Note the date for the KCC's move to scrap it (the date is today for those who didn't read the source). The real names policy has been used by the government and corporations to stifle serious discussions and criticisms in South Korea. Korea has a really strong and trivially abusable libel law, the [Cyber defamation law](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyber_defamation_law). Basically, right now in Korea, I cannot criticise the accuracy or validity of a news article online without giving the journalist a strong case for suing me for damaging their career of ineptitude. The law is completely ambiguous and even allows political figures to sue opponents for criticising their policies.

That, and as a coder the way the law was worded made it very difficult to actually comply with securely. Politicians are the last people you want to have writing a data retention policy for you.