The Game Rating and Administration Committee (Hangul: 게임물관리위원회; RR: Geimmul Gwalli-Wiwonhoe; GRAC) is the South Korean video game content rating board. A governmental organization, the GRAC rates video games to inform customers of the nature of game contents.
Initially, the Korea Media Rating Board, a governmental organization, rated video games just like other entertainment media. However, a controversy occurred because the Korea Media Rating Board rated an arcade gambling game Sea Story as if it were suitable for everyone, with allegations of misconduct. The Korean government responded to the controversy by creating the GRB in 2006 and making it the only rating organization for rating video games in South Korea.
GRB has been criticized as one of the elements of the Internet censorship in South Korea.
The GRB currently uses five different rating systems.
The content of the game offers educational, or cultivating moral character and sentiments for children
The content of the game has no representation of anti-societal idea distortion or profanity of religion and public morals that harm children emotionally and physically
The content and motif of the game have no representation of obscenity, violence, or reproduction of gambling spirit that harms children at all
The content of the game has no representation of anti-societal idea, distortion or profanity of religion and public morals that would be harmful to children under 12 emotionally and physically
The content and motif of the game has no representation of obscenity, violence, reproduction of gambling spirit that would be harmful to children under 12 (slight level of sexuality, violence, improper language(expletives), etc.)
The content of the game has no representation of anti-societal idea, distortion or profanity of religion and public morals that would be harmful to children under 15 emotionally and physically
The content and motif of the game have no representation of obscenity, violence, speculation, etc. that would be harmful to children under 15(indirect and restricted representation of sexuality, violence, improper language(expletives) and low level of reproduction of gambling spirit (arousing of passion for excessive use of gaming money, or dependence on one's luck)
Most video games can be of any rating, though only 'All' and 'Teenager restricted' are permitted for arcade games.
The descriptors are:
Sexuality
Violence
Fear/horror/threatening
Gambling (betting)
Alcohol, tobacco, drug
Language
Crime, anti-social or anti-governmental messages
GRAC Official Site (Korean)
GRAC Official Site (English)
