Korean Digital Justice Network
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The Digital Justice Network (DJN) (Korean: 디지털정의네트워크), formerly known as the Korean Progressive Network Center (Korean: 진보네트워크센터) or Jinbonet (Korean: 진보넷), is a non-profit ISP and advocacy organization based in South Korea.[1][2] It was launched in 1998, and it joined the Association for Progressive Communications in 2001.[3] DJN provides ICT services including web hosting, mailing lists, and webmail to South Korea's progressive movements, civil society, and workers' unions.[1] DJN advocates for digital rights in the face of corporate and government threats to freedom of speech, artistic freedom, privacy, and access to information.[2]
Founding
The DJN was created in the aftermath of the 1997 Seoul International Labor Media conference, a three-day, broadcast event held at Yonsei University.[4] During the conference, activists from around the world discussed labor movements in the context of a globalized, networked, and digital era.[5] These activists included members of JCA-NET and the United States and United Kingdom chapters of LaborNet.[6] 'Jinbonet', the first incarnation of the DJN, was not officially launched until the following year.[6]
The DJN initially sought to provide independent network services for progressive communication.[6] Oh Byoung-il, a founding member of the DJN and its current president,[7] argued that an independent network was necessary because "any network of state and capital can easily be transformed into a network of censorship and oppression."[6]
Evolving mission and name change
Since its initial founding, the DJN has expanded its mission from technology to advocacy. It has challenged the corporate use of resident registration numbers,[8] as well as legislation seeking to erode informed consent,[9] net neutrality,[10] privacy,[11] and other digital rights.[2] It engaged in a five-year campaign against South Korea's Real-Name System, which it considered to be an unconstitutional violation of freedom of expression.[12] This included a 2011 written statement to the United Nations Human Rights Council.[13]
In October, 2025, the DJN changed its name from the Progressive Network Center to the Digital Justice Network in order to "better reflect [its] transformed identity."[14]
Structure
The DJN has a twelve-member board which includes lawyers, politicians, developers, and journalists.[15] It also has one auditor, a president (Oh Byoung-il), and five listed staff.[15] The DJN is supported by paying members, who are entitled to its ICT services and inclusion in yearly general meetings.[16]
The DJN has collaborated with various external civil society groups in its capacity as an advocacy organization.[9][10][17]
Services
The DJN has reported that, as of 2010, they provided ICT services for 500 organizations.[2] Their services run on free and open-source software.[18]