The Game Self-Regulation Committee (GSOK) released its 10th 'GSOK Policy Research' report on the 3rd, dissecting key industry policies. This edition, titled 'The Legacy of the Mandatory Shutdown Law: Problems and Alternatives for Identity Verification in the Game Industry Act,' takes a hard look at the current state of age-gating and consent requirements.

The report probes why the identity verification and legal guardian consent systems, introduced alongside the 2011 mandatory shutdown law, are still in effect today. It argues that it is time to re-examine the constitutional validity and actual efficacy of these rules in a market and technological landscape that has moved on significantly.

The analysis suggests that the identity verification system is problematic because: ▲ It forces real-name authentication on every user, effectively stifling the freedom of anonymous expression; ▲ It restricts cultural participation for minors by making it contingent on parental consent; ▲ And it imposes unnecessary hurdles on adult users.

The report also highlights that collecting vast amounts of sensitive personal data—like resident registration numbers and mobile phone numbers—only ramps up the risk of leaks and security breaches. Furthermore, it points out that many youngsters simply bypass these rules using VPNs or someone else's credentials. It also notes the issue of reverse discrimination, as these rules are strictly applied to domestic PC online games while other sectors are exempt.

To fix this, the report proposes: ▲ Shifting to an age-verification-centric system limited only to content deemed harmful to minors; ▲ Embracing diverse authentication methods like biometrics and blockchain; ▲ And bolstering self-regulation within homes and the industry. It stresses that since the mandatory shutdown law has been abolished, the legal basis for these verification rules has weakened. The government needs to pivot away from heavy-handed pre-emptive control toward a paradigm that balances user rights with industry growth.

Hwang Sung-ki, Chairman of the Game Self-Regulation Committee, remarked, 'The current identity verification system remains static even though its original purpose has faded and the tech environment has shifted dramatically.' He added, 'Game policy must be continuously audited to keep pace with social change and the speed of technical innovation.'

'GSOK Policy Research' is a quarterly report published by the Game Self-Regulation Committee in its capacity as a dedicated research body. You can download the report at the official GSOK website where it is freely available to everyone.