■ Establish specific standards for item scope, indications, and methods before implementing probability item information disclosure
■ Monitoring group to monitor violations of probability information disclosure, operation of a dedicated legal compliance information desk
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister Yoo In-chon, from now on referred to as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) conducted a detailed interpretation of the probability information disclosure method before the implementation (March 22) of the Probabilistic Item Information Disclosure System (from now on referred to as Probability Information Disclosure) on Monday, February 19. , distributes the ‘Commentary on Probabilistic Item Information Disclosure’ (the ‘Commentary’ from now on) that guides the standards.
Probability information disclosure is scheduled to take effect from Friday, March 22nd of this year, by the amendment to the Act on Promotion of the Game Industry (from now on referred to as the Game Act) passed by the National Assembly in February 2023. On January 30th, the President It was introduced as the most core system in the policy of ‘creating a game industry ecosystem that enhances the rights and interests of game users’ at the 7th People’s Livelihood Debate held under the chairmanship.
The commentary sets specific standards for ▴ the scope of probability items, ▴ labeling requirements for each probability item, and ▴ display methods in games, advertisements, and promotional materials to resolve the information asymmetry between game companies and game users related to probability items. The commentary can be downloaded from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (www.mcst.go.kr) and the Game Management Committee (Chairman Kim Gyu-cheol, from now on referred to as the Game Committee) website (www.grac.or.kr).
▲ Only items obtained entirely free of charge are excluded from probability information disclosure.
Regarding the scope of information disclosure, all items that can be purchased directly or indirectly for a fee are subject to probability information disclosure, and only items obtained entirely free of charge are excluded from probability information disclosure. In particular, even if it can be purchased through goods that can be obtained for free (e.g., gold, etc.), if these goods can be purchased directly or indirectly for a fee, they are not included in the scope of complete freeness. For example, when free goods can be exchanged for goods purchased for a fee, it can be considered an indirect paid purchase.
▲ Specific indications and methods for each type of probability item
Regarding the display of each probability type item, the type of item is first divided into capsule type, enhanced type, composite type, and other types (quantity/limited type, probability variable type, ceiling type), and probability display details and methods for each type. By providing specific examples, we have established standards that game companies can refer to when expressing probabilities. In addition, to thoroughly protect the rights and interests of game users, it was stipulated that all individual probabilities be disclosed even in cases where probabilities are applied at each stage (e.g., when grades are divided according to the result of item synthesis and the items that appear depending on the grade are different, etc.).
▲ Probabilistic item information is displayed in an easy-to-understand way for users, and information is provided in advance in advertisements and promotional materials.
Probability information for probability-type items must be displayed in a way that users can easily understand, such as percentages. In principle, it must be provided so that it can be searched by a string or number string on the item’s purchase, inquiry, or use screen in a game product or on an Internet website. Game advertisements and promotional materials also display the phrase ‘probability items included’ to inform game users in advance.
▲ A monitoring group will monitor the disclosure of probability information, operating a dedicated window for legal compliance guidance.
In addition to distributing this commentary, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will operate a random item monitoring group (24 people) together with the Game Commission to monitor cases of violation of the law after the system is implemented. In addition, we plan to respond by phone through a dedicated window for legal compliance guidance within the Gaming Commission and support businesses with an obligation to display odds to implement the system properly.
Previously, Minister Yoo In-chon visited the Game Commission (February 16) to check the follow-up measures for the people’s livelihood debate in the gaming sector and said, “We have thoroughly prepared for monitoring the disclosure of information on probability items and worked hard to spread the explanations scheduled to be released so that the system has been successfully established in the field.” “I hope you will do your best,” he said. “The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will do its best to protect the rights and interests of game users and resolve unfair issues in the game market.” It has been said.
(Guideline on the Disclosure of Probability Information)
Before enforcing the Game Industry Promotion Act on Disclosure of Probabilistic Item Information(effective March 22, 2024), we are releasing the English guidelines on the scope, required information, and display methods of probabilistic items.
