SEOUL ? South Korea on Thursday warned Google it would be penalized if its mobile games content was not regulated, a government official said.

South Korea's Games Ratings Board has sent an official letter to Google Korea, urging the web giant to abide by a law that requires all video games to be reviewed and rated by the state agency.

The company operates an online software store called Android Market for mobile devices, which allows users to browse, upload and download applications.

"Numerous games which have not received domestic ratings were found in Android Market," the letter was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency.

"Unless corrective measures are taken, it would be unavoidable [for government authorities] to cut access to Android Market," it said.

A Google Korea spokeswoman confirmed the company had received the letter late Wednesday.

"We are currently reviewing the letter," she told Agence France-Presse.

"Anroid Market is open to all in the world. It's unrealistic that games developers in the world must subject their contents to review by South Korean government authorities before they put them on Android Market," she said.

Users must agree not to upload harmful content to the store, she said, adding the company deletes anything it finds that contravenes the rule.