Diffusion and Usage Patterns of the Internet in Korea and Japan : A Comparison of Policy and Cultural Factors

Abstract

This study compares two countries, Korea and Japan, in the diffusion and usage of the internet among college students. The two countries exhibit different strategies in adopting new IT, which influence the adoption rate of the internet. Although Korea and Japan are adjacent to each other and share somewhat similar values and culture, there are significant differences in the usage of new media and new technologies. We attempt to empirically investigate these differences between the two countries. A survey of 977 university students of the two countries reveal that although governmental policy fueled the diffusion of internet services usage, other cultural factors also influence the adoption and usage of internet services. Koreans are more inclined to use the internet as a communication media, whereas the Japanese use the internet for information and entertainment. Individualistic vs. collectivist culture seems to have influenced these differences in usage patterns. Although Korea and Japan are often regarded as similar in many aspects of socioeconomic development and culture, the adoption of the internet is significantly different between the two countries.