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South Korea Blocks Late-Night Online Gaming for Adolescents

Posted by Soulskill on from the digital-curfew-keeping-the-zerg-safe dept.

PolygamousRanchKid writes "In its effort to curb game addiction among adolescents, South Korea pulled the plug this weekend on young gamers after midnight by blocking access to game websites, putting a hotly debated law into practice. The new system called the 'shutdown law,' also referred to as the 'Cinderella law,' blocks those under the age of 16 from accessing gaming websites after midnight and has fueled heated anger among younger gamers and avid game fans. Critics point out that many teenagers hold gaming accounts created with their parent's personal information, easily providing them with an alternative log-in option. 'You can say someone is an alcoholic if they drink more than three bottles (of liquor) a day, but you can't call them alcoholic because they drink after midnight. It's the same with gaming,' Lee Byung-chan, the lawyer who filed the petition on behalf of parents and a young gamer said. 'From the parents' point of view, it violates their right to educate their children,' Lee added. It is for the parents to decide what time they want to allow their children to play games or not, not for the government to exclude them from that process, the argument goes."

6 of 108 comments (clear)

  1. No such thing as single player by Dyinobal · · Score: 4, Funny

    I for one am glad there is no such thing as a single player game you can get addicted too. *goes back to playing skyrim*

  2. Re:Another idea by sahonen · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you don't think playing games is mentally exerting, you're not playing the right games. Starcraft in particular is one of the most popular games in South Korea, and is frequently compared to chess.

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  3. And there was much rejoicing.... by quacking+duck · · Score: 4, Funny

    Finally, professional Starcraft players from other countries finally have a chance!

    (based on the single "Barcraft" I've been to, iirc the semifinals were all South Koreans)

    1. Re:And there was much rejoicing.... by sahonen · · Score: 4, Informative

      In the recent MLG, there were 4 foreigners in the top 8... Two Americans, a Canadian and a Swede. The Swede made it to the final, only to be defeated by a 16-year-old South Korean kid. It was quite the tournament.

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  4. Re:Another idea by englishknnigits · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Yes, thinking clearly and strategically under pressure has no practical applications. Problem solving skills and thinking critically are also useless. Learning how to smash into someone, hit a round object with a stick, use steroids, and training to the point of causing life long injuries for a 0.001% chance of fame/fortune are much more useful skills. If you actually think about it, pretty much all activities we indulge in are ultimately useless aside from the enjoyment/fulfillment we get from them. Starcraft IS an extracurricular activity that many people get enjoyment/fulfillment from.

  5. Re:Another idea by pandronic · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How about everyone does what they enjoy in their time? Why does the state or you for that matter think you know what's best for someone else?