South Korea has launched a dedicated center to investigate and provide relief for consumers harmed by probability-based items in video games.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, led by Minister Choi Hwi-young, announced that it held an opening ceremony for the "Probability-Based Item Consumer Protection Center" on the afternoon of the 27th at the Busan Visual Industry Center, together with the Game Rating and Administration Committee, chaired by Seo Tae-gun.
The launch marks the culmination of more than a year of efforts to directly address controversies including allegations of manipulated odds in loot box systems. An amendment to the Game Industry Promotion Act establishing the center passed the National Assembly in December 2024. The related enforcement decree was promulgated in July 2025, and the Game Rating and Administration Committee was reorganized in February 2026 to operate the center.
Approximately 50 attendees participated in the ceremony, including officials from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Busan Metropolitan City, the Game Rating and Administration Committee, and the Korea Creative Content Agency. Representatives from the Korea Game Industry Association, the Korea Game Users Association, and academic experts also attended.
The center is staffed with 20 specialists within the committee's User Protection Division, dedicated exclusively to addressing consumer harm caused by probability-based items.
Core functions include receiving and consulting on complaints related to violations of loot box disclosure requirements, investigating and verifying reported damages, developing relief measures, and providing legal support. The center will also coordinate with the Content Dispute Mediation Committee's legal authorities, including ex officio mediation and collective dispute mediation, to help users resolve disputes through established institutional channels.