Dr. Heewon Kim, Assistant Professor, Hugh Downs School of Human Communication - Unleashing Voices through Anonymous Communication
A number of leading organizations in Korea are marked by strictly hierarchical cultures, which may occasion inequitable distribution of power, reinforced bureaucratic norms, and status-induced behavior control. Although power disparities may hinder overt resistance, Korean workers have turned to anonymous social media to develop resistance tactics. This study examines the ways in which Korean workers share their experiences of internal organizational practices to generate collective voices through the use of anonymous social media. In doing so, this study will elucidate how different forms of organizational dissent and resistance, enabled by anonymity, can affect organizational change and other employee engagement outcomes.