Warband Mod Banned in South Korea

Warband Mod Banned in South Korea

Drama

08 July 2025 09:51

Valve has blocked access to a fan-made mod for Mount & Blade: Warband in South Korea after the country’s Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC) ruled that it violated national laws related to historical representation.

The mod, titled Gwangju Running Man, reimagined the medieval sandbox RPG with a modern Korean setting, specifically focusing on the Gwangju Democratization Movement of 1980—a pivotal event in South Korea's struggle for democracy. The mod was removed by its creator in June, shortly after Valve restricted it within the region.

According to a report by South Korean outlet This Is Game, translated by Automaton, the GRAC contacted Valve in March 2025 with concerns that the mod distorted historical facts. The government agency argued that it misrepresented the Gwangju protests, a movement widely recognized for being met with violent military suppression, which led to the deaths of many civilians.

Local media, including Yonhap News Agency, criticized the mod for portraying protestors as violent criminals, potentially justifying the actions of the military dictatorship. The mod reportedly included provocative imagery, such as a cover image featuring Chun Doo-hwan, the military leader associated with the crackdown.

Valve responded to the controversy by taking the mod offline in South Korea. In a brief statement, the company acknowledged the significance of the events portrayed: “Valve recognises the importance the historical event has for Korean people.”

The incident has reignited debate in South Korea over how historical events are portrayed in interactive media and the role of content moderation by platform holders like Valve.

More:Video Games Europe on Stop Killing Games Movement

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Warband Mod Banned in South Korea

Drama

08 July 2025 09:51

Tags: Warband Valve

Valve has blocked access to a fan-made mod for Mount & Blade: Warband in South Korea after the country’s Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC) ruled that it violated national laws related to historical representation.

The mod, titled Gwangju Running Man, reimagined the medieval sandbox RPG with a modern Korean setting, specifically focusing on the Gwangju Democratization Movement of 1980—a pivotal event in South Korea's struggle for democracy. The mod was removed by its creator in June, shortly after Valve restricted it within the region.

According to a report by South Korean outlet This Is Game, translated by Automaton, the GRAC contacted Valve in March 2025 with concerns that the mod distorted historical facts. The government agency argued that it misrepresented the Gwangju protests, a movement widely recognized for being met with violent military suppression, which led to the deaths of many civilians.

Local media, including Yonhap News Agency, criticized the mod for portraying protestors as violent criminals, potentially justifying the actions of the military dictatorship. The mod reportedly included provocative imagery, such as a cover image featuring Chun Doo-hwan, the military leader associated with the crackdown.

Valve responded to the controversy by taking the mod offline in South Korea. In a brief statement, the company acknowledged the significance of the events portrayed: “Valve recognises the importance the historical event has for Korean people.”

The incident has reignited debate in South Korea over how historical events are portrayed in interactive media and the role of content moderation by platform holders like Valve.

More:Video Games Europe on Stop Killing Games Movement

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