온라인 게임 규제의 문제점과 개선방안 - 소위 고포류 게임의 사행성 논란을 중심으로 -

초록

Added value that online games create is not limited in the game industry. Games account for the greatest part of sales in the telecommunication-based contents industry. This means that online game is a primary motive for using telecommunication services. It is often considered one of new growth engines. In a similar vein, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recently selected online games as ‘Green Growth Industy’that the government manages in priority. Like most other industries, fast growth of online game industry caused not only positive economical effects, but also considerable negative social problems. The main issues related to online games are speculation, toxicity, obscenity and violence. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism imposed regulations to reduce these side effects. On the other hand, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family introduced new kinds of regulations on online games from the viewpoint of juvenile protection. A representative example is the so called ‘shutdown’ of online games. There arose a collision between two opposing points of view. One emphasizes the importance of promoting and supporting the game industry for economic growth. The other argues that regulations should be inevitable to minimize side effect of online games. This conflict became more serious concerning online programs that realize board games such as hwatu and poker, called ‘web board games’. These games are considered more speculative because results of games depend upon more chances. Thus, they are confused with legally prohibited gambling. This paper assumes a critical attitude to recent regulations on web board games from an teleological or methodological point of view. The fundamental cause of regulation failure is misconception about distinction between speculation and gambling. It doesn’t mean that any regulation on web board games is unnecessary. ‘Police regulation’ with the goal of passive defense of danger and ‘Economic regulation’ with intent to form public interest actively belong to different dimensions. Considering their aims are dissimilar, it is obvious that measurements of each regulation should be different. Principal message of this paper is that recent regulations on web board games passed over this important point.

키워드