

By Kang Aa-young



Rachel Stine, an American Pokemon buff, is having a heartbreaking moment.



Days before the start of the Pokemon Korea league tournament scheduled for this weekend, she received a phone call from an organizer, telling her that she couldn't participate because she is a foreigner.



"The company representative simply said we are not able to play this tournament because we are foreigners," said Stine, a 20-year veteran of Pokemon games.



The Pokemon Korean league is holding its 2017-18 Winter Trading Card Game and Nintendo DS Video Game tournament on Jan. 27 and 28 in Pangyo on the outskirt of Seoul.



Pokemon is a Japanese media firm specializing in trading cards, video games and the mobile game "Pokemon Go." Pokemon Korea is responsible for the event.



She cites no ban on foreigners in Europe, for instance.





This is the previous Pokemon Autumn League's registration policy that doesn't state any ban on foreigners. / The Korea Times

The coming winter league's registration policy states "Korean nationality only" rule. / The Korea Times