South Korea Bans Real Money Trading of Virtual World Items

If you're in Korea and you play World of Warcraft, Second Life, or any of the dozens of huge online games popular in that country, you'll probably want to read this: According to the Korea Times, "Korea has decided to ban trade for commercial game items from the second half of this year as a measure aimed at encouraging students to not waste time." This isn't a "pay a small fine and go home" law, either, because penalties include a maximum of five years jail time. As Eurogamer says, "The law is the final nail in the coffin for Diablo 3's Auction House in South Korea, where Blizzard has endured a torrid time in recent months." That sounds about right, because Blizzard's games are hugely popular in the country. However, I'd like to see more follow-up on this story; I doubt Korea's massive massively online world industry will let this law stay law without a fight. For that matter, what's North Korea going to make of it, now that hackers for the dictatorship supplement its income with South Korean gold farming?

Hat tip: Kitty Revolver via EuroeGamer via Massively.

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Comments

[shockwave yareach]

Mr. Nguyen, on Sept 13 you acquired a battle ostrich in a pitched battle with the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Trall. Prove to us that you have not sold it, or go to jail...

Somedays I want to kiss the American soil under my feet.

[Pussycat Catnap]

Nguyen is a Vietnamese name btw.

That's like making a joke about Mr. Donatello, the MP from London... O.o

As for how folks in Korea will react - different social norms, and industry has power in different ways than in the west. The USA is run by corps; who dictate with fiat to American courts and legislators. That's not always the case everywhere else. They have influence there in major ways - but not the same.

If Korea views this as a major social problem, and it does with rather severe cases of internet addiction - its likely to survive challenge.

[Hitomi Tiponi]

I think you should point out that this is just a 'plan', not what your headline states. Many governments make grand policy announcements and then water them down (anyone remember Australian plans to ban unrated games?). We have yet to see how this will turn out in reality.

[Alisha]

I often wonder just how much western productivity is lost due to games, Facebook, twitter, forums, blogs, etc. Korea with its reputation of being even more plugged in than us may be good example of things to come. Of course I don't think banning commerce is the right idea. Quite the opposite. Micro transactions and global markets should be incredibly liberating for artists, and should be supported and advanced. I can see that idea scaring north Korea, but not (most of)the rest of the world.

[shockwave yareach]

@Pussycat. Ah, you are correct about the nationality of the name.

[Arcadia Codesmith]

If they're concerned that game playing is impacting the industriousness of students, then scale play time by GPA. The better your grades, the more you can play.

That's grossly unfair to dumb kids, but then again, so is everything else.

[Emperor Norton]

According to my Korean cowoker they have an entire cable channel devoted to live Starcraft games and live Starcraft tournaments is a popular forum of dating over there.

[Kim]

This is one of many government laws regulating Internet use here in Korea that are disregarded and unenforced. I have no fear for my SL income.