''Metaverse Self-Regulation Committee'' to Launch in First Half — Private Sector-Led Regulation Activities Begin in Earnest

The first steps toward metaverse self-regulation for creating a healthy metaverse ecosystem have been taken. The Ministry of Science and ICT held a self-regulation agreement signing ceremony at Centerpoint Gwanghwamun on the 5th with Korea Metaverse Industry Association, Korea EduTech Industry Association, and major metaverse business operators. The ceremony was convened following enactment of the "Virtual Convergence Industry Promotion Act" in February, establishing legal grounds for private sector-led self-regulation. Participants included major metaverse operators (SKT, KT, LG U+, NAVER Z, Calibus, Kakao Healthcare, Woongjin ThinkBig) and association leaders. Self-regulation activities cover: establishing and implementing self-regulatory codes; education and promotion for operators; voluntary inspection and improvement of user protection practices; activities for enhancing user protection levels; collaborative projects for metaverse industry promotion. The Korea Metaverse Industry Association plans to recruit additional domestic/overseas metaverse operators and launch the Metaverse Self-Regulation Committee in the first half of this year. Ministry Software Policy Director Hwang Gyu-cheol: "In dynamic new industry areas like metaverse, flexible and innovation-friendly self-regulation models based on private sector expertise and autonomy are attracting attention as effective alternatives — the government will actively support the establishment of self-regulation systems based on voluntary industry participation."