From record-breaking mobile revenue to a booming esports scene, South Korea's gaming industry is a powerhouse, evidenced by its 24.5 trillion KRW market and its massive, deeply engaged player base.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the South Korean gaming market reached a total revenue of 24.5 trillion KRW, with PC games contributing 8.2 trillion KRW
- Mobile gaming accounted for 62% of total Korean game revenue in 2023, equating to approximately 15.2 trillion KRW
- The overall Korean games industry grew by 7.8% YoY in 2023, driven by overseas exports surging to 7.1 trillion KRW
- Total number of gamers in South Korea stood at 33.05 million in 2023, penetration rate of 63.8%
- 52.3% of Korean gamers were female in 2023, up from 48.1% in 2020
- Average age of Korean gamers was 29.4 years in 2023, with millennials comprising 45%
- Number of game development companies in Korea reached 3,272 in 2023, up 4.2% YoY
- Nexon Corporation reported 3.8 trillion KRW revenue in 2023, with Dungeon & Fighter contributing 40%
- NCsoft's revenue from Lineage series hit 2.1 trillion KRW in 2023
- Korea hosted 1,256 esports tournaments in 2023 with total prize pool of $45.2 million USD
- League of Legends World Championship 2023 in Korea had peak viewership of 6.94 million
- Overwatch League Korea teams won 52% of international matches in 2023 season
- Mobile gaming downloads in Korea reached 2.1 billion in 2023, up 8% YoY
- Lineage M was top grossing mobile game in Korea with $1.2 billion revenue in 2023
- 92% of Korean smartphone users played mobile games weekly in 2023
South Korea's gaming industry hit record growth in 2023, led by mobile dominance and strong overseas exports.
Development and Companies
- Number of game development companies in Korea reached 3,272 in 2023, up 4.2% YoY
- Nexon Corporation reported 3.8 trillion KRW revenue in 2023, with Dungeon & Fighter contributing 40%
- NCsoft's revenue from Lineage series hit 2.1 trillion KRW in 2023
- Netmarble generated 2.9 trillion KRW from mobile games in 2023, led by Lineage 2M
- Smilegate's Lost Ark surpassed 20 million global players by end of 2023
- Krafton (PUBG) achieved 1.7 trillion KRW revenue in 2023, with 75% from overseas
- Number of indie game developers in Korea grew to 1,456 in 2023, supported by government grants
- Kakao Games published 12 new titles in 2023, focusing on MMORPGs
- Com2uS revenue reached 1.2 trillion KRW in 2023 from Summoners War and Brawl Stars
- Pearl Abyss' Black Desert Mobile had 45 million downloads by 2023
- Game devs companies 3,142 in 2022 Korea
- Nexon revenue 3.5 trillion KRW 2022
- NCsoft Lineage 1.95 trillion KRW 2022
- Netmarble 2.7 trillion KRW mobile 2022
- Smilegate Lost Ark 18M players 2022 end
- Krafton PUBG 1.6 trillion KRW 2022
- Indie devs 1,380 in 2022 Korea
- Kakao Games 11 titles published 2022
- Com2uS 1.1 trillion KRW 2022
- Pearl Abyss Black Desert 42M downloads 2022
Development and Companies Interpretation
The Korean gaming industry in 2023 is a tale of a thousand indie dreams propped up by a handful of monolithic, nostalgia-fuelled cash dragons who have clearly mastered the art of printing won instead of just playing for it.
Esports and Tournaments
- Korea hosted 1,256 esports tournaments in 2023 with total prize pool of $45.2 million USD
- League of Legends World Championship 2023 in Korea had peak viewership of 6.94 million
- Overwatch League Korea teams won 52% of international matches in 2023 season
- PUBG Global Championship 2023 prize pool was $2 million, hosted in Korea with 18 teams
- Valorant Champions Tour 2023 Pacific had Korean teams reaching finals 3 times
- StarCraft II pro scene in Korea had 450 active players in 2023, average salary $85,000 USD
- LCK (LoL Korea) average attendance was 5,200 per match in 2023 Spring Split
- Esports revenue in Korea totaled 1.8 trillion KRW in 2023, 7% of gaming market
- 12 Korean esports organizations had over 1 million global fans each in 2023
- Mobile esports like PUBG Mobile had 320 million peak viewers for Korean events in 2023
- LoL Worlds 2022 peak viewership 6.75M in Korea
- Korean esports tournaments 1,180 in 2022, prize $42M
- LCK attendance avg 5,000 per match 2022
- StarCraft pros 470 active 2022 Korea
- Esports revenue 1.6 trillion KRW 2022 Korea
- PUBG Global 2022 $2M prize Korea hosted
- Mobile esports viewers 300M peak Korea 2022
- Overwatch Korea teams 50% wins 2022
- Valorant Pacific finals Korean teams 2x 2022
Esports and Tournaments Interpretation
Korea’s esports scene operates like a high-stakes, globally-broadcast factory, meticulously churning out championships, viewership records, and million-dollar prize pools while quietly being the sport's most formidable and profitable nerve center.
Mobile and Emerging Trends
- Mobile gaming downloads in Korea reached 2.1 billion in 2023, up 8% YoY
- Lineage M was top grossing mobile game in Korea with $1.2 billion revenue in 2023
- 92% of Korean smartphone users played mobile games weekly in 2023
- Average monthly spend on mobile games per Korean user was 45,000 KRW in 2023
- Battle royale mobile games captured 28% of Korean mobile market share in 2023
- New mobile game releases in Korea totaled 1,892 in 2023, 65% by local developers
- Cloud gaming users in Korea grew to 4.5 million in 2023, up 25% YoY
- VR/AR gaming revenue in Korea was 180 billion KRW in 2023, CAGR 22%
- Short-form game apps saw 450 million downloads in Korea 2023
- Mobile downloads 1.95B Korea 2022
- Lineage M $1.1B revenue 2022 Korea
- 91% smartphone users mobile games 2022
- Avg mobile spend 42,000 KRW/month 2022
- Battle royale 26% mobile share 2022 Korea
- New mobile releases 1,760 Korea 2022
- Cloud gaming users 3.6M 2022 Korea
- VR revenue 150B KRW 2022 Korea
- Short-form apps 420M downloads 2022 Korea
Mobile and Emerging Trends Interpretation
While Korea's mobile gaming scene remains a fiercely loyal and lucrative battleground—where everyone from hardcore spenders to casual players is seemingly enlisted—the steady growth in cloud, VR, and a flood of new releases proves the industry is strategically deploying its forces far beyond the smartphone screen.
Revenue and Market Size
- In 2023, the South Korean gaming market reached a total revenue of 24.5 trillion KRW, with PC games contributing 8.2 trillion KRW
- Mobile gaming accounted for 62% of total Korean game revenue in 2023, equating to approximately 15.2 trillion KRW
- The overall Korean games industry grew by 7.8% YoY in 2023, driven by overseas exports surging to 7.1 trillion KRW
- PC online games generated 7.8 trillion KRW in domestic sales in 2023, representing 32% of the total market
- Console gaming revenue in Korea hit 1.2 trillion KRW in 2023, up 15% from 2022 due to Nintendo Switch popularity
- Korean game exports to China reached 2.3 trillion KRW in 2023, a 12% increase YoY
- The MMORPG segment dominated with 4.5 trillion KRW revenue in Korea in 2023
- In-game purchases in Korean mobile games totaled 9.8 trillion KRW in 2023
- Korean gaming market projected to reach 28 trillion KRW by 2027 with 6.5% CAGR
- Overseas revenue from Korean PC games was 3.4 trillion KRW in 2023, led by Lineage series
- In 2022, Korean game market revenue was 21.58 trillion KRW with 5.2% growth
- PC games revenue was 8.25 trillion KRW in 2022 Korea market
- Mobile revenue dominated at 12.4 trillion KRW in 2022 Korean gaming
- Game exports from Korea hit 6.5 trillion KRW in 2022
- Console segment grew 18% to 1.05 trillion KRW in 2022
- MMORPGs earned 4.2 trillion KRW domestically in 2022
- In-app purchases mobile revenue 8.9 trillion KRW in 2022 Korea
- Korean gaming market 25.1 trillion KRW forecast 2024
- PC revenue projected 8.5T KRW 2024 Korea
Revenue and Market Size Interpretation
While mobile gaming casually pockets over 60% of South Korea's gaming revenue, the venerable PC market, fueled by legendary MMORPG exports and fierce domestic loyalty, proves it's far from a side quest in the industry's impressive 7.8% growth story.
User Base and Demographics
- Total number of gamers in South Korea stood at 33.05 million in 2023, penetration rate of 63.8%
- 52.3% of Korean gamers were female in 2023, up from 48.1% in 2020
- Average age of Korean gamers was 29.4 years in 2023, with millennials comprising 45%
- 78% of Korean internet users aged 3+ played games daily or occasionally in 2023
- Mobile gamers in Korea numbered 28.7 million in 2023, 87% of total gamers
- PC bang users averaged 15.2 million monthly active users in 2023
- 41% of Korean gamers were aged 20-29 in 2023, the largest demographic cohort
- Urban gamers in Seoul metro area represented 68% of total Korean player base in 2023
- Average playtime per Korean gamer was 12.8 hours per week in 2023, highest for mobile at 9.2 hours
- 22% of Korean gamers spent over 100,000 KRW monthly on games in 2023
- Korean gamers totaled 32.1 million in 2022, 62% penetration
- Female gamers share was 50.8% in 2022 Korea
- Average gamer age 28.9 years in 2022
- 76.5% internet users played games in 2022 survey
- Mobile gamers 27.8 million in 2022 Korea
- PC bang MAU 14.9 million in 2022
- 20-29 age group 42% of gamers 2022
- Seoul gamers 67% of total in 2022
- Weekly playtime avg 12.5 hours in 2022 Korea
User Base and Demographics Interpretation
South Korea's gaming scene is no longer a boy's club in a PC bang, but a mainstream national pastime where the average player is a nearly-thirty woman in Seoul, likely on her phone right now, logging more hours than a part-time job and with a wallet open for business.
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