President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the need for effective economic sanctions regarding the controversy over manipulated probability-based items in the gaming industry. He directed that a robust penalty system must be established to go beyond simple correction requests and actually claw back illicit gains through heavy fines.

During a presidential briefing held at the Government Sejong Convention Center on the 16th with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and related agencies, President Lee questioned Seo Tae-geon, Chairman of the Game Rating and Administration Committee, on the current status and countermeasures regarding probability-based item issues. On the same day, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young reported that the ministry intends to find a breakthrough for the stagnant game industry by opening up new market channels.

President Lee expressed strong concern, confirming whether authorities are aware of the frustration felt by gamers on the ground. He pointed out that players perceive the failure to disclose or the misrepresentation of probability information not as a simple mistake, but as an act of deception, leading to deep-seated distrust, especially regarding the phenomenon where high-value items are not obtained.

In response, Chairman Seo explained that a dedicated team of 27 is monitoring the situation online. Under the current procedure, the first step upon detecting a violation is to issue a correction request, which resolves approximately 95% of cases. If the request is not fulfilled, the Ministry issues formal recommendations and orders, eventually leading to blocking measures or police investigations. Over the past 18 months, a total of 8 cases have been processed due to non-compliance.

After hearing the report, President Lee criticized the current process as overly complex. He noted that the method of repeatedly issuing correction requests and recommendations without imposing immediate sanctions can give the impression that the regulatory agency is begging the operators. He also pointed out that sanctions focused on criminal punishment are ineffective due to long trial periods and low penalty levels.

President Lee mentioned that the fundamental reason companies engage in probability manipulation is for profit, and emphasized the need for 'financial therapy'—a form of economic sanction—to block this. He ordered that immediate fines should be imposed on the violation itself, alongside corrective measures.

In response to the President's remarks, Chairman Seo replied that he would consult with the Ministry to explore measures that can produce effective punitive results. It appears that a strong regulatory plan to fundamentally strip away illicit profits will be reviewed.