As gaming shutdown rule abolished, youth chooses own hours of use

▲ This photo shows the abolition of gaming shutdown rule. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) – The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has said on Dec. 31 that the so-called gaming shutdown rule, banning minors from late night access to online games, will be abolished.

The rule was in accordance with the enforcement of the revised youth protection act and the new youth protection act abolishes the regulations that restrict online game access to minors under 16 between midnight and 6 a.m.

Moreover, it also supports services, such as counseling, education, and treatment for not only underage children addicted to online games, but also the families.

As a result, the "gaming shutdown rule," which was introduced as law on Nov. 20, 2011, is abolished in about 10 years, and the regulation will be unified into the "game time option system(the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's game industry law),” in which guardians and children control the time of game usage.

Kim Kyung-seon, the vice minister of Gender Equality and Family, has said, “The system
has been reformed to ensure self-determination and autonomous options of the students,” adding "We will cooperate with related departments to expand education and information in terms of game usage, and strengthen support for youth's healthy everyday life, such as operating a treatment camp for children who are overdependent on the Internet and smartphones.

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