By IndieGame.com Editorial Team | Updated: January 2, 2026
The South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) has officially released its comprehensive “Explanatory Guide for the Disclosure of Information on Probabilistic Items” (Loot Boxes). This guide serves as the definitive manual for game developers and publishers to comply with the landmark amendment to the Game Industry Promotion Act, which took full effect on March 22, 2024.
As of 2026, this regulation remains the cornerstone of South Korea’s efforts to eliminate information asymmetry between game companies and players, ensuring a fair and transparent gaming ecosystem.
1. Broadening the Scope: What Counts as a “Paid” Item?
One of the most critical clarifications in the guide is the definition of a paid item. To prevent legal loopholes, the MCST has ruled that:
- Direct & Indirect Purchases: Any item that can be bought directly with cash or indirectly through paid currency is subject to disclosure.
- The “Purely Free” Rule: Only items that are obtained entirely for free are exempt.
- Indirect Paid Currency: If a player uses “Gold” (earned in-game) to buy an item, but that Gold can be exchanged for or influenced by paid currency, the item’s probability must be disclosed.
2. Detailed Disclosure by Item Type
The guide categorizes probabilistic items into four main types and provides specific instructions for each:
- Capsule Type: Traditional “gacha” boxes containing random rewards.
- Enhancement Type: Success/failure rates for upgrading gear.
- Synthesis Type: Probabilities involved when combining multiple items to create a new one.
- Special Categories: This includes items with limited quantities, time-limited offers, variable probabilities, and “Ceiling” (Pity) systems.
Key Requirement: If an item involves multiple stages (e.g., a synthesis result determines a “Grade,” and that Grade determines a specific “Item”), the probabilities for every single step must be revealed.
3. Standards for Display and Advertising
To ensure accessibility, the guide mandates that information be presented in a way that is “easy for users to understand”:
- In-Game: Probabilities (expressed in percentages) must be visible on purchase, inquiry, or usage screens.
- Websites: Information must be searchable via text or numerical strings on the game’s official website.
- Advertisements: All promotional materials, including posters and digital ads, must display the warning: “Includes Probabilistic Items.”
4. Enforcement and Monitoring
To ensure the policy isn’t just a “paper tiger,” the MCST and the Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC) have established a dedicated infrastructure:
- Monitoring Team: A 24-person task force strictly monitors games for compliance and investigates potential violations.
- Support Desk: A dedicated legal compliance window has been opened to assist developers in correctly implementing the disclosure standards.
Minister Yu In-chon previously emphasized the government’s stance: “We will thoroughly prepare the monitoring process and ensure this system settles into the market successfully to protect the rights of game users and resolve unfair practices in the game industry.”
💡 Why This Matters for Indie Developers in 2026
While these regulations were initially aimed at major AAA publishers, they apply to all games serviced in South Korea. For indie developers, understanding these guidelines is essential to avoid administrative sanctions or removal from domestic app stores.
