Self-Classification System on Games to Be Implemented after 20 Years

Preliminary classification system on games that had taken place for more than 20 years will be abolished and self-classification system that allows businesses to grade games on their own will be introduced.

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) made an announcement on the 19th that it has designated businesses that can classify games on their own and prepared regulations for them to operate through a such system. Also game management committee made an announcement on the same day that a revised bill regarding promotion of video game industry that allows itself to focus on post-management passed a general meeting from National Assembly.

According to this revised bill, a video game company that is designated as a business that can classify video games on its own can implement classifications on all games except for rated R games and arcade games. Regardless of platforms, all games will be deliberated by private companies. Final result of classifications can be submitted to Game Rating and Administration Committee within 5 business days.

Game Rating and Administration Committee will regularly monitor results of classifications and will take measures only on games that have unfit classifications. Role of this committee will greatly change to post-management.

“This system is established to guarantee maximum of manufacturing and development environments for businesses to create creative games and to form an ecosystem of new video game contents industry that is based on high-tech technologies such as VR (Virtual Reality) and others.” said Director General Choi Bo-geun of MCST’s Contents Policy. “We are also going to make careful preparation on post-management system on businesses that are able to classify video games on their own so that there are not any weak points in protecting youth from distribution of games with unfit classifications.”

This bill will be implemented starting from the 1st of January of next year. Until then, South Korean government will prepare for enforcement of this system by organizing subordinated ordinances, establishing plans for self-classification integration management system and others.