The Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC), under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said on Monday it appointed 10 members to a subcommittee on redress for damage related to random items. GRAC plans to link its system with the Content Dispute Mediation Committee to step up its redress framework for random items.

The newly appointed members comprise 10 people from user groups, business groups, legal experts and experts from related institutions. Their term is 1 year and can be renewed.

The members will deliberate and vote on issues including whether redress is appropriate for cases prepared after consultations and investigations, and decisions on reinvestigating cases that were closed internally. GRAC plans to expand the subcommittee when necessary in line with changes in the game market environment.

In the second half of this year, the work-processing systems between the redress centre and the Content Dispute Mediation Committee are set to be linked. The two bodies signed an MOU in January on transferring cases and linking procedures.

Once the systems are linked, even if a game user submits details of damage to either body, the case can be immediately transferred to the responsible institution for consolidated processing.

If recommendations from the redress centre are not accepted, GRAC plans to transfer the case to the Content Dispute Mediation Committee for practical mediation to remedy user harm. With measures including mediation decisions by ex officio authority introduced within the committee under the Content Industry Promotion Act that took effect in February, effective responses are expected to be possible if a mediation proposal is rejected without a reasonable reason.

Kim Jae-hyun (김재현), director general of the Culture and Media Industry Office at the ministry, said he expects the linkage between the redress centre and the committee to reduce harm to more game users and help resolve problems. He said the ministry would do its best to restore rights from a perspective users can understand.