"Gwangju Running Man" Steam Game Distorting May 18 Blocked Only in Korea... Overseas Access Remains

"Gwangju Running Man" Distorts Historical Facts
May 18 Memorial Foundation Requests Response from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Other Authorities

Distortion and Denigration of the May 18 Democratic Movement in the 'Gwangju Running Man' Game. Provided by the May 18 Memorial Foundation

The May 18 Memorial Foundation has blocked domestic access to the online game "Gwangju Running Man," which distorts the history of the May 18 Democratic Movement and was produced on an overseas platform. However, this access restriction is only effective within Korea, and there are growing calls for measures to prevent the game's overseas distribution, ensure its removal, and prevent future recurrences.

According to the May 18 Memorial Foundation on June 3, the Game Rating and Administration Committee under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism blocked domestic access to the online game "Gwangju Running Man," produced on an overseas platform, in March.

The committee agreed with the foundation's concerns that the game depicts anti-state actions and distorts historical facts, thereby undermining national identity. Based on relevant laws, they blocked the game's distribution within Korea.

The game is set in Gwangju in May 1980 and portrays citizens as vicious criminals and violent gangs, while depicting the violence of the martial law forces as justified. It also features photos of Chun, who was historically and legally judged as a perpetrator of the May 18 massacre, glorifying him within the game.

"Gwangju Running Man" is user-generated content (UGC) created and distributed through "Steam," a game platform operated by the American company Valve Corporation. For this reason, the access restriction is only effective within Korea, and the game remains accessible overseas. The foundation plans to share the current situation and its problems with authorities such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to request concrete responses, including the application of relevant international laws.

Won Sunseok, the foundation's chairperson, said, "This game could instill a distorted historical perception of the May 18 Democratic Movement in foreigners," and added, "The Korean government must respond to overseas game companies and the governments of those countries regarding why access is blocked only in Korea, the country directly involved, while the game continues to be distributed in neighboring countries."

Meanwhile, another online game that distorted and denigrated the May 18 Democratic Movement appeared last year on the metaverse game platform Roblox, and a prosecution investigation into those involved is currently underway.