The sale of illicit computer programs designed to cheat in online video games has morphed into a sophisticated organized crime operation involving separate development and distribution networks. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
BUSAN, May 27 (Korea Bizwire) – The sale of illicit computer programs designed to cheat in online video games has morphed into a sophisticated organized crime operation involving separate development and distribution networks, according to South Korea’s game industry watchdog.
Compounding concerns, some youths are even engaging in the promotion and sale of these “hacks” as a way to make money, officials say.
Kim Beom-soo, head of the self-regulatory support division at the Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC), provided details on the agency’s crackdown against the underground trade of illegal gaming software, commonly referred to as “hacks” or “nukes.”
Speaking with reporters at his office in Busan’s Haeundae district on May 21, Kim explained that these prohibited programs allow users to unfairly manipulate online game data to their advantage, undermining the experience for other players.
Common examples include “ESP” hacks that reveal the locations of opponents otherwise hidden from view, “aimbots” that automatically lock weapons onto targets, and “helpers” in competitive games that dodge attacks and activate skills with perfect timing.
For online role-playing games, unauthorized “auto” programs enable automated gameplay by controlling a character’s movement, combat, and loot collection.
Under South Korea’s Game Industry Promotion Act, the creation or distribution of such cheating software is punishable by up to one year in prison or fines up to 10 million won.
The GRAC’s online response team not only monitors and blocks illicit programs, but also investigates private servers, illegal virtual currency exchange, and paid services facilitated by these criminal rings.
The agency utilizes an automated system that crawls online forums and captures posts advertising hacked software. Once validated by staff, the websites are reported to internet service providers to block access.
“Our system automatically collects and registers site addresses, IP addresses, and hosting information that previously had to be manually entered, significantly improving efficiency,” Kim noted.
Compounding concerns, some youths are even engaging in the promotion and sale of these “hacks” as a way to make money, officials say. (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)
In some cases, officials from the GRAC directly purchase cheating tools from vendors as part of undercover sting operations to gather evidence. Staff names are not listed on the organization’s website to protect those involved in such covert activities, which can require providing personal information to perpetrators.
One senior staffer demonstrated an “auto” program running on a designated computer, showing how it automatically controlled an in-game character’s movement, combat, and item collection with various evasion and notification features designed to bypass detection.
Such advanced software often commands prices in the hundreds of thousands of won, with added subscription fees for new functionality or technical support.
From 2019 through last year, the GRAC says it has requested the blocking of nearly 27,000 cases of illegal programs, forwarding 138 cases with substantiated evidence to law enforcement for criminal investigation.
Prosecutors have since arrested 38 individuals involved in the development and distribution of cheating tools based on the GRAC’s findings. Authorities confiscated approximately 1.64 billion won in illicit proceeds from those cases dating back to 2020.
However, Kim acknowledged that law enforcement faces considerable staffing constraints in tackling the wider surge of cyber crimes. Most of the GRAC’s own monitoring staff are hired on short-term contracts.
“Given the gaming industry’s importance as a major content export for our nation, investigative authorities need to increase their vigilance against these illegal programs that undermine its growth,” he urged.
The GRAC has pledged to actively cooperate with game developers pursuing civil lawsuits against illicit software distributors by providing all relevant evidence and materials from its probes.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
