Abolition of Game Shutdown Law... Unified into Time Selection System

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] The mandatory shutdown system that prohibits late-night gaming for adolescents will be abolished after 10 years.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced on the 25th, at the 15th Social Relations Ministers' Meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye, the abolition of the shutdown system and measures to create a healthy gaming environment for adolescents.

This plan reflects changes in adolescents' gaming environment by abolishing the shutdown system and unifying the adolescent game time restriction system into a voluntary 'Game Time Selection System.' At the same time, it includes strengthening game understanding education for adolescents, guardians, and teachers. It supports the establishment of a healthy gaming leisure culture for adolescents in a voluntary way, respecting adolescents' self-determination rights and educational rights within the family.

The Game Time Selection System allows those under 18 and their parents or legal guardians to request and adjust their gaming time to desired hours. To enhance convenience, the government plans to change the current system, where applications are made per game, to have the Game Culture Foundation handle applications collectively.

Additionally, to protect adolescents in blind spots, applications from teachers or social workers, besides legal guardians, will also be accepted and processed.

Along with this, the government will expand education to improve game understanding and guidance methods for guardians and teachers, and create an environment where guidance can be provided at home and school by including 'game overindulgence' in the 2022 revised curriculum.

Furthermore, content that guides the details and characteristics of popular games enjoyed by adolescents will be produced and distributed to increase understanding of games. The government also plans to distribute a 'Game Usage Guidebook' in cooperation with education offices, which introduces parental control features provided by Google, Apple, and others.

Moreover, the Game Rating and Administration Committee's post-management functions will be strengthened to continuously monitor harmful games for adolescents, and legal amendments will be pursued to disclose information on probability-type items and block harmful advertisements targeting adolescents.

In addition, through surveys diagnosing internet and smartphone usage habits, adolescents at risk of overdependence will be identified and provided with counseling and healing support. The Game Overindulgence Healing Centers (7 locations) will offer testing and counseling, and treatment costs will be supported up to 50% for low-income groups. Residential healing camps and internet healing schools, used for intensive treatment when necessary, will also be expanded.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hwang Hee stated, "For adolescents, games are a major leisure activity and a medium to communicate with society," and added, "I hope the game overindulgence prevention system will shift to a method that respects adolescents' self-determination rights, pursuit of happiness, and educational rights within the family."

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