The Democratic Party of Korea has renewed its efforts to regulate in-game monetisation by reintroducing a bill targeting certain randomised reward systems in online games. This move reflects Korea’s ongoing initiative to address consumer protection in the gaming industry.
Party floor leader Kim Byung-kee submitted an amendment to the Game Industry Promotion Act, proposing a ban on “complete gacha” systems, which require players to collect an entire set of random items to receive a rare reward.
The proposal authorises the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Korea to investigate developers who provide misleading item probability data. It also requires game companies to clearly outline consumer protection policies, including refund or exchange options for digital content purchased with in-game currency. The amendment establishes a compensation framework for players affected by live service game closures.
Rep. Kim criticised current legislation for failing to hold developers accountable for manipulating drop rates or using exploitative mechanics such as complete gacha. He warned that this legal gap encourages gambling-like behaviours. These issues are becoming increasingly significant in Korea, where gaming is widely popular. The proposed changes aim to promote healthier gaming practices and safeguard consumers.
A similar bill during the 21st National Assembly in Korea failed to pass. At that time, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee requested further research to justify the ban, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism advised developers to prioritise transparency over strict legal restrictions.
