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Photo = Netmarble |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] A serious case of internal abuse has shaken Netmarble, as an employee from one of its subsidiaries was found to have exploited internal privileges to illegally generate and monetize high-value in-game items.
On July 10, Netmarble announced that its internal investigation revealed the employee had directly accessed the game's database and manipulated item enhancement values without authorization.
The incident occurred in RF Online NEXT, an MMORPG developed by Netmarble N2. According to a Netmarble spokesperson speaking to Alpha Economy, the employee—identified only as "A"—created and sold 16 units of the rare "+10 Antigravity Drive" item through unauthorized means, gaining approximately KRW 5 million (approx. USD 3,600) in illicit profits.
The misconduct came to light through a tip submitted to the company’s customer support center. A prompt investigation confirmed that the employee had tampered with the game database to alter item values.
Netmarble responded swiftly, suspending the employee from all duties, permanently banning and seizing the associated game account, and referring the case to its disciplinary committee. The company also stated its intention to pursue both civil and criminal legal actions against the individual.
The company is currently tracking and retrieving all items illegally distributed by the employee and is preparing compensation for affected users, including refunds and restoration of previously equipped items.
“This was an isolated act of misconduct by an internal staff member. We are taking strict disciplinary measures and initiating legal proceedings,” a Netmarble representative said. “We deeply apologize to the players of RF Online NEXT for the concern and inconvenience caused by this incident. We are doing everything we can to restore normalcy as quickly as possible.”
AlphaBIZ Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
