Korea finally ditches its after-midnight game curfew on minors

[Graphics by Song Ji-yoon]

The Korean government has decided to abolish its exclusive ¡°compulsory shutdown law" that bans minors from playing PC games after 12 a.m., replacing it with a voluntary selective shutdown option to sustain minimum protection of youngsters from games addiction while enhancing their liberty.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Gender, Equality and Family in a joint statement said on Wednesday that the new measure is designed to respect the youth's right to self-determination and the right to home education for children.

The Ministry of Gender, Equality and Family introduced the compulsory curfew in 2011 under the Juvenile Protection Act to prevent access to online computer games for teens aged 16 and younger between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. The protective mechanism against late-night gaming has long been protested by players and game companies and its effectiveness questioned due to proliferation of smartphone and mobile gaming that has come to replace PCs as dominant game platforms.

The selective shutdown regulation supervised by the culture ministry allows users under the age of 18 and their parents or guardians to adjust the gaming time upon request. The ministry said it will change the system to help users apply for time availability when they sign up for games through Game Culture Foundation. Teachers or social workers instead of parents will also be authorized to apply for game time to protect the youth out of school or in other vulnerable situations.

[¨Ï Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]