South Korean anime game fans petition for public audit of game rating agency
A petition created by South Korean Anime game fans is causing a stir as it gathers thousands of signatures. The petition demands a public audit of the Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC) after an incident involving the age rating increase of a popular mobile RPG called Blue Archive. Fans of the game were upset when the rating was raised due to the presence of undressed characters.
The GRAC, which is the government agency responsible for regulating games in South Korea, has often faced criticism from gamers and developers for its conservative approach to game censorship and regulation.
The Change.org petition, which currently has 5,489 signatures, states, "This petition aims to request a public audit of the Game Rating and Administration Committee. A recent case in which the rating of Nexon's mobile game 'Blue Archive' was raised based on no clear grounds should be investigated as a case of corruption and misappropriation of public funds."
The petition highlights the fact that Blue Archive was initially rated 15 by the GRAC, but the agency later increased the rating to 18. The rating change was made following complaints about the revealing outfits of some of the game's characters.
In response to the rating change, Nexon, the developer of Blue Archive, made modifications to the game to maintain the 15 rating. A revised version of the game was released with less revealing character designs. However, the petition argues that the GRAC demanded this change without providing a proper explanation.
Corruption allegations against the GRAC
As a result of the petition, the GRAC conducted an internal audit of its activities. The audit revealed structural misconduct within the agency, including making payments to individuals or companies before completing tasks, creating false data, and diverting funds to support service projects.
The audit report also suggests that some of the missing funds may have been linked to Bitcoin mining, although this could be a misunderstanding related to a project called the "Self-Rating Game Blockchain." The South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to overhaul the agency, replace department heads, and file criminal charges.
Lawmaker Lee Sang-heon, who initiated the petition, expressed satisfaction with the audit results. He accuses the GRAC of committing structural misconduct and misusing taxpayers' money to support the companies it regulates. Lee Sang-heon vows to continue pushing for a thorough investigation.
The GRAC, on the other hand, has committed to fully reforming itself and regaining the public's trust.
