The South Korean Game Users Association has expressed strong support for a new policy announced by the government during a recent public forum aimed at protecting the rights of game users. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Korea Bizwire) – The South Korean Game Users Association has expressed strong support for a new policy announced by the government during a recent public forum aimed at protecting the rights of game users.
In a statement released on January 31, the association highlighted the policy as an indication of a societal shift towards recognizing gamers as legitimate consumers and integral members of the gaming industry.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism unveiled the ecosystem-enhancing policy for game user rights at the “National Livelihood Forum” held on January 30, which includes measures such as revising standard contracts for online and mobile games and introducing a consent decree under the Electronic Commerce Act to quickly address consumer deception by gaming companies.
To prevent foreign gaming companies from engaging in deceitful operations, the government plans to enforce the designation of domestic agents and collaborate with self-regulatory rating agencies to prohibit the distribution of games that do not comply with local laws.
The association called for clarity in the scope of mandatory disclosure of information on random item mechanics, insisting that cases of indirect purchases made with real money should also fall under the mandatory disclosure requirements.
Furthermore, the government intends to gradually transfer the responsibility of game content rating to the private sector, starting with entrusting mobile game reviews to the Game Content Rating Board (GCRB).
The association emphasized the need to increase the focus on post-management for user protection, such as addressing macros, private servers, proxy gaming, and gambling inducement, and stressed the importance of transparency and expertise in the composition and operation of the GCRB.
It also added that introducing and ensuring the effectiveness of a domestic agent system for foreign gaming companies is an urgent issue for both local game developers and users striving to overcome the industry’s downturn and take a leap forward.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
