The effects of government and conglomerate-driven investments on the contemporary Korean gaming industry: a critical perspective

South Korea (hereafter Korea) is one of the largest players on the current global gaming industry market. In particular, online gaming has now become Korea’s most significant cultural trade product, outperforming K-pop, with the industry accounting for more than 67.2% of the cultural product exports. It is becoming clear that the gaming industry evolves its market influence using similar techniques as used by other Korean industry sectors (i.e. automobiles, chemicals and steel, electronics, shipbuilding, telecommunications), namely an export-oriented industry reliant on significant governmental and conglomerate investment and control. With e-sports now covering audiences of similar size to the average of large professional sports leagues, Korean e-sport athletes have also become influencers on whom the gaming industry relies for increasing its market share. This paper scrutinises advantages and drawbacks on the Korean gaming industry’s business model based on their recognition of new technologies and financial strategies to improve its global competitiveness.