Korea Sports Council and Korea e-Sports Association Join Forces During Nagoya Asian Games: "Collaboration on Turning Domestic Game IPs into Events and Institutional Reforms"

*This content was translated by AI.

The Korea Sports Council and the Korea e-Sports Association have joined forces to enhance the global competitiveness of South Korean e-sports in international multi-sport events and to solidify the institutional foundation.

The Korea Sports Council announced that it held a meeting with the Korea e-Sports Association on the morning of the 2nd at the local site in Nagoya, Japan, where the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Summer Asian Games are being held. This gathering was arranged to strengthen the coordination system between the two institutional investors in line with the rapidly changing global sports environment and the event selection system for international competitions.

On this day, Kim Young-man, Chairman of the Korea e-Sports Association, pointed out the weak position of domestic game IPs (intellectual property) in international events and the lack of a cooperation framework. Kim (Chairman) stated, "It is regrettable that only one IP from a South Korean game company was included in major international events at this Nagoya Asian Games, following Hangzhou," adding, "China and Japan have formed a 'one team' with their governments, companies, and National Olympic Committees (NOCs), actively conducting diplomacy at the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC)."

He continued, "Domestically, game companies, associations, and sports councils are moving independently, which reduces efficiency," emphasizing, "To secure leadership in event selection on the international stage, a unified cooperation system is essential, and existing traditional sports institutions that do not reflect the characteristics of e-sports also need reform."

Yoo Seung-min, President of the Korea Sports Council, strongly agreed with this and expressed his will to improve institutions and provide support. Yoo (Chairman) responded, "I pay tribute to the athletes and coaches who have achieved outstanding results despite difficult conditions, as well as to the association that has dedicated itself," adding, "We will review flexible improvements to current systems from various angles so that e-sports, an emerging sport, can take another step forward, and we will work closely with the association to prepare necessary support measures."

The two institutional investors plan to continue follow-up discussions to formulate practical development plans, including organizing e-sports-related regulations and institutions, and promoting the official inclusion of domestic game IPs as events in international competitions, starting from this meeting.

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*This content was translated by AI.