View source for Game Rating and Administration Committee

{{short description|South Korean video game content rating board}}
{{Infobox government agency
| name            = Game Rating and Administration Committee
| native_name     = 
| native_name_a   = {{lang|ko|게임물관리위원회}}<br />게임物管理委員會
| native_name_r   = Geimmul Gwalli Wiwonhoe
| type            = Video game content rating body
| seal            = 
| seal_width      = 
| seal_caption    = 
| logo            = Game Rating and Administration Committee logo.svg
| logo_width      = 
| logo_caption    = 
| image           = 
| image_size      = 
| image_caption   = 
| formed          = 2006 (as Game Rating Board)
| preceding1      = 
| preceding2      = <!-- up to |preceding6= -->
| dissolved       = 
| superseding1    = 
| superseding2    = <!-- up to |superseding6= -->
| jurisdiction    = South Korea
| headquarters    = [[Busan]], [[South Korea]]
| coordinates     = <!-- {{coord|LATITUDE|LONGITUDE|type:landmark_region:US|display=inline,title}} -->
| motto           = 
| employees       = 
| budget          = 
| minister1_name  = 
| minister1_pfo   = 
| minister2_name  = 
| minister2_pfo   = <!-- up to |minister8_name= -->
| deputyminister1_name = 
| deputyminister1_pfo = 
| deputyminister2_name = 
| deputyminister2_pfo = <!-- up to |deputyminister8_name= -->
| chief1_name     = 
| chief1_position = 
| chief2_name     = 
| chief2_position = <!-- up to |chief9_name= -->
| public_protector = 
| deputy          = 
| parent_department = 
| parent_agency   = 
| parent_agency_type = <!-- defaults to |type if left blank -->
| child1_agency   = 
| child2_agency   = <!-- up to |child25_agency= -->
| keydocument1    = <!-- up to |keydocument6= -->
| website         = {{URL|http://www.grac.or.kr/}}
| agency_id       = 
| map             = 
| map_size        = 
| map_caption     = 
| footnotes       = 
| embed           = 
| logo_alt        = Game Rating and Administration Committee logo hangug-eo.svg
}}
{{Infobox Korean name
|hangul = {{linktext|게임|물|관리|위원회}}
|hanja  = 게임{{linktext|物|管理|委員會}}
|rr     = Geimmul Gwalli Wiwonhoe
|mr     = Keimmul kwalli wiwŏnhoe
}}
The '''Game Rating and Administration Committee'''{{efn|{{korean|hangul=게임물관리위원회|rr=Geimmul Gwalli-Wiwonhoe}}}} ('''GRAC'''), formerly the '''Game Rating Board'''{{efn|{{korean|hangul=게임물등급위원회|rr=Geimmul Deung-Geub-Wiwonhoe}}}} ('''GRB''') until December 23, 2013, is a [[South Korea]]n [[video game content rating board]]. A governmental organization, the GRAC rates [[video games]] to inform customers of the nature of game contents.

Prior to the foundation of GRB, the [[Korea Media Rating Board]] rated video games like most other entertainment media. In 2006, the controversies surrounding the arcade gambling game ''Sea Story'', which the Korea Media Rating Board found suitable for all-age, lead to allegations of misconduct. The Korean government responded by creating the GRB in 2006 and making it the only rating organization for rating video games in South Korea.<ref name="OhLarson2011">{{cite book|author1=Myung Oh|author2=James Larson|title=Digital Development in Korea: Building an Information Society|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OZpdqhsPHnQC&pg=PA147|date=14 March 2011|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-136-81313-9|pages=147–148}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/22/sea-story-scandal-simmers/ |title=Sea Story scandal simmers |publisher=[[The Marmot's Hole]] |date=2006-08-22 |access-date=2014-08-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120110/http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/22/sea-story-scandal-simmers/ |archive-date=2014-08-26 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2006/08/30/2003325478 |title=South Korean PM apologizes for video game controversy |publisher=Taipei Times |date=2014-08-19 |access-date=2014-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826113708/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2006/08/30/2003325478 |archive-date=2014-08-26 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2011/09/123_95415.html |title=Blizzard's rush for cash? |publisher=[[The Korea Times]] |date=2011-09-25 |access-date=2014-08-26 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826161522/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2011/09/123_95415.html |archive-date=2014-08-26 }}</ref>

The GRAC has been criticized as one of the elements of the [[Internet censorship in South Korea]], and has been criticized for being the same as [[Censorship in China|censorship of China]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.economist.com/node/18561127 |title=Censorship in South Korea: Game over |publisher=The Economist |date=2011-04-14 |access-date=2014-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820141333/http://www.economist.com/node/18561127 |archive-date=2014-08-20 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rjkoehler.com/2010/09/07/south-koreas-game-rating-board-and-the-war-on-online-content/ |title=South Korea's Game Rating Board and The War on Online Content |publisher=[[The Marmot's Hole]] |date=2010-09-07 |access-date=2014-08-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120155/http://www.rjkoehler.com/2010/09/07/south-koreas-game-rating-board-and-the-war-on-online-content/ |archive-date=2014-08-26 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://koreanoodles.com/korea-blocks-facebook-game-apps |title=Korea Blocks Facebook Game Apps |publisher=Koreanoodles |date=2014-09-02 |access-date=2014-09-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905171717/http://koreanoodles.com/korea-blocks-facebook-game-apps/ |archive-date=2014-09-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref> By law, games sold in the country must be rated by GRAC prior to sale; additional regulations stipulate age and real name verification for certain mature-audience titles, as well as regulations on location-based games.<ref>{{cite web |last1=jaripekka |title=South-Korea / How To Enable Digital Growth In Europe? |date=25 January 2020 |url=http://www.egdf.eu/documentation/5-fair-digital-markets/9-trade-policy/south-korea/ |publisher=European Games Developer Federation}}</ref>

In October 2022, the GRAC's sudden decision to raise the age rating of video games was accused of being an illegitimate policy, leading to an audit of the board suggested by [[Democratic Party (South Korea, 2015)|Democratic Party]] politician {{Ill|Lee Sang-heon (politician)|lt=Lee Sang-heon|ko|이상헌 (1954년)}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=김 |first=주환 |title=민주 이상헌, '게임물관리위 전산망 비리의혹' 국민감사 청구 |url=https://n.news.naver.com/article/001/0013543652 |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=[[Naver News]] |language=ko}}</ref>

== Age rating symbol ==
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The GRAC currently uses four different age ratings.<ref>{{cite web |title=Age Rating Symbol |url=https://www.grac.or.kr/Institution/EtcForm01.aspx |access-date=15 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831033609/http://grac.or.kr/Institution/EtcForm01.aspx |archive-date=2018-08-31 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! Rating
! Description
|-
| [[File:GRB All.svg|80px]]
| ALL: Titles rated ALL have content that may be suitable for all ages.
*The content of the game offers educational, or cultivating moral character and sentiments for children.
*The content of the game has no representation of anti-societal idea, distortion or profanity of religion and public morals that harm children emotionally and physically.
*The content and motif of the game have no representation of obscenity, violence, or reproduction of gambling spirit that harms children at all.
|-
| [[File:GRB 12.svg|80px]]
| 12+: Titles rated 12+ have content that may be suitable for ages 12 and older.
*The content of the game may have representations of anti-societal idea, distortion or profanity of religion and public morals that would be harmful to children under 12 emotionally and physically.
*The content and motif of the game may have representations of obscenity, violence, reproduction of gambling spirit that would be harmful to children under 12 (slight level of sexuality, violence, improper language (expletives), etc.).
|-
| [[File:GRAC 15 (15세이용가).svg|80px]]
| 15+: Titles rated 15+ have content that may be suitable for ages 15 and older.
*The content of the game may have representations of anti-societal idea, distortion or profanity of religion and public morals that would be harmful to children under 15 emotionally and physically.
*The content and motif of the game may have representations of obscenity, violence, speculation, etc. that would be harmful to children under 15 (indirect and restricted representation of sexuality, violence, improper language (expletives) and low level of reproduction of gambling spirit (arousing of passion for excessive use of gaming money, or dependence on one's luck).
|-
| [[File:GRAC 19 (19청소년이용불가).svg|92x92px]]
| 19+: Titles rated 19+ have content restricted for ages 19 and older.
*The content of the game may have representations of anti-societal idea, distortion or profanity of religion and public morals that would be harmful to minors emotionally and physically.
*The content and motif of the game may have representations of obscenity, violence, speculation, etc. that would be harmful to minors (direct and concrete graphical representation of sexuality, violence, improper language (expletives), reproduction of gambling spirit (existence of arousing of passion of excessive use of gaming money, or dependence on one's luck, but no real gain or loss of one's asset).<ref>{{cite web|title=Rating Guide|url=https://www.grb.or.kr/english/enforcement/ratingguide.aspx|website=GAME RATING BOARD|access-date=2014-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003074503/http://www.grb.or.kr/english/enforcement/ratingguide.aspx|archive-date=2014-10-03|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:GRB Test.svg|80px]]
| TESTING: Game contents for testing with GRAC's permission before general release.
*The game is either being demonstrated, or the rating is pending.
|}

==Former rating==
{| class="wikitable"
! Rating
! Description
|-
| [[File:GRAC 18 (18청소년이용불가).svg|92x92px]]
| 18+: Titles rated 18+ have content restricted for ages 18 and older.
*The content of the game may have representations of anti-societal idea, distortion or profanity of religion and public morals that would be harmful to minors emotionally and physically.
*The content and motif of the game may have representations of obscenity, violence, speculation, etc. that would be harmful to minors (direct and concrete graphical representation of sexuality, violence, improper language (expletives), reproduction of gambling spirit (existence of arousing of passion of excessive use of gaming money, or dependence on one's luck, but no real gain or loss of one's asset).<ref>{{cite web|title=Rating Guide|url=https://www.grb.or.kr/english/enforcement/ratingguide.aspx|website=GAME RATING BOARD|access-date=2014-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003074503/http://www.grb.or.kr/english/enforcement/ratingguide.aspx|archive-date=2014-10-03|url-status=live}}</ref> This rating was withdrawn and replaced by the 19 rating in 2024. (For new classifications issued, this change  took effect from January 9th 2024. On July 1st 2024, all games which had previously been issued 18 ratings, had their former certification withdrawn and raised to 19).
|}

== Content descriptors ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Content descriptors
|-
! Icon !! Content descriptor !! Description !! Ratings
|-
| [[Image:GRB Sexuality.svg|60px]] || Sexuality || Contains references or explicit depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including nudity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grac.or.kr/english/Default.aspx |title=GAME RATING and ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE |access-date=2020-11-15}}</ref> || [[File:GRB 12.svg|30px]] [[File:GRAC 15 (15세이용가).svg|30px]] [[File:GRAC 19 (19청소년이용불가).svg|34x34px]]
|-
| [[Image:GRB Violence.svg|60px]] || Violence || Contains references or scenes involving aggressive conflict, may contain blood scenes (realistic blood, gore, weapons, and depictions of human injury and death)/PvP or PK.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grac.or.kr/english/Default.aspx |title=GAME RATING and ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE |access-date=2020-11-15}}</ref> || [[File:GRB All.svg|30px]] [[File:GRB 12.svg|30px]] [[File:GRAC 15 (15세이용가).svg|30px]] [[File:GRAC 19 (19청소년이용불가).svg|34x34px]]
|-
| [[Image:GRB Fear, Horror, Threatening.svg|60px]] || Fear, Horror, Threatening || Contains references or depictions of horrifying action.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grac.or.kr/english/Default.aspx |title=GAME RATING and ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE |access-date=2020-11-15}}</ref> || [[File:GRB 12.svg|30px]] [[File:GRAC 15 (15세이용가).svg|30px]] [[File:GRAC 19 (19청소년이용불가).svg|34x34px]]
|-
| [[Image:GRB Language.svg|60px]] || Language || Contains references or explicit depictions of inappropriate language. (sexual, problematic social messages, abusive language, etc.)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grac.or.kr/english/Default.aspx |title=GAME RATING and ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE |access-date=2020-11-15}}</ref> || [[File:GRB 12.svg|30px]] [[File:GRAC 15 (15세이용가).svg|30px]] [[File:GRAC 19 (19청소년이용불가).svg|34x34px]]
|-
| [[Image:GRB Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs.svg|60px]] || Alcohol, Tobacco, Drug || Contains references or images of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and/or illegal drug use.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grac.or.kr/english/Default.aspx |title=GAME RATING and ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE |access-date=2020-11-15}}</ref> || [[File:GRB 12.svg|30px]] [[File:GRAC 15 (15세이용가).svg|30px]] [[File:GRAC 19 (19청소년이용불가).svg|34x34px]]
|-
| [[Image:GRAC Crime, anti-societal or anti-governmental messages.svg|60px]] || Crime, Anti-societal || Contains references or images of crime, anti-societal, and/or anti-governmental messages.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grac.or.kr/english/Default.aspx |title=GAME RATING and ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE |access-date=2020-11-15}}</ref> || [[File:GRB 12.svg|30px]] [[File:GRAC 15 (15세이용가).svg|30px]] [[File:GRAC 19 (19청소년이용불가).svg|34x34px]]
|-
| [[Image:GRB Gambling.svg|60px]] || Gambling || Contains references to gambling or betting (speculation), and/or simulated gambling.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grac.or.kr/english/Default.aspx |title=GAME RATING and ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE |access-date=2020-11-15}}</ref> || [[File:GRB 12.svg|30px]] [[File:GRAC 15 (15세이용가).svg|30px]] [[File:GRAC 19 (19청소년이용불가).svg|34x34px]]
|}

== See also ==
* [[Video game content rating system]]
* [[Australian Classification Board|Australian Classification Board (ACB)]]
* [[Brazilian advisory rating system]]
* [[Computer Entertainment Rating Organization|Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO)]]
* [[Entertainment Software Rating Board|Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)]]
* [[Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle|Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK)]]
* [[PEGI|Pan European Game Information (PEGI)]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{official website|http://www.grac.or.kr/}} {{in lang|ko}}
* {{official website|https://www.grac.or.kr/english/Default.aspx|Official English website}} {{in lang|en}}

{{Video game content rating systems}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:2005 establishments in South Korea]]
[[Category:2013 establishments in South Korea]]
[[Category:Censorship in South Korea]]
[[Category:Entertainment rating organizations]]
[[Category:Government agencies of South Korea]]
[[Category:Video game organizations]]
[[Category:Video game content ratings systems]]