Riot Games notified domestic PC bangs that it will raise premium service fees by 15% starting on the 3rd of next month, prompting the PC bang industry to begin the process of filing a complaint with the Fair Trade Commission. As controversy spreads over what is being called "price-hike abuse," including a price increase without consultation, a forced switch in payment method, and references to possible access restrictions on stores that refuse to buy, the industry is pushing back, saying, "They are demanding additional expense without improving server failures."
According to the Korea Internet PC Cafe Cooperative (KIPC) on the 28th, Riot Games' fee increase was carried out as a unilateral notice without prior consultation, and a combination of factors occurred, including the size of the hike, changes to the payment method, and contacts perceived as threats, leading the cooperative to plan a complaint with the Fair Trade Commission.
Along with the Fair Trade Commission complaint, the cooperative plans to pursue a response through the National Assembly. Namgung Yeong-hong, a KIPC director, said, "This is an issue that will continue into next year's parliamentary audit," adding, "We will bring to light the unfair structure that has accumulated over the years." He also said, "PC bangs are the starting point of the esports ecosystem and the core base of Riot's revenue," and, "Riot Games, which has emphasized co-prosperity, must stop treating Korean PC bangs as a mere 'cash dispenser.'"
Riot Games recently notified domestic PC bangs that it will raise the premium fee from 642,000 won to 740,000 won for 3,000 hours. Other products such as 300 hours and 700 hours will also be increased by around 15%. The existing automatic credit card payment will be discontinued, and going forward payments will be made only via Naver Pay. The industry is objecting, calling it a "forced switch for the purpose of cutting fees."
The industry's burden is also growing significantly. If the fee increase is applied, the monthly payment size is estimated to rise from about 2,568,000 won to around 2,960,000 won. The cooperative estimates that an additional monthly expense of 300,000–350,000 won per store will occur, analyzing that the structure is one in which expense burdens are accumulating as the PC bang business slumps and labor costs rise. The number of PC bangs in Korea fell about 40%, from 11,801 in 2019 to 7,243 in 2024, and there are projections that the number of stores actually operating is even lower, below 6,500.
In particular, behind the PC bang industry's backlash are repeated server failures and poor benefits. LoL suffers access failures that recur every weekend and holiday, leaving owners to handle customer complaints directly. The cooperative said, "Failures have continued for more than 10 years, but there has been no substantial compensation," and, "For years we demanded 'server improvements and compensation terms in writing,' but Riot Games kept repeating only that 'we will relay it to headquarters.'" The cooperative recently said, "What must come before any fee hike is fixing the failures and compensation."
The product value of the PC bang premium benefits is also in dispute. KIPC explained, "The benefits were designed based on standards from 15 years ago and now do not help bring in new users," adding, "Effectiveness has fallen, and recently there are even 'customers who recommend canceling affiliation.'" The cooperative argued, "They should strengthen the benefits first and then discuss whether to raise prices."
The cooperative also pointed to Riot Games' response to the growing voluntary boycott and affiliation cancellations as a problem. According to the cooperative, when some owners canceled their LoL affiliation, they were told in effect, "If you drop affiliation, it may become impossible to access the game going forward." The cooperative called this "effectively a threat."
A PC bang owner said, "LoL is a free game, so saying 'we will block access from PC bangs' is a measure without legal basis and pressure on a distribution channel," adding, "Korean PC bangs are business sites that are legally permitted to install and operate games, and this ignores that."