Digital divide in internet use within the urban hierarchy: The case of south korea

The paper examines a digital divide of in the Internet use from a geographical perspective. The digital divide is examined on different levels within the urban hierarchy and by different activities for which the Internet is used. This study also explores the role of the geographical dimension in explaining the variation of determining engagement rates. Netizens living in areas other than out of Seoul (the capital of Korea) are found to have relatively lower rates of engagement. The relative difference, however, is rather smaller in engagement than in access. Meaningful use (engagement) of the Internet divides the urban hierarchy into two layers, Seoul and other areas. The divide in Internet access shows a clear three-layered structure: Seoul, other cities, and rural areas. Internet activities that can help overcome distance show higher engagement rates in local provinces. In contrast, netizens in Seoul show higher engagement rates in such activities as ticketing, e-auction, e-party, and e-banking, which require a more complicated set of institutional and cultural infrastructure. Finally, the regional setting plays a significant role in explaining determining the variation of engagement rates.