Starting October 2025, overseas game developers are required to designate a local agent in Korea under the Game Industry Promotion Act (GIPA).
At this point in time, have you ever thought of a scary situation? Failing to designate a proper agent could lead to regulatory penalties or game service suspensions in Korea.
To stay compliant and protect your business, it's crucial to choose a reliable Korean partner who understands both legal and operational requirements. This guide breaks down their exact role and the critical questions you must ask before hiring one.
A Korean local agent is an officially designated local representative who handles regulatory communication and compliance on behalf of overseas game developers.
Regulatory Communication and Representation: The local agent receives, translates, and responds to regulatory notices on your behalf.
Support for Post-Management Reporting: The local agent fulfills all statutory reporting obligations requested by regulatory bodies.
GIPA Compliance Review & Gacha Probability Disclosure Support: The local agent conducts thorough reviews to ensure your games adhere to the Game Industry Promotion Act (GIPA). It's important to ensure Gacha probabilities are meticulously and properly disclosed, strictly adhering to GRAC (Game Rating and Administration Committee) guidelines.
Content Rating Review Support: The local agent provides support in receiving approval & classification from GRAC for Age 19+ games prior to its launch in Korea.
Regulatory Monitoring and Policy Updates: A qualified agent tracks new laws, privacy rules, and platform policies (e.g., Google Play, App Store) and alerts you of any changes that could affect your operations.
Choosing the cheapest option can be the most expensive mistake. Avoid these common pitfalls:
Mistake 1: The "Ghost" Agent. They have no staff, no office, and just forward emails. They cannot handle a real-time government audit or user complaint.
Mistake 2: The Non-Specialist. They are a general legal office or accounting firm that doesn't understand the game industry (like GRAC ratings or probability rules).
Mistake 3: The Language Barrier. The agent must be fluent in both legal Korean and your language (English, Chinese, Japanese) to prevent critical miscommunications.
Mistake 4: No Proactive Updates. The law changes. A good agent proactively informs you of new rules before they become a problem.
Mistake 5: Hidden Fees. Their low base fee doesn't include managing user reports or government inquiries, leading to surprise bills.
At TheGameAgent, we are not just a legal mailbox. We are game industry compliance specialists.
✅ We Know Games: Our team, composed of game industry and policy experts, was built to serve overseas game developers exclusively. We handle your GRAC compliance, probability disclosures, and user support.
✅ We Don't Stop at Diagnosis — We Provide Solutions: We go beyond simply pointing out regulations or violations and offer practical, market-based solutions tailored to real-world conditions.
✅ We Are Your Team: Our bilingual experts (Korean, English, Chinese) act as an extension of your team in Korea.
✅ We Are Proactive: We provide regular compliance newsletters and share business implications for overseas game developers.
✅ No Surprises: No hidden fees, no hourly surprises.
Key findings from Korea’s first domestic agent roundtable, covering designation thresholds, legal duties, enforcement risks, and recurring probability disclosure failures.
From October 2025, Korea will begin enforcing a new regulation requiring overseas game companies to designate a mandatory domestic agent. This isn't a simple administrative formality—it's a core compliance requirement that can directly impact your ability to launch and operate games in Korea.
Foreign game companies have historically been in a regulatory blind spot under South Korea's Game Industry Promotion Act. Learn about the new mandatory Domestic Agent designation requirements and how to ensure compliance.
Download our company profile to learn more about our services, or book a discovery call with our team.
© 2026 TheGameAgent.
All rights reserved.
