Todayhumor

Todayhumor

Type of site	Internet forum
Owner	Lee Hocheol
Created by	Lee Hocheol
Website	todayhumor.co.kr
Commercial	Yes (partly)
Registration	Optional
Launched	September 1999
Current status	Active

Todayhumor (오늘의유머) frequently noted under the initialism 오유(OU), is a South Korean internet forum. Initially established as a community dedicated to humor, it became a left-leaning political website due to its unique nature.

Overview

Todayhumor launched in September 1999 as a subsection of Infomail.co.kr, a South Korean email service.^[1][2][3] As of April 2013, it is owned and operated as a private organization.^[4]

The website caused a widespread controversy when a male member sexually harassed a female member at a regulars' meeting in March 2013.^[5]

Presidential election, 2012

During the South Korean presidential election, 2012, an agent of South Korean National Intelligence Service, known by her last name Kim, created multiple user IDs in Todayhumor website and posted articles and comments. South Korean Police confirmed that she had signed up for 16 user IDs and made 288 clicks to express support or opposition to articles in Todayhumor.^[6] They also confirmed that she posted articles to Todayhumor on politically sensitive topics including Jeju-do Naval Base and Four Major Rivers Project.^[7] Subsequently, the police announced that 5 user IDs out of 16 were used by others.^[8]

References