Did S. Korea's Webzen Inc. Just Get Fined 158 Million Won for Misleading Players About In-Game Item Probabilities?
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Synopsis
In a significant ruling, South Korea's antitrust authority has fined Webzen Inc. 158 million won for misleading players on in-game item probabilities in MU Archangel. This decision highlights the growing scrutiny of gaming companies and their practices, aiming to protect consumers and ensure transparency in the gaming industry.
Key Takeaways
- Webzen Inc. has been fined 158 million won for misleading players.
- The fine highlights issues of transparency in the gaming industry.
- Four other game publishers were fined for similar violations.
- Foreign net selling in stock markets reached a new high in November.
- Investors are cautious due to uncertainties surrounding AI and interest rates.
Seoul, Nov 30 (NationPress) The antitrust authority announced on Sunday that a penalty of 158 million won (approximately $107,000) has been levied against game publisher Webzen Inc. for deceiving players regarding the likelihood of acquiring in-game items in its well-known role-playing game MU Archangel.
According to the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) and reported by Yonhap news agency, Webzen did not adequately reveal the true probabilities of obtaining specific random items through in-game purchases from June 2020 to March 2024, which led to an additional revenue of 6.7 billion won during this timeframe.
The FTC has mandated the company to discontinue this unlawful practice and to implement measures to prevent future occurrences.
Additionally, the FTC has also imposed fines of 2.5 million won each on four other game publishers—Gravity Co., Wemade Co., Krafton Inc., and Com2us Corp.—for similar infractions.
In another context, net foreign selling in South Korea's primary stock market hit a new monthly high in November, even as individual investors continued to be net buyers, according to the bourse operator's announcement on Sunday.
Throughout November, foreign investors sold a net of 14.4 trillion won (around $9.8 billion) in shares on the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI). This figure represents the highest monthly net selling by overseas investors, surpassing the previous record of 12.5 trillion won set in March 2020 during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Foreign investors had purchased a net of 7.4 trillion won and 5.3 trillion won in local shares in September and October, respectively, but shifted to being net sellers in November.
From January to November, the total foreign net selling amounted to 8.8 trillion won.
Analysts suggest that foreign interest in high-risk assets has been tempered by diminishing expectations for a U.S. interest rate cut at the Federal Reserve's upcoming December meeting, alongside rising uncertainties connected to artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
In November alone, foreign investors divested a net of 8.7 trillion won from SK hynix shares and 2.2 trillion won from Samsung Electronics stocks, with these two companies accounting for 76 percent of the foreign net selling for the month.
Point of View
I believe this ruling is a crucial step toward ensuring fair practices in the gaming industry. The decision not only serves to protect consumers but also sets a precedent for other gaming companies. It's essential that players are informed about the true probabilities of in-game purchases to foster trust and transparency in the market.
NationPress
30/11/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Webzen fined for?
Webzen was fined 158 million won for misleading players about the probability of obtaining in-game items in MU Archangel.
How much revenue did Webzen generate due to this misleading practice?
Webzen generated an additional 6.7 billion won in revenue from June 2020 to March 2024 due to the misleading information.
What other companies were fined by the FTC?
The FTC also fined Gravity Co., Wemade Co., Krafton Inc., and Com2us Corp. 2.5 million won each for similar violations.
What does the FTC require Webzen to do after the fine?
The FTC ordered Webzen to stop the illegal practice and implement measures to prevent future occurrences.
How did foreign investor activity change in November?
Foreign investors sold a net of 14.4 trillion won worth of shares in November, marking the largest monthly net selling by offshore investors.
