Chinese Netizen, “Mail Is Blocked.”

“I do not know the reason. It is so strange.”

Jang Shiemei (24), who is working at a foreign company in Shanghai, China, is puzzling because her e-mails to friends in abroad have returned without any explanation. She sent again them after re-checking friends` e-mail addresses, but the result was same. Why? The answer is very simple. It is because of the reverse `iron curtain` in the internet.

Ñ Reverse of the `iron curtain` in the internet = The western countries` internet companies blocked Chinese internet companies` e-mail transmission to cut off the advertising spam mails, which are indiscriminately poured out from China. Because of the rapid increase of Chinese spam mail, the western companies` servers had been downed frequently. In short, a reversed `iron curtain` was pitched in the internet.

The AFP reported on last Saturday that many American and European internet companies have been blocked servers of Chinese internet companies, which provide internet e-mail transmission services, from last year.

After the Ultra Design Extreme Network, an internet company in London, blocked the server connections of the Chinese big 3 internet companies, Sina.com, Sohu.com, and 163.com, in last August, many companies began to block the servers of Chinese internet companies.

Ñ Rapid increase of Chinese spam mail = Chinese internet users have sharply increase 16 times during last 3 years, from 2.1 million in 1998 to 33.7 million in 2001. With the growth of users, the spam mails has increased too. Especially, after China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) at the end of last year, Chinese companies intensified their advertisements through e-mails, and it stimulated the increase of spam mails.

It is technically difficult to select and block spam mails only. A company cannot select spam mails unless it reads each of them by putting a huge number of people and a lot of money. The Chinese spam mail became a nuisance to the world.

Ñ Lack of regulation = China does not have a penalty for a spam mail. Everybody can send any kind of mail. Therefore, not only Chinese companies but also foreign companies send spam mails through Chinese internet service. The lack of regulation causes the increase of spam mails.

In Korea, if a company send an e-mail advertisement without an advertisement sign, it will be punished with a fine not exceeding 5 million won. If a company causes a communications net trouble by sending a large quantity of spam mails, it will be sentenced to under 5 years imprisonment or with a fine under 50 million won.

Jang Mung, a Chinese web engineer who is working for an American computer company, said, “If foreign companies sever Chinese internet servers to prevent Chinese spam mails, Chinese companies and individuals will be heavily damaged. The Chinese government should start to cut off spam mails through preparation and enactment of legislation.”

Jong-Dae Ha orionha@donga.com