Gaming industry size South Korea 2006-2022
How do Koreans game?
In 2023, the majority of South Koreans stated that they were playing video games. More than half of South Koreans between the age of 10 and 65 years stated that they were playing mobile games, another large share of respondents reported they were playing PC games. Unsurprisingly, mobile and PC gaming platforms led in terms of sales in the country.
While broadband internet connectivity in South Korea is high, many South Koreans prefer to use so-called PC-bangs. These venues provide a social space for gamers to use high performance desktop computers and are typical meeting points for multiplayer computer gamers. With a still growing sales revenue, PC bangs are uniquely popular in South Korea.
South Korean game development
While South Koreans have a huge appetite for gaming, local game developers are not among the world’s leading gaming companies. Netmarble Games, South Korea’s largest mobile-gaming publishing company, produces role-playing games for renowned franchises such as Marvel, Star Wars and Dragon Ball. While the South Korean industry has a global share of over seven percent and gaming is still a widely popular activity, critics point out that the lack of progress and innovation in game development is a big flaw in the industry.