According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2023, the largest share of professional e-sports gamers, at 67 percent, played League of Legends (LoL). Similarly popular games included PUBG and Valorant.
South Korea: fertile ground for e-sports
E-sports are immensely popular in South Korea, and the country represents an important location for the global e-sports industry. Its market ranks among the biggest in the industry, outpacing larger countries like Japan or France. Local gamers profited from significant governmental support for the industry and the country’s emphasis on strong internet infrastructure. The so-called “PC bang” constitutes an integral part of Korean gaming culture. There, gamers can play multiplayer games for relatively low hourly fees on high-end computers. As many gamers enjoy going there with friends, these facilities contribute to a strong presence of multiplayer games in South Korea.
E-sports empire
The conditions in South Korea supported the rise of an internationally strong e-sports scene in the country. League of Legends has proven to be especially successful, with most World Championships in the game having been won by Korean teams. Accordingly, South Korean fans made up the single largest share of the tournament’s followers in 2023. Developed by a South Korean company, PUBG is another popular e-sports game, whose top earners have traditionally been Korean. The game, like the industry more generally, has been pivoting towards mobile versions, and has also become a huge success in China.
Number of professional gamers in South Korea as of September 2023, by game
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Korea Creative Content Agency. (December 13, 2023). Number of professional gamers in South Korea as of September 2023, by game [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/753146/south-korea-number-of-major-professional-gamers-by-event/
Korea Creative Content Agency. "Number of professional gamers in South Korea as of September 2023, by game." Chart. December 13, 2023. Statista. Accessed November 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/753146/south-korea-number-of-major-professional-gamers-by-event/
Korea Creative Content Agency. (2023). Number of professional gamers in South Korea as of September 2023, by game. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/753146/south-korea-number-of-major-professional-gamers-by-event/
Korea Creative Content Agency. "Number of Professional Gamers in South Korea as of September 2023, by Game." Statista, Statista Inc., 13 Dec 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/753146/south-korea-number-of-major-professional-gamers-by-event/
Korea Creative Content Agency, Number of professional gamers in South Korea as of September 2023, by game Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/753146/south-korea-number-of-major-professional-gamers-by-event/ (last visited November 21, 2024)
Number of professional gamers in South Korea as of September 2023, by game [Graph], Korea Creative Content Agency, December 13, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/753146/south-korea-number-of-major-professional-gamers-by-event/
