorns for a wall painting or 6 acorns for a song that plays in your mini-room, to 40 and above for a background for one's homepage for a year.[citation needed] [edit] Effects on Internet cultureCyworld has had a big effect on Korea’s Internet culture, which differs from that of the United States. Many renowned Korean socialites and celebrities possess cyworld accounts in which details of their upcoming tours and works are posted, such as Duk-In Joo, poet and author of the bestselling novel Meaning of meanings. Also, in 2006, Cyworld received the Wharton Infosys Business Transformation Award[8] for being an organization that has made the best use of IT for transformation.[9] [edit] See also[edit] References
[edit] External links
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