[New Wave] Game Over-Immersion, About the Character 'Gwa (過)'

Gwayubulgeup (過猶不及) is a Confucian saying from the Analects emphasizing moderation, meaning that excess is as bad as deficiency. Words containing 'gwa' (과), which means excess, are generally used in a negative sense. Examples include overeating, overdrinking, overprotection, overspending, overwork, and speeding. However, cases where excess is prohibited by law are surprisingly few. Overeating is not illegal. If it were, the representative Korean Wave content 'Mukbang' (eating broadcasts) would have been blocked as illegal or harmful information.

The same applies to overdrinking. Unless one drives after drinking, it is not legally restricted. Even then, strict legal standards such as blood alcohol concentration are applied. Speeding is regulated only when driving above the speed limit set according to road conditions. From these examples, excess cannot exist as an absolute standard applied universally. It is one of the ranges of everyday behavior that individuals can freely engage in. Legal restrictions apply only exceptionally when excess clearly causes problems to others or society, and even then, strict standards are enforced.

In the gaming field, there is also a negative term with 'gwa' attached: 'game gwamolip' (게임과몰입), meaning game over-immersion. This is a legal term found in Article 12 of the Game Industry Promotion Act. The law defines over-immersion as one of the preventive activities the government should undertake to promote gaming culture. However, there is no concrete definition of game over-immersion.

According to the Government Legislation Support Center of the Ministry of Government Legislation, legal terms require definitions to 'eliminate doubts when applying the law, prevent legal disputes, ensure consistent enforcement, and protect the rights and interests of the people.' There are exceptions when a term has a socially accepted meaning that can be understood without a formal definition. Unfortunately, game gwamolip is too unfamiliar a neologism to have such a clear meaning. The lack of a definition makes it difficult to confirm the protection of gamers' rights or the effectiveness of preventive measures.

Meaning arises from differences. Therefore, we examined what game gwamolip shares with other negative terms containing 'gwa' and how it differs. As a legal term, it is similar to 'overdrinking' or 'speeding,' but when considering whether playing games excessively directly harms others, its nature is different.

'Overwork' regulated under the 52-hour workweek system also differs in meaning from the enjoyable over-immersion in games. 'Overeating' involves material attributes, so it differs from over-immersion, which is behavioral. Among these, 'overprotection' and 'overspending' are based on behavior and seem most similar to game over-immersion. Overprotection implies excessive behavior negatively affecting a specific target. Since game immersion does not negatively affect the game itself, this term does not fully align with game over-immersion. The remaining term is overspending. Just as the saying goes, 'time is money,' excessive use of money or time is similar. Both disrupt harmony in daily life and are difficult to control, which aligns with the meaning implied by game gwamolip.

Overspending may be morally criticized but is not legally restricted. In contrast, game gwamolip is defined similarly to 'addiction' and is discussed as something to be controlled, treated, and prevented. What if policies were implemented to control or prevent overspending due to its harms? What if people diagnosed as overspenders had to undergo psychological and medical treatment? The thought alone is bizarre. Then what about games?

Lee Jang-ju, Director of Irak Digital Culture Research Institute