Korea Passes Stronger Domestic Agent Law: What Overseas Game Publishers Must Know

South Korea has taken a significant step toward strengthening regulatory oversight of overseas game developers and publishers.

On October 1, 2026, South Korea's National Assembly passed amendments to the Game Industry Promotion Act, expending Domestic Agent responsibilities and introducing stronger measures to protect Korean game users.

The amendments address a key concern with Korea's existing Domestic Agent framework: appointing a local representative does not necessarily guarantee effective regulatory communication or user protection.

For overseas publishers, the legislation signals a shift from simply designating a Domestic Agent to ensuring that the agent can perform meaningful compliance functions.

The amendments have passed the National Assembly and the new provisions are scheduled to take effect six months after promulgation.

Why Is Korea Strengthening Its Domestic Agent Requirements?

Korea's mandatory Domestic Agent system took effect on October 23, 2025.

Under the existing framework, certain overseas game publishers without a domestic address or place of business must appoint a representative in Korea when they meet applicable eligibility thresholds.

The Domestic Agent serves as a local contact for specified regulatory responsibilities, including post-market management reporting and probability-based item disclosure matters.

However, concerns have emerged about whether formal appointments are sufficient to protect Korean users.

Some overseas publishers have appointed representatives whose responsibilities are limited in practice, creating difficulties when users raise complaints or authorities request corrective action.

The newly passed amendments seek to address these limitations by clarifying Domestic Agent qualifications, expanding responsibilities, and strengthening accountability.

5 Major Changes Under Korea's New Domestic Agent Law

1. Expanded Korean User Protection Responsibilities

Domestic Agents will take on additional responsibilities related to Korean user protection and complaint handling, extending their role beyond existing regulatory and probability disclosure duties.

2. Priority for Korean Subsidiaries and Affiliates

Overseas publishers with qualifying Korean subsidiaries or affiliated entities will need to follow a designated order of priority when appointing a Domestic Agent. External representatives may remain an option where the relevant Korean entities are unavailable.

3. Stronger Publisher Supervision

Overseas game companies will be required to educate, manage, and supervise their Domestic Agents while maintaining the required designation. A formal appointment alone will not satisfy the broader expectations of the amended framework.

4. Expanded Regulatory Information Requests

Korean authorities will have stronger grounds to request relevant information, including materials needed to verify whether a publisher meets Domestic Agent designation criteria.

5. Stronger Enforcement Measures

The amendments strengthen enforcement against certain violations. Failure to comply with specified corrective orders, including those related to Domestic Agent designation or probability-based item disclosure, may result in additional measures, potentially including restrictions on network access under applicable legal procedures.

What Should Overseas Publishers Prepare Before Implementation?

Rather than waiting until the new provisions take effect, publishers can use the transition period to review their Korean compliance arrangements.

Review Your Corporate Structure

• Determine whether your company has a Korean subsidiary or another entity that could affect the required order of Domestic Agent designation.

Evaluate Your Current Domestic Agent

• Confirm that your representative can perform the functions expected under the amended framework, including appropriate coordination of user protection matters and regulatory communications.

Strengthen Internal Communication

• Establish clear communication procedures between the Korean representative and the overseas headquarters.
• Regulatory notices, complaints, and requests for information should reach the appropriate internal teams promptly.

Review User Complaint Handling

• Examine how Korean user complaints are processed, especially those involving probability-based items, refunds, and alleged consumer harm.

Maintain Compliance Documentation

• Keep appropriate records of probability disclosures, regulatory communications, corrective actions, and Domestic Agent arrangements.

Monitor the Implementation Timeline

• Track official promulgation, the effective date, and any additional regulatory guidance.
• Preparation should reflect the final legal text and implementing requirements rather than assumptions about future enforcement.

Preparing for Korea's New Domestic Agent Requirements

The central message of this amendment is that a Domestic Agent should not function merely as a name or address on a regulatory filing.

The strengthened framework places greater emphasis on local accountability, Korean user protection, publisher supervision, and effective regulatory response.

For overseas game companies, preparing for these changes means reviewing not only who has been appointed, but also how the appointment works in practice.

With expanded responsibilities approaching, overseas publishers should assess whether their existing Korean compliance arrangements are equipped to meet the amended requirements.

TheGameAgent works with international game companies on Domestic Agent arrangements and regulatory coordination in Korea, helping publishers understand their obligations and establish practical local communication processes.

Need to review your Domestic Agent arrangements before the new rules take effect? Contact TheGameAgent to discuss your Korea compliance needs.

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