When Algorithmic Transparency Failed: Controversies Over Algorithm-Driven Content Curation in the South Korean Digital Environment

Abstract

Content curation in contemporary digital platforms leverages both algorithmic decision making and human judgment. As much as algorithm has become an integral part of digital configurations, there are growing concerns about the lack of accountability surrounding algorithm-driven digital services. The issue of algorithmic accountability is attributed not only to intrinsic opacity in computational processes but also to the lack of transparency in platform governance. This article discusses two controversial cases surrounding algorithmic transparency in the South Korean digital environment. It first epitomizes the notion of algorithmic transparency as a prerequisite for accountability. Then, it situates the use of algorithms for online content curation in the South Korean digital environment to illustrate how algorithmic transparency is complicated by sociopolitical conditions. Finally, this research offers several suggestions for promoting a more accountable algorithm society.