Inven Global says South Korea's rating board split 3-3 between Adults Only and refusal before classifying GTA 6 by 8-1 on October 16.
Sources invenglobal.com
GTA 6 came close to being refused classification in South Korea, which would have blocked its local release. Inven Global obtained the rating board (GCRB) minutes: at the first vote on September 10, members split 3-3 between Adults Only and refusal.
Per Inven, the application was filed on September 1. A playable build only reached the committee on September 28 for security reasons. Two decision postponements followed, and an October 8 meeting was canceled for lack of quorum. On October 16, Adults Only passed 8-1, with descriptors for sexuality, violence, crime, drugs and language.
Violence was not the issue, the outlet reports: it was the frequent background appearance of male genitalia without sexual context. On violence, crime and drugs members saw little difference from GTA 5, rated Adults Only in 2013. A September 2025 rule change relaxed the wording on body exposure, and GTA 6 reportedly tested it first on a major blockbuster.
Members also noted that a refusal is an administrative measure blocking any release and needs clear legal grounds. They pointed to missing refusal criteria for crime and drugs, the difficulty of reviewing a story of over 80 hours, and the pressure of being the only country to refuse after ten overseas boards had issued adult ratings.
Read also GTA 6 boxes reach Leclerc and Auchan stores today, with a code
For Korean players, nothing changes: the game is rated and launches on November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Inven says the documents do not show how the modification recommendation from the first review was handled. In France the game stays PEGI 18, see our release page.
Sources invenglobal.com
Reported Reported by the press, not confirmed by Rockstar
By Daniel Jasner · GTAVIFRANCE newsroom
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