Aug 26, 2021 20:00:00

South Korea's 'Shutdown Law' banning young people from playing online games late at night will be abolished after 10 years

On August 25, 2021, it was reported that South Korea plans to repeal the 'Shutdown Act,' a law that prohibits children under the age of 16 from playing online games between midnight and 6 a.m. This law, which was introduced with the purported purpose of preventing gaming addiction, has been met with opposition, particularly from the gaming industry, since its implementation in November 2011.

Korea to ax games curfew

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20210825000854

Korea to lift game curfew for children
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2021/08/134_314499.html?fl

On August 25, South Korea's Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism decided to repeal the shutdown law, stating that 'the effectiveness of the law is declining as gaming platforms become more diverse and many children play mobile games that are not subject to the law,' and 'contrary to its original purpose of protecting children, it may be infringing on children's right to self-determination.'

The Shutdown Act was proposed by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family in June 2010, stating that online game addiction is harmful to the health of young people, as a way for the country to regulate online gameplay among young people. It was subsequently passed by the National Assembly and came into effect in November 2011. Under the Shutdown Act, also known as the 'Cinderella Law,' game companies were required to block access to their games from users under the age of 16 between midnight and 6 a.m., with violations punishable by imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to 10 million won (approximately JPY 940,000).

This law also affected game companies based outside of South Korea, with Sony

blocking users under the age of 16 from logging in to the PlayStation Network (PSN) or creating new accounts during the designated time period, and Microsoft blocking users under the age of 19 from creating new Xbox Live accounts in South Korea. As a result, after Microsoft acquired the game company Mojang Studios , the popular game Minecraft , developed by the company, was effectively designated as 19+, drawing criticism both domestically and internationally. At the time of its implementation, the law was also criticized for being unconstitutional because it violates the fundamental human right to pursue happiness, for dealing a blow to the game industry, and for having loopholes that allow children to log in using their parents' accounts.

As repealing the Shutdown Law requires amending the Youth Protection Act, the government aims to submit an amendment bill to the National Assembly by the end of 2021. Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs Yoo Eun-hye said, 'In a changing media environment, children's ability to make their own decisions and protect themselves is of utmost importance. We will work with relevant ministries and agencies to systematically support education on media and game use at school, home, and in society, enabling young people to develop these abilities, and will continue to work to create a healthy gaming environment and a variety of leisure activities for children.'

If the Shutdown Act is repealed, the system for preventing gaming addiction among young people is expected to be unified into a ' Gaming Time Selection System ' that allows parents to limit the amount of time their children under the age of 18 can spend playing online games.