Game Rating Board's Illegal Gaming Crackdown Support Up 24%; Police Cooperation Strengthened

The Game Rating and Administration Committee is strengthening its response system against illegal gaming, such as speculative PC rooms and arcades, in cooperation with the police.

The committee announced on July 28 that on-site crackdown support for illegal speculative PC rooms totaled 248 cases in the first half of this year, a 24% increase compared to the same period last year.

According to the committee, crackdown support involving the appraisal of illegal games increased by 18.9% over the same period to 1,220 cases, while training on illegal game crackdown techniques was conducted a total of 54 times for 1,049 police officers.

The committee stated that the number of trainees more than doubled compared to the same period last year, and it is continuously expanding field-case and practical-centered training to effectively respond to an environment where the types and operating methods of illegal games are diversifying.

In addition, following re-inspections of illegal speculative PC rooms found to have violated facility standards, administrative measures were requested from local governments for 109 establishments where repeat violations were confirmed.

The committee announced that it also plans to actively support planned police investigations to apprehend manufacturers and distributors of illegal games.

Furthermore, the committee held meetings with PC room associations and lodging platform operators regarding so-called "gametels"—accommodations modified to provide gaming services without permission for internet computer game facility operations.

It also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency and Kangwon Land to establish a cooperative response system against illegal speculative games, and operated a joint promotional event at Kangwon Land.

"We will continue to pursue institutional improvements and prevention-focused promotional activities to do our utmost in creating a sound gaming environment that users can trust," said Seo Tae-gun, chairperson of the Game Rating and Administration Committee.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.