Cho Young-ki, the new president of the Korea Association of Game Industry, holds an inaugural meeting at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, on Nov. 29, and is answering questions. /Courtesy of Lee Kyung-tak.

On the 29th, Cho Young-ki, the new chairman of the Korea Association of Game Industry, held an inaugural meeting at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, revealing a roadmap focused on 'consolidation, communication, and cooperation' to be pursued over the next two years. Chairman Cho, who previously led Netmarble, a pioneer in the mobile gaming market, presented the prevention of the introduction of the disease code for gaming disorder as a top priority, demonstrating his commitment to protecting the game industry.

Chairman Cho noted, "The Korean game industry has grown to a scale of 23 trillion won and has jumped to the world's fourth-largest rank over the past 30 years, and the gap with Japan, which is ranked third, is narrowing." He pointed out, "As we enter 2023, the growth trend is slowing, and the attack by foreign games on the domestic market is accelerating, making the controversy over the introduction of the disease code a serious threat to the entire industry."

The disease code is an International Classification of Diseases (ICD) that the World Health Organization (WHO) systematically classifies diseases and health issues. With the inclusion of 'gaming disorder,' there is an increasing risk that gaming itself could be perceived as a 'disease-related behavior' upon domestic introduction. Chairman Cho stated, "If the disease code is formalized, gaming will be degraded from a simple leisure activity to a target of management and regulation, which can have extensive negative impacts on industrial growth, attracting investment, and creating jobs for young people." He continued, "We must not hastily accept it in a situation where scientific verification is insufficient, and we will closely cooperate with the government, National Assembly, and medical community to prevent its introduction."

Chairman Cho proposed 'consolidation, communication, and cooperation' as a strategy to overcome the crisis in the gaming industry. He stated, "We will create jobs by connecting corporations with talent, corporations with corporations, and corporations with global partners while supporting domestic game companies to enhance their influence in the global market." He added, "Through communication among member companies, users, and related organizations, we will expand the positive perception of the industry and work with the government, National Assembly, media, and academia to alleviate unreasonable regulations."

He also expressed his stance regarding the blockchain gaming industry, which has been hindered by domestic regulations. He said, "While blockchain games are rapidly growing overseas, it is difficult to provide services domestically due to review and legal barriers," proposing that the association will push for regulatory improvements.

He specifically outlined policy responses. Chairman Cho stated, "We plan to officially propose to the next government the establishment of ▲ tax incentives for game exports ▲ inclusion of games in the support system for video content production ▲ expansion of discretionary work and flexible working hours to relax the 52-hour workweek." He emphasized that since games account for 70% of the country’s cultural content export, "expanding export support incentives will have a positive ripple effect not only on the industry as a whole but also on the national economy."

Regarding the criticism of the G-STAR, the country’s largest game exhibition, being biased toward domestic game companies, Chairman Cho stated, "We will actively encourage participation from platform companies and globally popular game companies to develop it into a platform for global exchange that exceeds '210,000 visitors and 1,300 participating companies.'" He also mentioned, "We are preparing to attract (overseas) subculture game companies and cooperation programs, and specific plans will be revealed soon."

He presented the restoration of the stagnant startup ecosystem following COVID-19 as a major task. Chairman Cho stated, "We plan to strengthen the hub role by building youth talent databases, startup databases, and global partner databases within the first half of the year to connect with major member companies, along with proposing a matching fund involving the government and member companies." He added, "If the association provides practical value to its member companies, the foundation will naturally expand," stating, "We aim to secure an additional 10 member companies by the end of this year."

Chairman Cho's term lasts until April 2027. He noted, "Gaming has become a representative culture enjoyed by 6 out of 10 people in the country," stating, "I will continue to strive (even through re-election if necessary) until we do well. I will communicate sincerely with member companies, the government, and users to improve industrial growth and social perception."