Cybersecurity researchers disciplined for playing StarCraft during work hours

The Korea Times - Oct 14, 2026

Employees at a government-funded research institute responsible for national cybersecurity have been disciplined after they were caught playing video games together during work hours. According to data obtained by Rep. Hwang Jung-a of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, from the National Security Research Institute (NSR), an affiliate of the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), five employees at the institute's Cyber Security Training Center were disciplined after an investigation found that they had spent as many as 90 hours connected to Battle.net, the online gaming service used for StarCraft, during work hours. StarCraft is a strategy game developed by U.S. video game company Blizzard Entertainment. The five employees repeatedly accessed the game server on their work computers between September and December 2024 when their supervisor was away on vacation or business trips. One employee was connected for as long as eight hours and 53 minutes in a single day. Another was co

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Defector who won $37,210 from Kim Jong-un in lawsuit vows to fight on

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Hyundai Motor Group chief marks 6 years at helm with physical AI ambitions

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Hanwha, US Army name US version of K9 howitzer XM1776

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Female Marine stands guard on Korea's front-line island

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Chungnam National University students donate merchandise sales proceeds to university fund

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Fire breaks out at chemical company in Ulsan, forcing 7,000 workers nearby to evacuate

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Criminal profilers to question suspect behind Incheon stabbing spree for motive

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Korea helps 16 Asia-Pacific nations preserve written heritage

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