In January, Samsung once again made strides in technology by releasing the Galaxy S24 series equipped with on-device AI. On-device AI is an artificial intelligence embedded in the device itself, allowing the device to perform lightweight AI learning and computations without the need for a network connection. With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, many companies besides Samsung are incorporating on-device AI into their electronic devices. In line with this trend, the South Korean government plans to announce its on-device AI implementation plan in March. High technologies based on big data are seamlessly being integrated into our daily lives.   

  However, focusing solely on technological advancement may lead to overlooking the new societal issues that technology brings about. Therefore, there is a need for an approach that goes beyond the scientific perspective of so-called innovation and delves into a humanistic view. Hence, through an interview with Professor Park Han-woo, author of “I am a Glocal University Professor,”(2024) a professor at Yeungnam University and HUFS alumni, the objective of this article is to examine the era of big data from a fresh perspective. The Argus aims to explore the digital era from the standpoint of the social sciences and humanities, helping readers develop a nuanced understanding of future societies.

Before Reading
Book “I am a Glocal University Professor”
The book “I am a Glocal University Professor,” published on January 26, 2024, is authored by senior colleague Park Han-woo from HUFS. This digital hub addresses the determination of a regional university member not to fall behind global trends and to move forward into the world. The book, through five chapters, reinterprets the problems arising in the digital era and local communities from the perspective of a social scientist.

 The first chapter covers not only weighty topics concerning the intelligence information society, but also light topics including discussions on YouTube. It also explores the prospects and crises of the new era initiated by ChatGPT, among various other contemporary issues of the digital age. The second chapter presents a pessimistic view of digitalization, discussing the diminishing role of restaurant managers due to unmanned automated systems and proposing private and governmental solutions to this issue. The third chapter explains the functions and dysfunctions in politics, economics, and the arts through the utilization of digital tokens, such as cryptocurrencies and NFTs. The fourth chapter connects localities to issues of media, politics, culture, education, and technology. Meanwhile, the fifth and final chapter focuses on university innovation viewed through the Triple Helix perspective, which suggests that local community problems should be approached from the three perspectives of corporations, individuals, and society.

Introducing Professor Park Han-woo

The Argus: Hello, Professor Park. Would you please introduce yourself to the readers?
Park: Nice to meet you. My name is Park Han-woo. I enrolled in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at HUFS in 1991 and graduated in February 1995. Currently, I am a professor in the Division of Media and Communication at Yeungnam University, a private university located in the city of Gyeongsan and the city of Daegu (237 kilometers south of Seoul) where I teach the same major I studied during my undergraduate years.

The Argus: Do you have any special reasons or motivations for consistently majoring in Mass
Communication, which has now changed its name to Journalism and Information Studies, after graduating from HUFS?
Park: I persisted in majoring in Mass Communication, which is now referred to as Journalism and Information Studies, even during my high school years when I was preparing for the college entrance exam. The reason behind my choice was primarily because contemporary society has become highly reliant on information, with data emerging as the most crucial aspect in recent times. Consequently, I believed that understanding the broader trends of the world required a grasp of the communication environments provided by language and media. This led me to pursue Journalism and Information Studies as my major. I continued to delve into the same field during my doctor’s degree and while studying abroad in the United States. This made me reflect once again on why I had chosen this path. However, even if I were given the chance to choose again, I believe I would still opt for Journalism and Information Studies.

The Argus: It may seem at first glance that there is little connection between Journalism and Information Studies and the realm of big data. What is the significant intersection between the two fields?
Park: It seems there may be some misconceptions about what the term “media” entails. In a narrow sense, media, often referred to as journalism, encompasses the reporting activities of newspapers and broadcasting outlets. However, in a broader sense, media refers to all forms of communication phenomena. These communication phenomena are mediated through messages. Furthermore, these messages are composed of information, which is often derived from processed data. From this perspective, I am engaged in identifying and analyzing the information produced through various media channels. Therefore, big data and media are by no means separate entities.

Professor Park’s Perspective of the Digital Era

The Argus: You wrote a book called “I am a Glocal University Professor.” Please briefly introduce the book and tell us what readers should pay attention to.
Park: The book is a compilation of various articles I have written over the past 20 years, systematically organized. It covers topics that have piqued my interest, such as data, social media, and the emerging realms of Web 3.0, as well as societal, cultural, and political issues observed within local communities. The greatest strength of this book lies in its analysis of various phenomena based on academic papers and perspectives, offering insights into societal issues.
 Another key advantage is that, drawing from my experiences teaching and conducting research in local areas over the past two decades, I present unique and creative solutions to address the disparities between metropolitan and regional areas in South Korea (hereafter Korea). Thus, the title of the book, “Glocal,” signifies approaching local issues with a global perspective. Additionally, readers can find the sources of the articles listed at the back of the book, revealing that discussions on issues within Korean society have emerged over decades, rather than suddenly appearing. By tracing the flow of longstanding discussions within Korean society, readers can find enjoyment in exploring the book.

The Argus: What do you think is the significance of big data and artificial intelligence in our lives?
Park: Nowadays, people perceive artificial intelligence as a close and familiar presence, because generative and conversational services are becoming part of daily life. Activities such as education, learning, document creation in workplaces, and information searches are transitioning to generative and conversational services based on artificial intelligence, like chatbot services. Consequently, people have less resistance towards artificial intelligence compared to in the past. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust previous perspectives and approaches towards artificial intelligence. Rather than viewing artificial intelligence adversarially or as in opposition to humans, it should be seen as a partner in the form of service and robots based on artificial intelligence just like how we turn on smart TVs at home and call out their names. Artificial intelligence is becoming an integral part of our daily lives. The emergence of artificial intelligence is ultimately made possible by big data, and for further development, artificial intelligence requires big data. Big data initially provided information about knowledge, information, and their hidden relationships that were completely unknown ten years ago. Over time, big data has evolved beyond this to become the foundation for new technologies such as artificial intelligence.

The Argus: In the book, you address various current issues in the era of big data. Among them, what do you think is the most noteworthy? And why?
Park: In the past, we lived in a world where analog and digital were clearly distinguishable. However, now digital technology has become so sophisticated that it encroaches into areas previously dominated by analog, making it difficult to differentiate between the two. We are in an era where digital has become more intricate and detailed than ever before. Big data, social media, artificial intelligence, and digital assets like cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum are all products of the digital age. Previously, it was easier to view and analyze the world. We could categorize things as either analog or digital, but now, as we mostly live in a digital world, various digital domains are emerging, each developing at a rapid pace. Consequently, we are experiencing cultural phenomena where some cultures struggle to keep up with the pace of technological advancements. That is why I aimed to approach these issues more academically, to understand and address the challenges posed by these rapid technological advancements.

The Argus: What sets this book apart from other books is that you address local issues while also covering the digital age. What prompted you to focus on the local? Also, what do you think is the most important phenomenon of local alienation and what changes have occurred since the advent of the digital age?
Park: Focusing on the local stems primarily from the fact that I reside in a rural area. I believe it is the minimal obligation of an intellectual to take an interest in the environment in which they live. While many people who live in rural areas may commute to Seoul or may not have an interest in their local region, I felt a sense of responsibility to take an interest in where I live. 
 Living in rural areas comes with certain inconveniences, notably fewer cultural benefits compared to metropolitan areas. However, despite this, living in rural areas offers the advantage of being able to lead a more creative and relaxed life compared to the hectic pace of life in urban areas. Nevertheless, with the advent of the digital age, the boundaries of time and space have been blurred. This allows rural areas to enjoy the benefits of urban areas without incurring significant costs, thus mitigating some of the disadvantages such as the lack of cultural amenities. However, there are still limitations. For example, compared to face-to-face meetings, online meetings may lack the creativity and spontaneity that often arise from in-person interactions. Therefore, digital technology has limitations in expanding creativity compared to offline analog methods.

The Argus: In the book, you discuss the problems of the digital era that have persisted from the past to the present. What perspective should be most important to solve this problem?
Park: In the digital age, there are various ways to address the problems that arise. Firstly, individuals must have literacy skills, meaning they need to be digitally literate. Just as literacy in Korean refers to the ability to read and write in Korean, digital literacy entails understanding and effectively using digital technology and services. It is essential to personally cultivate such literacy skills. Secondly, there should be adequate provision of assistive devices to aid individuals who may face difficulties in utilizing digital technology due to disabilities or other reasons. Just as there are closed captioning options on TV for the hearing impaired, there should be assistive technologies available, such as enlarging buttons on kiosks for ease of use. These assistive technologies should be well-implemented to ensure that everyone can effectively utilize digital technology.

A Word to The Argus Readers

The Argus: What do you think about the prospect of big data? And are there any areas that are expected to receive more attention?
Park: The digital age is expected to continue in a direction similar to the present, but the most noteworthy development will be the transition from the era of social media to a new era of decentralized media. Similar to how we shifted from the era of personal websites to that of social media, the era of social media will evolve into a decentralized media landscape. In this scenario, individuals will have digital wallets, akin to using individual email addresses, allowing them to integrate and manage their data. Activities conducted online will be stored and recorded, potentially replacing email as the primary means of communication. Digital wallets will accumulate points, mileage, or digital badges, leading to greater integration among services.

The Argus: From a humanistic perspective, what direction should our society move toward and what mindset should each individual have in order to minimize the problems that appear in the era of big data?
Park: Big data and decentralized distributed artificial intelligence are, in a way, interconnected. However, in Korean society, there is still a significant lack of understanding of data and data literacy. This implies that people often fail to realize the value of data and exhibit a passive attitude towards investing in data creation. Despite the discomfort and unfamiliarity, there is a pressing need to digitize everything for the future. Refusing to do so poses a significant problem. To advance as a more advanced nation, it is crucial to embrace datafication in all aspects. However, simultaneously, individuals must be aware of the risks of their data being leaked or exposed. It is essential to use data cautiously and maintain a sense of security when inputting or outputting data.

The Argus: Lastly, please give a word to your juniors at HUFS, who will be living in the digital era brought about by the development of big data and artificial intelligence.
Park: I think it would be beneficial for students at HUFS to explore new media platforms whenever they have spare time during their university years. Besides well-known platforms like YouTube and Instagram, there are many emerging social media platforms and networks such as Bluesky and Mastodon. Additionally, with the emergence of new decentralized media and platforms, it is important to understand how these platforms collect, process, analyze, and visualize data, as well as how they utilize this data for political and economic purposes. Therefore, it would be beneficial for students to take an interest in exploring these platforms and understanding their data practices and implications in various domains.

The advancement of artificial intelligence based on big data is progressing at a rapid pace, and in the future, we are likely to enter an era where all our information is digitized. Considering these changes, it is essential to perceive artificial intelligence not as a separate entity from our lives but as a partner that we live alongside with. To achieve this, modern individuals need to adopt an open attitude towards experiencing not only mainstream technologies but also embracing new developments in technology every day. At the same time, they should be aware of the risks of their data being leaked. This awareness will serve as the foundation for addressing the ethical, social, and political issues that emerging technologies may bring about. It will guide our society in the right direction and help prevent potential problems in various fields.