The Fair Trade Commission announced on the 8th that it had imposed corrective orders and a total of 22.5 million won in fines on three gaming companies for false and deceptive notifications related to probability-based items.
According to the Fair Trade Commission's investigation, Com2uS Holdings, Cosmos Entertainment, and ITOXI misrepresented the probability of items and the availability of items in their games or sold products under conditions different from those stated in their advertisements.
Com2uS Holdings indicated that myth-grade items could only be obtained after a certain level in 'Soul Strike,' but in reality, they were obtainable at lower levels. Additionally, in 'Zenonia,' the probability of obtaining enhancement stone items was displayed differently, but it was actually the same, and some ad-free products continued to showcase pop-up ads contrary to the notifications. In response, the Fair Trade Commission imposed fines of 7.5 million won.
Cosmos Entertainment displayed items that could not be obtained from certain servers in 'Online Three Kingdoms 2' as if they were available, and minimized the benefits of VIP items without informing consumers. Cosmos Entertainment has to pay fines of 10 million won.
ITOXI provided information that suggested an item released in 'Super Girls War' was possible to be summoned, including items that were not actually available. The Fair Trade Commission imposed fines of 5 million won on this company.
The Fair Trade Commission determined that such actions corresponded to 'acts that lure or conduct transactions with consumers through false or deceptive methods' as stated in Article 21, Section 1, Item 1 of the 'Act on Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce.'
A Fair Trade Commission official noted, 'This sanction is significant in reducing information asymmetry between gaming companies and consumers and protecting users' choices,' adding, 'We will continue to respond sternly to deceptive business practices in the online gaming market.'