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