[Reporter’s Notebook] Hopes Pinned on Political Leaders’ Visit to G-Star

Prime Minister Kim Minseok (center) and Cho Younggi, Chairman of the Korea Game Industry Association (right), visited "G-Star 2025" held at BEXCO in Busan on the 15th and took a commemorative photo at the Krafton booth in Exhibition Hall 1. Photo by Noh Kyungjo

"In our country, a large proportion of people enjoy games as a leisure activity, and the industry itself holds significant value. There is a lot for the government to do, including easing regulations, to help the game industry become firmly established."

Prime Minister Kim Minseok made these remarks on November 15 at the site of "G-Star 2025," the nation's largest game show held at BEXCO in Busan, as he met with industry representatives. He added, "I hope G-Star will grow into a world-class event."

This was the first time a sitting Prime Minister has visited G-Star, the largest game show in Korea. Traditionally, the event is attended by the Minister or Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, but this year, neither participated. Instead, the event saw a large presence of ruling party figures, including Prime Minister Kim and Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. Prime Minister Kim reiterated that the government's perspective on games is not negative. After a meeting with game industry executives, ruling party officials pledged to pass the "Comprehensive Amendment to the Game Industry Act" and to persuade the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which holds budgetary authority, so that industry demands such as production cost tax credits can be realized.

The game industry is hopeful about the current administration's game-friendly stance because the environment it faces is challenging. There are now many entertainment options that can substitute for games, such as online video services (OTT), and the rapid growth of the Chinese game market has further narrowed the domestic industry's position. Cho Younggi, Chairman of the Korea Game Industry Association, said, "The growth of the game industry began to slow in 2023. Achieving global results is crucial for continued growth, but competition with countries like China is fierce."

Industry insiders unanimously agree that strong policy support is urgently needed to pioneer new opportunities in the global market. Game companies in North America and Europe receive tax benefits not only for production costs but also for research and development (R&D) expenses. In Korea, such measures are still a distant prospect.

Until now, political interest in the game industry has mostly surfaced during election seasons as a means to attract young voters. There have been few cases where flashy pledges and policies have actually been institutionalized, leaving the industry caught in a cycle of hope and disappointment. The game industry is a leading sector for job creation. According to the Korea Creative Content Agency's "Study on Improving Tax Support Systems for the Game Industry," if tax credits are applied, investment is projected to increase by a total of 1.5993 trillion won over five years, and 15,513 new jobs are expected to be created during the same period.

It is time for the government to respond to the industry's calls for regulatory easing and tax benefits. With global interest in K-content at an all-time high, the government must provide comprehensive promotion policies and sustained attention to ensure Korea retains its title as a powerhouse in the game industry.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.