"'Abolition of Shutdown System' Also Proposed by Representative Kwon In-sook... 'Ineffective and Does Not Protect Youth'"

Kwon In-sook Proposes 'Partial Amendment to the Youth Protection Act' on the 9th to Abolish Mandatory Shutdown System
"Support Policies for Youth and Families Facing Internet Game Addiction Should Be Strengthened Instead of State Regulation"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] On the 9th, Kwon In-sook, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, took the lead in proposing the "Partial Amendment to the Youth Protection Act" to abolish the youth internet game shutdown system.

Kwon In-sook, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The current shutdown system, which allows only youth under 16 to play games during late-night hours, is applied only to internet games and not to mobile games or console games, which are actually more used by youth. Moreover, many youths circumvent the shutdown system by using adult IDs or accessing games through overseas servers.

There have been ongoing criticisms that the regulation is ineffective since youths or their families can request internet game providers to selectively limit game time, making the shutdown system possible even now.

Accordingly, this amendment abolishes the youth-targeted internet game shutdown system, which undermines youth autonomy, and enables the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family to actively implement support policies such as counseling and education for youths and their families facing difficulties like internet addiction.

Rep. Kwon pointed out, "The government telling youths not to play games, which are core content of digital culture, through an ineffective game shutdown system does not solve the problem," and added, "I hope the amendment passes so that youths and families can use games in the way they want with autonomy, and the government actively supports a better policy direction."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.