The Korea Game Users Association, alongside 'Kim Sung-hoe’s G-Sik Encyclopedia', has officially reported several sites hosting illegal repacks and cracks of major domestic titles, as well as specific local web-hard services, to the Korea Copyright Protection Agency and the Game Rating and Administration Committee.

The move comes as illegal downloads of titles developed in South Korea continue to spiral. With cracked copies originating overseas being recklessly redistributed through local web-hard services, the association stepped in to safeguard the local ecosystem and shield gamers from potential hazards.

The primary targets of this crackdown include notorious overseas file-sharing hubs such as 'FitGirl Repacks', 'DODI Repacks', 'elamigosweb', and 'ankergames', along with domestic web-hard platforms that profit by peddling these pirated materials.

The association pointed out that these entities haven't just violated copyright law by bypassing Digital Rights Management (DRM) measures; they are actively putting users at risk of malware infections.

In response, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Game Content Industry Division and the Game Rating and Administration Committee have pledged to designate these overseas sites and local distribution channels as high-priority targets, promising intensive monitoring and corrective measures over the next two to three months.

YouTuber Kim Sung-hoe stated, "At a time when K-content and the South Korean gaming industry are gaining global recognition, the spread of pirated software via web-hard services is a grave crime that demoralizes creators and threatens the very roots of our industry."

Lawyer Lee Cheol-woo, who also serves as a copyright expert for the Korea Copyright Commission, noted, "Under copyright law, habitual infringement for profit can be investigated and prosecuted even without a formal complaint from the rights holder." Lee Cheol-woo added, "Gamers must also be vigilant, as the cracking process often exposes users to viruses, ransomware, and the theft of sensitive personal data."

Moving forward, the Korea Game Users Association plans to continue monitoring overseas illegal distribution networks, P2P services, and domestic web-hard operators that turn a blind eye to copyright infringement. The association aims to strengthen its commitment to protecting domestic game copyrights by establishing new governance frameworks with relevant copyright authorities.