Korea’s ‘Shutdown Law’ Might Be Unconstitutional


While the US Supreme Court susses out the constitutionality of health care legislation, South Korea is navigating the legality of its Shutdown Law. As previously mentioned, the Shutdown Law was created to prevent gamers under the age of 16 from gaming during a six-hour block at night so apparently they would sleep (or study?).

The law has already impacted both Xbox Live and the PSN in South Korea.

Now, two lawsuits filed last year are challenging the Shutdown Law’s constitutionality.

Parents and teenagers with a Korean organisation representing culture filed one lawsuit, which contests that the law invades parental rights to educate their own children as well as equal opportunity rights.

Korean game companies, such as NCsoft, Neowiz and Nexon, also filed in a separate suit, stating that the Shutdown Law is unjust.

Both arguments are now being heard, and if the court decides that the Shutdown Law is unconstitutional, the law will not be enforced. This will set a legal precedent in South Korea.

Meanwhile, the country’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Family recently stated that the Shutdown Law is the bare minimum to protect teenagers. Anyone know the Korean for “nanny state”?

셧다운제 위헌소송 2건 ‘심리 진행 중’ [ThisIsGame]

Jongsu Chang contributed to this report.

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