SEOUL—President Lee Jae-myung pledged to transform the gaming industry into a core pillar of the nation’s cultural economy while strongly emphasizing the need to protect the rights of young employees, during a "K-Game On-site Roundtable" held on October 15 in Seoul.
President Lee stressed that for the industry to truly flourish, the benefits of massive growth must be shared with the workforce. "It's good when a game succeeds and revenue increases dramatically for the business owner," President Lee stated, "but my concern is whether the young staff involved in R&D and management can also enjoy those benefits." He warned against the "worst-case scenario" where young workers are treated as "expendables" or denied minimum labor rights despite the industry's success.
Balancing Flexibility and Worker Protection
A key point of discussion was the industry's request for flexible working hours, often a contentious issue known as "crunch mode" ahead of major releases. President Lee acknowledged the necessity for focused work periods for developers but stressed the need for balance.
"The demand for flexible work has two sides," he noted. "Developers may request it to their bosses, but behind the scenes, workers are saying they’re exhausted." He emphasized that the issue cannot be left solely to the ethics of business owners and must be addressed through institutional and wise solutions that reflect the views of both labor and management. Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong later clarified that the President expressed an intent to seek compromises within the existing labor law, which already allows for special extended work hours over periods of three or six months.
New Policy Direction: Games as Culture, Not Addiction
President Lee used the roundtable to signal a major shift in the government’s approach to the industry, which he views as a critical engine for job creation and national wealth.
He directly criticized previous administrations for past "repressive policies," specifically citing the classification of games alongside drugs as one of the "four major addictions," which he believes stifled innovation and allowed South Korea to be "overtaken by China."
"We need to change our perception and mindset regarding games," President Lee asserted. To those concerned about "game over-immersion," he retorted: "If there's no immersion, would it even be a game?" He stressed that for a resource-scarce, export-dependent nation like South Korea, game exports represent "genuine exports" with boundless potential.
The event, which was attended by industry leaders including NCSoft CEO Kim Taek-jin and Nexon CEO Kim Jung-wook, included a demonstration of the popular game PUBG: Battlegrounds and a trial of the new life simulation game inZOI by Krafton. Executives echoed the call for government support and better public perception, arguing that games should be viewed as a "strategic sector" for global advancement. President Lee concluded by pledging full government support to make South Korea a leading global cultural industry powerhouse, with gaming at its core.
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