Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC)
South Korea's Regulatory Agency Combating Gambling and Safeguarding Youth
Established in 2006 following the infamous 'Sea Story' arcade gambling scandal, GRAC is South Korea's statutory agency governing video game classification and anti-gambling compliance.
The Sea Story Scandal and GRAC's Mandate
In 2006, South Korea was rocked by the 'Sea Story' (Bada Iyagi) national crisis, where ostensibly innocent arcade redemption machines secretly dispensed massive cash payouts, devastating families. In response, the National Assembly stripped general media regulators of jurisdiction, instituting the Game Rating Board (now GRAC). It enforces uncompromising crackdowns on unregulated loot boxes, real-money trading, and speculative mechanics.
Regulatory Oversight and Youth Curfews
Headquartered in Busan alongside South Korea's gaming hub, GRAC collaborated with the historic 'Shutdown Law' (Cinderella Law) restricting midnight online play for minors under 16. Any commercial game published in South Korea, whether mobile, PC, or console, must secure mandatory GRAC certification.