[Column] Shutdown Policy and Responsibility for Resolution

On May 5, 2020, the Blue House created a virtual Blue House in Minecraft to celebrate Children's Day and invited child users.

The mandatory shutdown system is entering the process of being abolished after 10 years since its introduction. As the shutdown system was included in the Regulatory Challenge agenda, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF) also held a meeting of its own Regulatory Reform Committee on the 30th to begin discussions on improving the system. The Regulatory Challenge confirms whether to improve excessively strict regulations proposed by the private sector through three stages involving related ministries, the Office for Government Policy Coordination, and the Prime Minister. Among the top 10 countries with developed gaming industries, excluding China, no country operates a shutdown system like South Korea. This means it already meets the requirements as a Regulatory Challenge agenda item.

On the day, MOGEF stated, "We will discuss reasonable regulation operation to enhance the effectiveness of youth protection, the effects and side effects of regulatory improvements, and protective measures to prevent overindulgence." Besides representatives from the gaming industry, youth protection organizations, and officials from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the only expert attending the meeting was an academic who had supported the shutdown system in a discussion several years ago. This highlights why MOGEF, despite pushing for shutdown system improvements since 2014, has not made any progress so far. When the backlash from Minecraft gamers intensified, MOGEF hastily made a gesture to ‘improve’ the system, but it seems more likely to compromise with a ‘selective shutdown system’ rather than complete abolition. Only when the mandatory shutdown system is abolished can other complementary systems function properly.

Most people, except parents, agree on the need to improve the shutdown system. The system does not apply to mobile or console games, and it is considered inappropriate for the state to regulate youths’ leisure time. The opposing argument is to prevent youth gaming addiction and to guarantee their right to sleep. Some even joke that “I got into college because of the shutdown system.” However, it is difficult to understand why the right to sleep for youths should be protected only in ‘PC games.’ Society has evolved in a direction that respects youth human rights, and the same should apply to gaming. Although the discussion on abolishing the shutdown system started with Minecraft, the issue gained attention as some political circles raised the idea of abolishing MOGEF, which brought the shutdown system abolition into the spotlight as well. Now, MOGEF must show a responsible attitude and resolve the issue.