현행 인터넷상 본인확인제에 대한 헌법적 평가

In modern democratic system Freedom of expression is a indispensible and essential element for the free explanation of the peoples and a basement of existence and development of a Nation. According to the "International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights” everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kind, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice. The Constitution of the Republic of Korea guarantees fundamental human rights to freedom of expression. Article 21 of the Constitution states that (1) All citizens enjoy the freedom of speech and the press, and licensing of assembly and association may not be recognized. However, article §21 ④ provides that "neither nor the press may violate the honour or rights of other persons nor undermines public morals or social ethics”. In korea the political liberalization in the late 1980s led to loosening of media control by the Government, ushering in a period of rapid expansion of the sector and freedom of the press. Furthermore the expanding of the population accesses the Internet giving the country one of the highest broadband penetration in the world. In 2005, korea Government under §82 ⑥ of the 「Public Officials Election Act(POEA)」 and §44 ⑤ of the 「Information Telecommunication Network Act(ITNA)」 introduced the real-name identification system to identify an individual's name whenever he or she posts information or materials on the Internet, with the purported aim to ensure fairness of elections. In this paper is concerned about the impact of such identification systems to the rights to freedom of expression, which is rooted anonymity. Additionally recommends that the Government consider other means to identify a person and only if there is probable cause or reasonable doubt that the person to be identified has committed or is about to commit a crime.