Game industry supported by governmental ministry GStar is an international game and game culture exhibition. This year GStar is to be held at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) in Ilsan, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province from November 9 to 12. This exhibition shows all kinds of advanced game-related technologies and new game content. A large number of businessmen and professionals who are related to the game business will flock to the game show, trying to explore a new international business market, capturing the trend of game business, and seeking their new business strategies. On the occasion of this international event, the Korea IT Times had an interview with Kim Myung-gon, the minister of Culture and Tourism (MCT), and asked about the MCT's preparations GStar, expectations on this international game trade show, and the promotion policy of the game industry. In addition to this, during the interview Minister Kim explained the MCT's efforts to make Korea's game industry and game culture healthier, especially putting emphasis on removing the speculative gambling problem from the game industry and game culture. The MCT's special measures for the soundness of the game industry seems to have been made mainly because of the nationwide scandal related to the game industry a couple of months ago. In pursuit of globalizing domestic game industry This year about 226 companies from 30 countries are expected to participate in the GStar 2006. These companies will have business consultations while displaying various game items in their booths. In the past, most game exhibitions suffered from the problems of high costs and low efficiency, because many game companies caused excessive competition in the PC and console game market. In an effort to remove these problems, GStar 2006 will try to show differences from those existing game exhibitions, putting an emphasis on online games, which is forming a new market. To this end, GStar Organization Committee has made an ambitious goal that this international exhibition will induce at least 1,000 overseas buyers every year during the display period. Also the export amount of game industry is scheduled to increase to US$300 million until 2010. Last year's exports stood at US$200 million. GStar becomes Korea's typical cultural event GStar is not an event of the game industry alone, but it covers a variety of cultural events. It includes a game music concert, a B-Boy performance, a band performance, a gamers' party and a game character fashion show along with many interesting sights. The Hall of Game History will show how games have changed with the passage of time, providing a cultural space for visitors to experience a game. In order to share information on the game industry and game culture, the international conference is to be held which will contribute to the development of the domestic game industry. When GStar 2006 is over the MCT will review this event and hear the opinions of the game industry, so that they can improve GStar next year. Supporting measures to be given for arcade and video games Korea's online games are taking the lead in the world online market with a market share of 25%. Also, mobile games rank third in the global market. But in the case of video and arcade games whose market is much larger in the global game market, Korea is in its infancy. Therefore, the government feels a strong need to support arcade and video games, so the MCT is taking supporting measures. The Korean government has included the cultural content industry in the category of the new growth engine industry. The game industry belongs to the cultural contents industry. For this reason, the government will continue to support the cultural industry. As a result of these efforts, the industry is showing steady growth. The Korean Wave is symbolic of our successful endeavor. Screening committee for grading games After expressing the government's willingness to support the game industry, Minister Kim especially pointed out the importance of the soundness of game industry and game culture. He has explained the MCT's measures and policy directions as follows. A game is the combination product of culture and industry. Not only online games but also mobile games and arcade games are combined with cultural content and advanced IT industry. This means that the game industry has great potential. However, unlike other content industries, the game industry includes dysfunctional behaviors such as gambling and violence. For this reason, the gambling factor has to be excluded from games. In an effort to make the game industry and game culture more healthy and sound, the MIC has recently organized a Screening Committee for Grading Games. From now on the games that are expected to cause a gambling problem will be thrown out of market by applying a strict rule to the games. At the same time, the government will encourage and promote the creation and supply of sound games, developing policies to remove the dysfunction of excessive game addiction.