"Trusted 'All Ages' Rating but Found It Provocative"... Issue with Grouping Ages 0?11 in One Category

Korea Media Rating Board Considers Introducing a Korean-Style Parents Guide

Group Photo of Panelists and Presenters at the 'Grade Classification Forum'

Many parents have been surprised by provocative scenes after trusting the "All Ages" rating and showing movies to their children. This is a limitation of the current system, which groups children from ages 0 to 11 into a single category.

Such issues were a major focus at the "Grade Classification Forum" held by the Korea Media Rating Board at the Busan Visual Industry Center on December 4. Professor Kim Mikyung of Chungwoon University pointed out, "The 'All Ages' rating fails to reflect the developmental differences among infants (ages 3-5), preschoolers (ages 5-7), lower elementary students (ages 8-10), and upper elementary students (ages 10-11)."

In a survey of parents, many reported that they felt reassured by the "All Ages" rating but still found the content too provocative. There was also dissatisfaction that, unlike television broadcasts, which have a 7+ rating, movies and OTT platforms do not offer a 7+ category.

Professor Kim also highlighted the limitations of the current rating information. She emphasized, "With only a briefly displayed age rating on the screen and seven content information pictograms, it is difficult to grasp the specific nature and intensity of harmful elements."

As a solution, she proposed introducing a "Korean-style Parents Guide." In countries such as the United Kingdom and New Zealand, Parents Guides provide scene descriptions, intensity by element, and literacy information for parents, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of rating information.

Professor Won Sookkyung of Dong-Eui University stated, "The system is shifting away from a focus on prior regulation toward strengthening the provision of rating information and expanding platform accountability," and added, "It is necessary to establish an expanded rating information system and reinforce co-regulation based on platform responsibility in Korea as well."

In response, Kim Byungjae, Chairperson of the Korea Media Rating Board, said, "We will do our best to protect users and expand their choices by considering the introduction of a Parents Guide and strengthening media rating literacy education."