Cyworld
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Type of site
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Social network service |
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| Available in | Korean, Chinese, English, German, Japanese, Spanish, Vietnamese |
| Owner | SK Communications |
| Website | cyworld.com (Korea) |
| Cyworld | |
| Hangul | 싸이월드 |
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | Ssaiwoldeu |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ssaiwŏltŭ |
Cyworld (Hangul: 싸이월드) is a South Korean social network service operated by SK Communications (Hangul: SK커뮤니케이션즈), a subsidiary of SK Telecom (Hangul: SK텔레콤).
Members cultivate relationships by forming Ilchon (Hangul: 일촌, Hanja: 一寸) or "friendships" with each other through their minihompy. Avatars and "mini-rooms" (small, decoratable, apartment-like spaces in an isometric projection) are features of the service, which can make for a Sims-like experience.
The "Cy" in Cyworld can mean "cyber", but is also a pun on the Korean word for relationship (Hangul: 사이 'between').
Cyworld is a rough equivalent to MySpace of the United States, with the main difference is that revenue is generated through the sale of dotori (Hangul: 도토리), or acorns, which can be used to purchase virtual goods, such as background music, pixelated furniture, and virtual appliances.
Cyworld also has operations in China and Vietnam.
Cyworld launched in 1999 and was purchased by SK Communications in 2003. It became one of the first companies to profit from the sale of virtual goods.
Cyworld was wildly popular in its home market, with 2005 claims that practically every South Korean in their twenties and 25 percent of the South Korean population were users. By 2006 its domestic user base numbered 19 million, but this dropped to 18 million by 2008.
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