The Indonesian government is currently reviewing potential restrictions on online games, including popular titles like PUBG, following a recent explosion at SMAN 72 North Jakarta on November 7. This scrutiny has prompted a swift and notable response from South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (MCST), as the core issue touches upon the significant South Korean online gaming industry.
At the heart of this discussion is PUBG, a globally recognized game developed by PUBG Studio, a subsidiary of Krafton, a prominent company based in South Korea. The game’s origin explains the direct involvement and concern from the South Korean government regarding any proposed restrictions in Indonesia.
The South Korean MCST plans to formally communicate to the Indonesian government its position: that there is no established connection between the explosion incident at SMAN 72 North Jakarta and the PUBG game. An official from the MCST, quoted by ZDNet Korea last weekend (November 15), stated, “We will respond after confirming the facts through channels such as the embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” This indicates a cautious but firm approach to the unfolding situation.
The MCST maintains that merely associating the SMAN 72 Jakarta explosion with a South Korean-developed game does not provide sufficient grounds for implementing restrictive policies. This stance underscores the ministry’s commitment to defending its thriving online gaming industry. Furthermore, the MCST has indicated it will first conduct its own investigation into the SMAN 72 explosion incident before officially engaging with the Indonesian government on this matter.
Adding a layer of diplomatic complexity, this discussion about potential online game restrictions, particularly concerning a South Korean-origin title, emerges at a crucial juncture. The South Korean government is actively promoting its online game industry globally. Moreover, the issue surfaced just ten days after leaders from both nations met at the APEC Summit on November 1, where they reaffirmed robust cooperation in defense and security, including the joint development of the KF-21 fighter jet. The timing highlights the sensitive balance between economic interests and bilateral relations.
Summary
The Indonesian government is reviewing potential restrictions on online games, including PUBG, following an explosion at SMAN 72 North Jakarta on November 7. This scrutiny has drawn a notable response from South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (MCST), as PUBG is developed by a prominent South Korean company. The South Korean government expresses concern over the proposed restrictions, which directly impact its significant online gaming industry.
The MCST intends to formally communicate to the Indonesian government that there is no established connection between the SMAN 72 explosion and the PUBG game. It maintains that merely associating the incident with a South Korean-developed game does not warrant restrictive policies, and will conduct its own investigation first. This issue emerges at a sensitive time, as South Korea actively promotes its global gaming industry and recently reaffirmed strong bilateral cooperation with Indonesia.
