What's New In Korea: KSSNs Removed From Korean Gaming by August 17th 2014 ?

[Mario]

According to foreign reports, Nexon Korea has been fined a hefty amount of over 6 million USD for illegally sharing the details of 1.8 million Nexon users with 3rd parties. Another fine of 120,000 USD was also slapped on the Korean online gaming giant for this unauthorized act. According to Nexon Korea, the charge was already confirmed back in 2010, but the final amount to penalize was delayed till recently.


This fine amount has got nothing to do with the recent hacking case (link), where the details of MapleStory players were obtained. The court has yet to confirm Nexon as guilty thus far, but it seems unlikely the company will avoid another hefty penalty payment.


After continued hacking cases, the Korean government has also declared it will be illegal for game companies to obtain gamers' Social Security Number (KSSN) as part of the signup process starting from 18th August 2012. Other methods are to be used, including mobile identification.


Current personal information of users, such as KSSN, is to be wiped by 17th August 2014 as part of the new law. As a gesture of goodwill, the government is giving companies an extended period of 6 month (till February 2013) to implement the new systems.

A new law will also come into effect next month, making "companies" which earn revenue through selling game gold and items illegal. The exact details are still unknown, but the action of "trading more than 10 times in a period of 6 months, including earning over 12 million KRW" is the new guideline for authorities to take action on. More info here (link).


Many more new law changes regarding online gaming in Korea will be announced soon, and they will no doubt leave companies sweating and gamers happy with the stern improvements on security and fair gaming.

http://www.mmoculture.com/2012/06/ne...by-korean.html


Welp, This is interesting.

[Justin]

I saw that edit. And my retort to your "inb4 everyone quits GMS for KMS" is....

Inb4 KMS actually puts in an IP ban on non-korean IPs.

[Mario]

I saw that edit. And my retort to your "inb4 everyone quits GMS for KMS" is....

Inb4 KMS actually puts in an IP ban on non-korean IPs.

Aren't you a quick one. I edited it out due to it saying phone verification which I missed while reading. There won't be any IP ban.

[MrTouchnGo]

A new law will also come into effect next month, making "companies" which earn revenue through selling game gold and items illegal.

The article linked from there is actually pretty interesting.

For online role-playing games, the law prohibits users from using programs that allow in-game characters to hunt and collect items without the need of a player controlling them.

Does the US already have a similar law?

[Mario]

The article linked from there is actually pretty interesting.



Does the US already have a similar law?

That was already common knowledge, atleast to me and most Korean gamers. But as of right now, no I'm pretty sure the US doesn't have that law.

[McAwesomesauce]

The article linked from there is actually pretty interesting.



Does the US already have a similar law?

Why would American law makers ever bother with passing laws about botting in RPGs when a lot of them think that RPGs are just "that pokemon thing on the nintendo"?

[Locked]

You can't stop botting, passing a law regarding it would be one of the most retarded things they would pass.

[Raul]

but it seems unlikely the company will avoid another hefty penalty payment.

hefty amount of over 6 million USD

Another fine of 120,000 USD

6 million dollars is now "hefty" for a company that makes hundreds of millions of dollars every year?

[ResistGreen]

~Quitting GMS for KMS

[Spadow]

Nexon Korea doesn't store your social security number anymore with their new ''Nexon Email ID''. But there is still an amount of users with the old account type.

~Quitting GMS for KMS

Why? It will practically impossible for you to signup for a Korean game id if companies cannot accept social security numbers anymore. The new law will force everyone to identify by: i-Pin, birth documents, credit card or phone. Four things foreigners cannot simply easy get compared to a social security number. But there are already companies who offer these kind of options.

[Luxeraph]

Question: Did they asked for mobile identification before?
If they did not, how will this change make it easier for foreigns to get a kMS account?
Nevermind, ^ answered my questions.

[Sephie]

@Spadow; According to you, isn't KMS just as bad as GMS in terms of botting/hacking?

Idk why people would want to play KMS when they have to go through all the hurdles just to have the same service but earlier content.

-

Even if there wasn't a law that forbids companies from requiring SSNs for registration or w/e, I still don't think any company is willing to take that risk. Most companies can't even keep credit card information safe <_<.

[Arrol]

Nexon Korea doesn't store your social security number anymore with their new ''Nexon Email ID''. But there is still an amount of users with the old account type.



Why? It will practically impossible for you to signup for a Korean game id if companies cannot accept social security numbers anymore. The new law will force everyone to identify by: i-Pin, birth documents, credit card and phone. Four things foreigners cannot simply easy get compared to a social security number. But there are already companies who offer these kind of options.

We might be seeing the end of foriegners getting into KMS?

[Spadow]

@Spadow; According to you, isn't KMS just as bad as GMS in terms of botting/hacking?

But in GMS it's out of control with dupe, item generator and what else. Many people can get access to it.
In KMS you can find a lot of multiple botters in one channel. Nexon has tried many ways to get rid of botters but...

[Takebacker]

But in GMS it's out of control with dupe, item generator and what else. Many people can get access to it.
In KMS you can find a lot of multiple botters in one channel. Nexon has tried many ways to get rid of botters but...

Dupe and item generation have been fixed for a relative eternity at this point.

[Mario]

Dupe and item generation have been fixed for a relative eternity at this point.

I really doubt that. With every patch for said hacks, there's a new one right around the corner.

[MrTouchnGo]

I really doubt that. With every patch for said hacks, there's a new one right around the corner.

Crashless dupe was patched /* and hasn't made a comeback */ , but server/channel crashes still create rollbacks. But the servers have been surprisingly stable recently, so not much duping as been going on as far as I know (which isn't much, but whatever).

[DamageCalc]

6 million dollars is now "hefty" for a company that makes hundreds of millions of dollars every year?

Idk can you throw around 6 million dollars a day?

[ShinkuDragon]

Idk can you throw around 6 million dollars a day?

but can a big company throw 6 million dollars once?

not the same thing

[DamageCalc]

but can a big company throw 6 million dollars once?

not the same thing

It is the same thing.

6 million dollars is 6 million dollars.
Your logic is broken.

$1 is still a $1. I would rather have the dollar than lose it.
Wouldn't you?

You make, oh let's say $20,000 a year.
Go get a ticket for $100, it's only a 100 out of 20,000, right?
No.