Korea Domestic Agent Rules Are Getting Stronger: What Overseas Game Publishers Need to Know

Korea Is Strengthening Its Domestic Agent Framework

Korea is moving to strengthen the Domestic Agent system for overseas game companies, shifting the focus from formal appointment toward active oversight, consumer protection, and accountability.

Two amendments have driven this development:

• July 25, 2025 — Rep. Cho Seung-rae’s proposal (Bill No. 2211759): proposed priority for certain Korean subsidiaries or affiliates when appointing a Domestic Agent, along with stronger management and supervision duties for overseas publishers.
• August 27, 2026 — Rep. Kim Jae-won’s proposal (Bill No. 2220858): proposed expanding Domestic Agent responsibilities to include Korean user protection and complaint handling, while strengthening designation and enforcement requirements.

On September 16, 2026, the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee moved forward with a committee alternative incorporating relevant provisions from the proposals.

The changes are not yet in force, but they indicate a clear shift toward a more substantive Domestic Agent system.

6 Key Changes to Korea’s Domestic Agent Rules

1. Greater Role in User Protection

The proposed changes would explicitly add Korean user protection and complaint handling to the Domestic Agent framework, expanding the role beyond regulatory reporting and information disclosure.

2. Priority for Korean Subsidiaries and Affiliates

Where an overseas publisher has an applicable Korean subsidiary or affiliated entity, the proposed framework would give such entities priority when appointing a Domestic Agent.

If no applicable Korean entity exists, another qualified Korean entity may perform the role.

3. Stronger Supervision by Overseas Publishers

Simply appointing a Domestic Agent may no longer be enough. Overseas publishers would be expected to educate, manage, and supervise their Domestic Agent to ensure that required duties are properly performed.

The focus is shifting from:

“Have you appointed a Domestic Agent?”

to:

“Is your Domestic Agent actually performing its compliance role?”

4. Continuous Domestic Agent Designation

Covered overseas game companies would be required to maintain their Domestic Agent designation while continuing to distribute or provide games in Korea, helping prevent gaps in local representation.

5. Stronger Eligibility Verification

Authorities could request information such as revenue or user-related data to determine whether an overseas publisher meets the statutory criteria for mandatory Domestic Agent appointment.

6. Stronger Enforcement

The proposed framework would strengthen corrective measures and sanctions for non-compliance.

Certain failures to comply with corrective orders—including those related to Domestic Agent requirements or probability-based item disclosure obligations—could also lead to stronger enforcement measures.

What Should Overseas Game Publishers Do?

Although the changes are not yet in force, overseas publishers should review:

• whether they have a Korean subsidiary or affiliate relevant to the proposed appointment priority;
• whether their current Domestic Agent performs substantive compliance functions;
• how Korean user complaints and regulatory notices are handled; and
• whether internal processes are in place to manage and supervise the Domestic Agent.

Key Takeaway

Korea’s Domestic Agent framework is moving from formal appointment toward active compliance management.

For overseas game publishers, the key question may increasingly become not simply whether a Domestic Agent has been appointed, but whether that agent is effectively performing its role in Korea.

How TheGameAgent Can Help

TheGameAgent supports overseas game developers and publishers with Korea Domestic Agent services and ongoing regulatory compliance, including regulatory communications, corrective-action response support, probability-based item compliance, and Korean user inquiry coordination.

Operating a game in Korea? Make sure your Domestic Agent is an effective local compliance channel—not simply a name on a filing.

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