Pokémon Korea's New Competitive League Rules Target Foreigners & Expats

Pokémon, well-known for inclusion and fairness in the west, is having some trouble in South Korea today. This weekend, the Pokémon Spring Korean League is coming together for their chance to play in the World Championships, which will be held in Nashville, TN, USA this year this August. But, something very non-Pokémon-like happened this week.

According to the Korea Times website today, American expat Rachel Stine reached out to them to explain that Pokémon Korea, which is the Korean branch of the Pokémon Company, isn’t playing fair this year. She explained that any competitor with a foreign (e.g. non-Korean) sounding name received an email from Pokémon Korea. This email stated that competitors “must be Korean nationals and must use software from Nintendo Korea.”

"Nintendo 3DS consoles work in Pokemon tournaments regardless of which country they're region-locked to," Stine continued to explain. "They work in tournaments regardless of which language the player uses."

In addition, foreign players were given a consent form that explains that if you are not a Korean national, “you are allowed to participate in this competition on condition that you will be given prizes except for the seed ticket of the main tournament of Pokemon World Championship 2018 Korea representative selection contest if you win the top prize."

This means that the only people eligible for the grand prize of going to the World Championship would have to be solely a Korean national.

According to blog The Minority Traveler, the email is translated as such:

“Hello, I am Pokemon Korea.

Thank you for applying in advance for the Korean League 2007-18 WINTER GAME.

Welcome to the Korean League 2007-18 WINTER GAME.

Prior to the competition, only Korean athletes are allowed to participate.

The competition is conditioned as follows :

- A person who has Korean nationality

- Nintendo 3DS software officially released by Nintendo Korea

And I want to share with you the Pokémon Ultramoon and the Pokémon Ultramoon.

Who owns the Nintendo 3DS Series main body

The Pokemon events are carried out according to the rules that are specified in each country.

If not, I regret to inform you that I can not participate in this contest.

Please reply by e-mail to be fully informed of the qualification for this competition, and please visit the competition reception area on January 28 to receive your certificate.

Contest Date : January 28 (Day)

Place of competition : Torfas Hall on the 10th floor of the Pangyo branch of Hyundai Department Store

Time to receive a certificate : 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Additionally, it has been confirmed that with the current four techniques, the game will stop at a live event.

” Water Sporter “, ” Powertrack “, ” Forest Appellation ”

The above 4 technologies will be banned from use in this contest.

Please clear the above 4 technologies before participating.

Be careful to avoid losing the used part if it is stopped using the word.

precautions

- Only Korean nationals are allowed to participate in this contest.

- Please bring the ID card you can check.

- If you visit after the receipt of the athlete’s card, you may experience a disadvantage such as a delay in entering the stadium.

- Before you visit the competition hall, make sure to register a battle team in the battle box of the Poketmon Center PC in the game.

- The Company is not responsible for any disadvantages caused by the Regulation.

For more information, please refer to the Korean League 2007-18 WINTER Special Page.

(http://pokemonkorea.co.kr/kl2018/#4)

Thank you.

Pokémon Korea Dream”

Although Stine has reached out to Pokémon International, they had not responded as of publishing. Stine, however, knows the international rules and she knows just how unfair they are being. "We're asking Pokemon Korea to follow the rules every other country on earth does. This is not a big ask. It's not about winning or about going to the worlds. They hope we'll give up and go away. We aren't going away."

Stine’s team consists of seven expats and are joining her for this weekend’s tournament. But, even back in January at the winter tournament, she had issues with the administration. Although they gave her difficulty in entering, they eventually competed at the event. “Make no mistake, Pokemon Korea is attempting to intimidate foreign players from competing,"

While he can’t speak for the rules in other countries, Twin Galaxies head of editorial Jesse Collins is an officially certified Pokémon Professor in USA. This means he has taken and passed exams and has the ability to host and judge official Pokémon sanctioned events. “In USA,” he stated, “the Professors hold four ‘core values’ as a professor, which are integrity, honesty, responsibility, and professionalism. This means it’s always inclusive, fair, and the words ‘spirit of the game’ are used a lot here. It’s unfortunate that Pokémon Korea’s events seems to be having trouble with this and I hope this gets resolved before the weekend event there.”

Spirit of the Game, according to Pokémon’s US website is defined very simply. “Play! Pokémon events are enjoyed for their atmosphere of friendly competition and good sportsmanship. The objective for every Play! Pokémon tournament is that every participant has fun while also playing at their best. We want everyone who participates in Play! Pokémon events to keep these principles in mind—fun, fairness, honesty, respect, sportsmanship, and learning. Together, these principles make up our Spirit of the Game. Adherence to the Spirit of the Game helps to ensure that all participants have an enjoyable experience. This spirit should guide the conduct of players as well as that of the tournament judges as they interpret and enforce the rules.”

As of publishing, Korean Times had reached out to Pokémon Korea and was declined comment. Stine, however, has uploaded a petition to Change.org, which demands that Pokémon Korea give:

1.) An immediate repeal of the foreigner ban

2.) An apology to non-Korean players who were harassed by Pokémon Korea staff via e-mail, cell phone, and at the tournament

While the story is happening today, other games are having a representation problem involving South Korea, as well. This story is ongoing and may be updated...