[GameSanUP] "Arcade Regulation Relaxation, Protection of Game Users' Rights"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The government has decided to improve certain regulations and systems that have hindered the growth of the related industry in order to achieve a new leap forward in the game industry.

According to the "Comprehensive Plan for the Promotion of the Game Industry," jointly established and announced by related ministries on the 7th by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the government will exempt the obligation to report minor content changes under the "Game Content Modification Reporting System," which the game industry has continuously requested to improve, and introduce optional prior reporting.

The game rating classification system will also be improved from the current platform-based classification method to a content-based approach to activate the distribution of new games and prevent duplicate ratings. The expansion of private autonomous rating classification is also planned.

Arcade games, which were used in game rooms formerly called "Oraksil," will have their prize price limit increased from the current 5,000 won cap to 10,000 won to prevent gambling tendencies, and the types of prizes will be expanded. Regulations will be eased step-by-step to allow prize exchange games, aiming to foster them as family-friendly games. The arcade industry has high potential to grow as family-friendly games with the growth of virtual reality (VR) games, but the domestic market has been stagnant due to current regulations, and related industries have turned their attention overseas.

Additionally, measures to protect the rights and interests of game users have been prepared. First, the right of the public to enjoy games and the obligation of game operators to protect users' rights will be stipulated by law. Disclosure of information regarding "probability-type items," which has been controversial in the game industry, will be made mandatory, and legal grounds to restrict inappropriate game advertisements will be established. A system to designate domestic agents for overseas game operators without domestic corporations will be introduced to protect domestic users and resolve reverse discrimination against domestic companies.

A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official explained, "We have prepared related measures reflecting industry demands and the perspectives of game users, and to promote the game industry, which has been focused on mobile and online sectors, to include consoles (video games played by connecting to a TV) and arcades as well."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.