معلومات أساسية
During the recent Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism national audit, the video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 became a point of contention. The game, released on October 23, was brought into a political debate involving the film Assassins, overshadowing substantive discussions regarding the gaming industry.
Representative Kim Seok-ki of the People Power Party questioned Minister Choi Hwi-young regarding the game's narrative, which depicts South Korea and the United States responding to a North Korean invasion. Kim argued that calls from the left to halt the game's distribution represent a double standard compared to the defense of creative freedom for films, labeling the Minister's stance on creative liberty as irresponsible.
Minister Choi Hwi-young responded that the government does not engage in pre-censorship of games, noting that freedom of expression is constitutionally protected. He added that existing legal frameworks, such as defamation and criminal law, are sufficient to address concerns regarding creative content.
The focus on this specific title during the audit drew criticism for distracting from essential administrative oversight. While other industry issues like illegal currency exchange in sports games and the effectiveness of overseas game company representatives were mentioned, broader concerns regarding government support for the gaming sector and the Game Rating and Administration Committee were largely sidelined.
