Cyworld Shutters US Operation

Cyworld, Korea's preeminent social network -- one which launched a localized version for the US market in 2006 –- is in the process of shuttering its operations here, according to an e-mail sent to members yesterday. Cyworld's English-language servers started to go offline last week and will be completely unavailable to US subscribers effective November 23. No reason was given for the move, though it seems clear the company's three-year effort in this market never really took off. Two years after launching an English-language version, with a staffed operation in the US to boot, the company started to retrench -- in November 2008 Cyworld laid off its US-based staff, closed its offices, and decided to operate the US shard from Korea. Effective this month, that already reduced level of service will be eliminated completely. Cyworld parent SK Telecom had previously made a commitment to invest $110 million into the US operation.