Exploring Trends in Academic Research on Online Hate Speech in South Korea: A Systematic Literature Review and Comparative Analysis with European Perspectives

• In Event: Hate speech in the online world and beyond

Abstract

South Korea, known for its leadership in e-sports and high dependence on online platforms, also grapples with the adverse effects of hate speech spread through these channels. Consequently, discussions on legal regulations regarding online hate speech, akin to many other nations, are underway. This study examines trends in academic research within South Korea concerning online hate speech. Drawing a comparison with research conducted in European countries like the UK and Germany, where online hate speech has been legally regulated, this research aims to assess whether South Korean academic research provides sufficient data to support discussions on criminalization. Notably, while offline hate speech is also not illegal in South Korea, the study focuses solely on online hate speech, considering its detrimental impact and significant repercussions.
To achieve this, a systematic literature review of 147 papers extracted using the keyword 'online hate speech' from the Korean journal databases "RISS, Research Information Sharing Service" and “KISS, Koreanstudies Information Service System” was conducted. After excluding 57 duplicate or irrelevant papers, 90 papers were analyzed, revealing that research efforts commenced in 2016 but primarily focused on legal aspects until 2018. Subsequently, research expanded to include various approaches, targets, and methodologies, such as empirical analyses, comment detection technologies, factor analyses, and qualitative studies. Additionally, women (as a gender issue) emerged as the primary targets of hate speech, followed by the elderly, racial minorities, and regional groups.
However, the limitations of existing research seem to primarily stem from the relatively short period of research, lacking sufficient volume, and predominantly focusing on legal and regulatory considerations, which means a lack of empirical examination. To substantively contribute to discussions on criminalization, further research should delve into Korean perceptions of cyber violence, analyze causal factors of perpetration, and investigate the experiences and severity of victimization.

Authors

• HongJun Park, University of Birmingham

• Evelyn Svingen, University of Birmingham