GTA 6 Gets an Adults-Only Rating in South Korea From a New Private Board

South Korea has rated GTA 6 for adults only. Yonhap reported that the Game Content Rating Board (GCRB) gave it 청소년이용불가, “not for use by minors,” at a ratings meeting on October 16. That clears the game for its November 19 launch in Korea.

This was a test of a new system as much as of the game. A private board, not the government regulator, made the call. And the Korean store lists more content warnings than Japan’s does.

The GCRB Rated GTA 6 on October 16

Yonhap’s report, filed at 4:03 a.m. ET on October 16, says the GCRB judged GTA 6 청소년이용불가 at that day’s ratings meeting, and that the game is expected to release in Korea on November 19 as planned (Reported). TechM adds that it was the board’s 25th ratings meeting (Reported).

Yonhap also reports the board focused on whether the game’s nudity and violence were suitable for distribution in Korea. Electronic Times says it looked at whether the content fit the adults-only standard (Reported). Neither outlet quotes the board directly, and we didn’t read a decision on the GCRB’s site.

A Private Board Made the Call

This is the new part. Yonhap explains that the government decided in 2024 to hand game ratings from the Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC) to the private sector, revising the Game Industry Act to move authority to the GCRB in stages. The GCRB took over all-ages, 12+ and 15+ mobile ratings first, then adults-only PC and console games from last November (Reported).

Electronic Times calls GTA 6 the highest-profile game rated since that handover, and a case that shows how the private system will judge big global titles (Reported). The store badge still says GRAC, which is the old regulator’s name on a new board’s decision.

What the Korean Store Listing Says

Read on October 20, the Korean PlayStation Store lists “GRAC 19+” with five descriptors: Crime, Drugs, 언어의 부적절성 (inappropriate language), Sexual Content and 폭력성 (violence). The standard edition is ₩89,800 and the Ultimate Edition is ₩112,800. The listed release time is 3 p.m. UTC on November 18, which is midnight on November 19 in Korea and 10 a.m. ET on November 18 (Store listing).

Store time stamps can change, and Rockstar hasn’t announced launch hours by country (Not confirmed).

How Korea Compares

• Japan, CERO Z: Crime and Violence on the store (Store listing). Game*Spark says no differences between the Japanese and overseas versions have been announced (Reported).
• Germany, USK 18: drastic violence, drugs and criminal role models, from the USK’s own database (Official).
• US, ESRB M: seven descriptors, including Strong Sexual Content and Use of Drugs and Alcohol (Official).

Korea’s list sits closer to the US and Brazil than to Japan. That’s a store’s descriptor set, not proof of what’s in either country’s version.

What We Don’t Know

• Whether the Korean version has any content changes (Not confirmed).
• The GCRB’s own record for the rating (Not confirmed).
• The exact Korean unlock time; only the store stamp is public (Not confirmed).

More: USK, CERO and ClassInd compared, all GTA 6 ratings and price by country.

Official Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 1, Rockstar Games.