Kim Yu-sik

There is a legend for DC (Digital Community, Digital Contents and Digital Commerce)inside users. Kim Yu-sik, the establisher and CEO of Dcinside (DC) is a famous and powerful person. By his one word, this huge community is controlled. He even has egun to appear on television as the representative of internet opinions. However, he was just one netizen in the interview. He did not need many words to explain himself. Let’s find out about the common internet user, Kim Yu-sik. 

Successful CEO
Q While it could be your talent that worked as the main driving force towards success, it is undeniable that the advent of the information society, for example, the widespread use of the Internet and computers, accelerated the process. If you were born during a period when the Internet or PCs were not available, or put in another situation, if you were in your early 20s in this information society, do you still think you would have achieved the same amount of development as you have done so far?
A No matter how hard we try to copy the paths that great men pioneered, we would not achieve the same amount of success as they did. We might not even succeed at all. Therefore, although I can not exactly say that I have succeeded, I should say luck was what led me up here. Another opinion, on the other hand, is that if luck were designed by fate, it would not have mattered if there were no Internet or if I were in my early 20s, I think I would have done the same kind of business, which is and would have been convening people and their opinions. 

Dcinside - An Outlet of Emotions?!
Q If Cyworld is called “an outlet of hypocrisy”, DC is an “outlet of dysphemism”. In DC, those in competition are the ugly ducklings and the evil. What do you think of such propensity?
A Is expressing real emotions through anonymity “real communication” not in a sense? DC is where you can honestly call an ugly friend (who is ugly from an objective point of view) ugly. DC is a place where you can honestly put forth your opinions without having to exercise hypocrisy. Many people say DC is the breeding ground for evil internet users, but on the contrary, it is a space where one can feel the warmth of humanity. I think that every place people live in is virtually the same. DC users’ inclination is just the same as ordinary internet users; the only difference is that while such tendency is hidden in other websites, it is pretty much exposed in DC.
Q Personally, I think that DC users are not striving hard enough to achieve their task. However, many interviews put DC users in a positive light, calling them “the new driving forces of public opinion.”Please answer me honestly. Would you not forbid your children from using DC?
A What makes you think that way? What is there to be embarrassed about? Are we talking about the “adult” gallery which requires age confirmation? Are you pointing at the “mak-jang” gallery which is bombarded with profanity? Oh well, those galleries are actually the activities of young men who make up our society. I want to ask you what you think of those “task-neglecting” people who start strikes against injustice in the society. At the same time, 99 percent of DC users are, Naver and Daum users. Then are you saying that all Internet users in are doing a poor job of fulfilling their requirements? I think we can call such woe as a fallacy of a hasty generalization. The two infamous alleries above are not the only galleries active in DC. On the contrary, there are many academic galleries dedicated to philosophy, atheism, religion, mathematics, economics, and psychology.
Q The characteristics of DC can be represented by three celebrities; ssibeolgyohwang, singhahyong, Da Vinci Code. I think these celebrities make DC more popular. Is it true that DC supports someone if they seem “good enough to sell”?
A Let me say that it is impossible. Even if the managers were up to something, it would make virtually no difference. It is hard work if it cannot create total empathy from all constituent members. The people who have a huge influence throughout DC shine on their own. DC does not have power to support them and we do not even think of doing this. What we do is just inform people of the “rising stars” through the “hit” gallery.

Q Frankly speaking, most of these celebrities are lack of common sense. What do you personally think about this brand new “pathetic”?
A I am not serious about those people because these users appear and disappear so many times. We think that the patterns repeat. As long as those celebrities do not hurt other users, we just think, “Hmm, funny people again.”
Q Why did you give up the complaint of ssibeolgyohwang?
A I did not give it up. The case itself was just hushed up. I thought that the investigation found some limitations. There are some cases that I have stopped hearing from, in which I am the referee. Also, I do not feel any necessity to sue him because he disappeared.

Satire of Politics, Another Strong Point of DC
Q You already said, “I do not think that it is good that those in their 20s are interested in politics.” However, people cannot participate in the community if they are not aware of politics. I know that the DC news also uses much political news for satire. What is the meaning of politics to DC? And what is the meaning of politics to you?
A In my opinion, why should people in their 20s who have to train themselves to develop their interest in politics if olitics is stable? DC news also make reports not for satire itself, but because the users want that topic. At first, there was some kind of common rule that kept DC users from talking about politics. This law was there for two or three years. And then, the 2002 presidential election came along and the opposition impeachment movement made DC also a community for political satire. I think that the reason was that people wanted to find a target which could replace the World Cup. My opinion is simple. If the politics are stable, DC users will not be interested in it. Internet users are interested in only two factors; fun or information. Does it not mean that politics is fun? Well, since I know little about politics, I have nothing to say. The only thing I am curious about is why such learned, experienced people become clowns once they jump into the field of olitics.

University and Life
Q It is said that you called yourself a “proud high school graduate” in an interview. However, in another interview it says that you were a university undergraduate when you were famous for your online jokes. Since there is confusion, please larify. Moreover, what meaning does “university life” have for you?
A Actually, the phrase “a proud high school graduate” was an exaggeration by the reporter who wrote the article. Tell me, who can be proud of having little education? I attended university in for a year and studied two years in a college in . However, since the college I attended in is not acknowledged as an official school in , I am a high school graduate in practical terms. To me, university is merely a preschool that you attend before you learn the “real thing” of life. It is quite funny to see those in their 50s and 60s being picky about others’ academic background. I am sure they learned a lot later in their lives; long after four years of university education and possibly six years of graduate school education. I feel pity towards the students who fight over university rankings. In the “university gallery” in DC, students from mid-ranking universities fight over petty numbers. Well from a user’s point of view, there really is only so much difference. Many CEOs differentiate onlySeoulNationalUniversity from the rest. I am sure students will feel that a year of working renders much more practical knowledge and wisdom compared to four years of university education. The competition, I should say, is that much fiercer.
Q Is there special meaning in the list of universities in the DC gallery? (Rullyberry from internet bulletin board ofHanyangUniversity )
A The “university” gallery was made upon request except for the very first galleries. It means that the formation of such list bears meaning to many users who requested it.
Q Please summarize your life. Do you think that you are living your life the way you want?
A I usually say, as a joke, that life does not consist of special things. Actually, I am too young to comment on life. Also, the question would not be easy to answer even if I were 70 years old. If there is a creator in this world, I think it is a life long question I would carry every day. I would seriously question why He made me and what He thinks about my decisions and actions. I think I have lived my life as I wanted until late 2006. However, my life has been twisted because of many troubles. I think I have to put all these things in order. I decided that the many thoughts swimming in my head are also a part of life.
Q The last question is from a DC user. How long do you think DC would last?

A Almost every year since 2002, DC users have said that DC is perishing. However, DC has been growing every year. Even if the growth rate is not that huge, the fact that DC is still growing is true. Who can predict exactly how long DC would last? Huge portal sites like I Love School, Freechal, Netian, and Ddanziilbo have collapsed in a short period. Internet communities are strong like steel but also disappear like smoke from time to time. I firmly say that DC would last more than 10 years given that I stay keen enough notice what the users and meet their needs.