[2024 National Audit] Game Industry Act Constitutional Complaint: Game Commission Chairman Says "Will Follow Constitutional Court's Decision"

Image source=Yonhap News

Amid a constitutional challenge to the provision in the Game Industry Act that prohibits the distribution of games "likely to disrupt social order," Seo Tae-geon, chairman of the Game Rating and Administration Committee, stated that he "will abide by the Constitutional Court's decision."

On the 17th, during the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee audit, Chairman Seo responded to a question that "the provision in the Game Industry Act leaves room for arbitrary judgment" by saying this. He added, "I fully share the concerns, which is why the committee operates on a consensus basis."

Earlier, on the 8th, 210,000 game users and developers filed a constitutional complaint arguing that Article 32, Paragraph 2, Subparagraph 3 of the Game Industry Act, which explicitly bans the distribution of games that "excessively depict crime, violence, obscenity, etc., thereby inciting criminal or imitative psychology and potentially disrupting social order," is unconstitutional.

Jin Jong-oh, a member of the People Power Party, said, "The criteria for 'likely to disrupt social order' are unclear," adding, "If movies like 'Crime City,' dramas like 'Ojingeo Game' (Squid Game), or Han Kang's novel 'The Vegetarian' were games, their distribution could be banned."

He continued, "According to the in-person report from the Game Rating and Administration Committee, games are interactive rather than just passive viewing like other content, so strict standards are necessary," but added, "However, there is no legal basis or scientific evidence to support this."

Chairman Seo responded, "While interactivity is indeed a characteristic of games, I believe scientific research on the basis for this is necessary."