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NHN headquarters building. (Photo courtesy of NHN) |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] The web board game industry is seeing renewed momentum as the government has raised the monthly spending cap for web board games for the first time in four years, from 700,000 won to 1 million won. With long-standing regulations aimed at curbing gambling concerns now eased, industry watchers expect the sector—long mired in stagnation—to enter a full-fledged recovery phase.
According to the game industry on the 27th, the Cabinet approved an amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Game Industry Promotion Act that raises the monthly payment limit for web board games such as go-stop and poker from 700,000 won to 1 million won. The key change allows users to spend more per month on virtual goods and in-game items.
Regulation of web board games was first introduced in 2014 to prevent excessive gambling, with an initial monthly cap of 300,000 won. The limit was gradually eased to 500,000 won in 2016 and 700,000 won in 2022. Despite these adjustments, web board games have continued to face stricter regulations than other game genres.
As a result, Korea’s web board game industry has shrunk rapidly. According to the Korea Association of Game Industry, the domestic web board game market was valued at 6.37 trillion won in 2011 but plunged to 2.27 trillion won by 2016 following the introduction of strict regulations. The market has since remained largely stagnant, weakening the industry’s overall growth momentum.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the decision to raise the spending cap was not simply a response to industry demands but a policy judgment based on objective data and the feasibility of post-management measures. During the regulatory review process, the ministry formed a consultative body involving the private sector, academia, the industry, and the Game Rating and Administration Committee, conducting prior research and analysis of user behavior.
Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
