Can a messaging app put tension in relations between two countries? What is happening these days in South Korea and Japan suggests yes, although this is a very special case. Both nations, which coincide as allies of the United States, have had fluctuating diplomatic relations throughout history, alternating between periods of rapprochement and distancing.
The misgivings between these technological powers date back more than a century ago, when the Japanese empire annexed the Korean peninsula. In the 21st century, however, some events can cause new disagreements. LY Corporation, a company that operates the messaging app Line and Yahoo! Japan, reported in November last year an unauthorized access that led to a data breach.
A new disagreement between South Korea and Japan
According to the official reporta NAVER Cloud contractor’s computer was infected with malware, allowing an attacker to steal information related to thousands of Japanese users, employees and business clients of the platform of the same name, including certain Line data. All this was followed by some rumors from Japan that did not go unnoticed.
Local media suggested that Tokyo was seeking to have South Korean shareholders sell their stake in Line so that it would remain entirely in Japanese hands. The thing is since 2019 that Line is under the control of a joint company made up of the South Koreans of NAVER and the Japanese of SoftBank that was created with the aim of joining forces to compete with Western technology companies.
But Line, which is the most popular messaging app in Japan, has South Korean roots. NAVER executives were in this country when the devastating 2011 earthquake occurred. The reason for the trip was to develop the search market through a subsidiary called NHN Japanbut after the catastrophe they chose to radically change their plans and focus on messaging.
After the earthquake, calls and text messages began to have problems. However, Wi-Fi networks and 3G communications were partially working. This led many Japanese to communicate with a South Korean app called KakaoTalkbut in June 2011 Line appeared on the scene to later dominate the Japanese market, something that he did not achieve in South Korea where KakaoTalk still reigns.
While Japan’s Personal Information Protection Commission has been quick to publicly announce a security investigation Due to the November incident, South Korea has not hesitated to enter into the controversy. The Yoon Suk Yeol government has said that, if Line can present a solid plan to strengthen its security, Japan should not take “adverse measures” to push for a sale.
In an official communication they have saidin addition, that “the Government will respond firmly to any unfair treatment abroad of South Korean companies.” Over time we will know how this issue will evolve, affecting an application that offers much more than just messaging, but is a true all-in-one with shopping, payment, information, entertainment and more services.
Images | line
In Xataka | 35 million Tamagotchis buried on an artificial island: the urban legend that has been haunting Japan for years
Add Comment