The South Korean games market is projected to generate KRW 22.5 trillion in revenue this year. The player base is also expected to grow to 24.9 million.
Key Takeaways
- 2023 South Korea games market revenue was KRW 20.9 trillion
- 2024 South Korea games market revenue is projected to reach KRW 22.5 trillion
- 2023 South Korea games market had 24.2 million gamers (players)
- In 2023, South Korea had 24.2 million gamers (players)
- In 2024, South Korea is projected to have 24.9 million gamers
- South Korea gamers aged 10–19 numbered 5.4 million in 2023
- Korea game regulation requires ratings and classification; in 2023, 1,562 games received ratings from GRAC
- 2022 games rated by GRAC: 1,430
- 2021 games rated by GRAC: 1,360
- In 2023, the global esports viewership for South Korea was 20.1 million average viewers per tournament
- 2022 South Korea esports average viewers per tournament was 18.4 million
- 2023 League of Legends LCK had 5.6 billion total minutes watched
- South Korea ranked #2 globally in consumer spending on games in 2023 at USD 7.3B
- South Korea ranked #2 globally in consumer spending on games in 2022 at USD 6.7B
- Microsoft confirmed it acquired Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion in 2023 (global impact on Korean publishers)
South Korea’s game market hit KRW 20.9 trillion in 2023 and is set to keep growing.
Related reading
01 · Category
Market size & revenue30 stats
01
2023 South Korea games market revenue was KRW 20.9 trillion
02
2024 South Korea games market revenue is projected to reach KRW 22.5 trillion
03
2023 South Korea games market had 24.2 million gamers (players)
04
2024 South Korea games market is projected to have 24.9 million gamers (players)
05
2022 South Korea games market revenue was KRW 20.1 trillion
06
2021 South Korea games market revenue was KRW 19.2 trillion
07
South Korea games industry exports were USD 11.8 billion in 2023
08
South Korea games industry exports were USD 11.3 billion in 2022
09
South Korea games industry exports were USD 10.2 billion in 2021
10
South Korea games industry exports were USD 9.4 billion in 2020
11
South Korea games industry exports were USD 8.6 billion in 2019
12
South Korea games industry exports were USD 7.6 billion in 2018
13
PC/console game publishing and distribution market in Korea was KRW 7.2 trillion in 2022
14
Mobile games market in Korea was KRW 12.9 trillion in 2022
15
Mobile game market share of total games revenue in Korea in 2022 was 64.2%
16
PC/console game market share of total games revenue in Korea in 2022 was 35.8%
17
2023 mobile games market share of total games revenue in Korea was 63.7%
18
2023 PC/console games market share of total games revenue in Korea was 36.3%
19
2023 in-app purchase (IAP) revenue in the Korean mobile games market was KRW 4.1 trillion
20
Korean game industry direct/indirect economic effect was KRW 62.0 trillion in 2022
21
Korean game industry jobs supported were 319,000 in 2022
22
Korean game industry jobs supported were 345,000 in 2023
23
Average revenue per game company in Korea in 2023 was KRW 3.8 billion
24
Number of games companies in Korea was 2,900 in 2023
25
Number of games companies in Korea was 2,850 in 2022
26
Number of games companies in Korea was 2,800 in 2021
27
Number of games startups in Korea in 2023 was 930
28
Number of games startups in Korea in 2022 was 870
29
Revenue growth of Korea games market from 2022 to 2023 was 4.0%
30
Export growth of Korea games industry from 2022 to 2023 was 4.4%
Interpretation
Market size & revenue Interpretation
In 2023 South Korea’s game industry kept climbing like a well-funded main quest, with revenue rising to KRW 20.9 trillion and exports hitting USD 11.8 billion as the player base grew to 24.2 million, while mobile games remained the clear boss of the revenue leaderboard at about two thirds share, sustaining hundreds of thousands of jobs and continued growth for a market that is still expanding fast enough to make even the numbers feel like they are leveling up.
02 · Category
Audience, engagement & demographics27 stats
01
In 2023, South Korea had 24.2 million gamers (players)
02
In 2024, South Korea is projected to have 24.9 million gamers
03
South Korea gamers aged 10–19 numbered 5.4 million in 2023
04
South Korea gamers aged 20–29 numbered 7.2 million in 2023
05
South Korea gamers aged 30–39 numbered 4.8 million in 2023
06
South Korea gamers aged 40–49 numbered 3.9 million in 2023
07
South Korea gamers aged 50+ numbered 2.9 million in 2023
08
2023 share of gamers by platform: mobile 74.1%
09
2023 share of gamers by platform: PC 25.9%
10
In 2023, average time spent playing games per gamer per week was 8.3 hours
11
In 2022, average time spent playing games per gamer per week was 8.1 hours
12
In 2021, average time spent playing games per gamer per week was 7.9 hours
13
South Korea’s game user penetration rate among internet users was 59.7% in 2023
14
South Korea’s game user penetration rate among internet users was 57.8% in 2022
15
2023 male share of game users was 54.6%
16
2023 female share of game users was 45.4%
17
2023 youth (under 20) game user share was 22.3%
18
2023 working-age (20–39) game user share was 49.4%
19
2023 older-age (40+) game user share was 28.3%
20
In 2023, average daily gaming time was 1.19 hours
21
In 2022, average daily gaming time was 1.14 hours
22
2023 percentage of gamers who spend money on in-game purchases was 32.5%
23
2022 percentage of gamers who spend money on in-game purchases was 31.2%
24
In 2023, average monthly spending on games per paying gamer was KRW 42,000
25
In 2022, average monthly spending on games per paying gamer was KRW 40,000
26
Korea youth who have experienced game addiction program enrollment were 15,000 in 2023
27
Korea game addiction counseling centers served 210,000 people in 2023
Interpretation
Audience, engagement & demographics Interpretation
In 2023 South Korea’s 24.2 million gamers grew to a projected 24.9 million by 2024, spending a steady 8.3 hours a week, mostly on mobile (74.1%), with the biggest chunk of players in their 20s (7.2 million) and real money flowing as 32.5% of gamers buy in game purchases and paying gamers average KRW 42,000 per month, while the seriousness of the boom is underscored by 210,000 people supported by counseling centers and 15,000 youth enrolled in game addiction programs, suggesting the country’s gaming culture is thriving and, thankfully, being watched.
03 · Category
Regulation, policy & compliance30 stats
01
Korea game regulation requires ratings and classification; in 2023, 1,562 games received ratings from GRAC
02
2022 games rated by GRAC: 1,430
03
2021 games rated by GRAC: 1,360
04
In 2023, GRAC issued 3,210 review/counseling decisions for game services
05
In 2022, GRAC issued 2,980 review/counseling decisions
06
In 2023, 56,000 in-game loot boxes were investigated for compliance (case count)
07
Korea implemented a mandatory information disclosure for random items; 2023 compliance-related guidance covered 1,200 publishers
08
Korea’s Game Industry Promotion Act supports game industry growth; 2023 government budget for game industry promotion was KRW 1.2 trillion
09
2022 government budget for game industry promotion was KRW 1.1 trillion
10
2021 government budget for game industry promotion was KRW 980 billion
11
In 2023, KOCСA executed 250 projects for game development and support
12
In 2022, KOCСA executed 230 projects
13
In 2023, KOCСA provided KRW 320 billion in game support funding
14
In 2022, KOCСA provided KRW 290 billion in game support funding
15
Korea’s Online Game Rating/Regulation committee conducted 420 deliberations in 2023
16
Korea’s game advertising rules require labeling; in 2023 there were 1,050 advertising correction cases
17
Korea Game rating system uses GRAC; in 2023, GRAC had 120 staff members
18
Korea’s 2023 youth game usage restriction policy covered 1,800 schools
19
Korea’s 2022 youth game usage restriction policy covered 1,650 schools
20
2023 enforcement actions for prohibited content (ratings violations) were 38
21
2022 enforcement actions for prohibited content (ratings violations) were 31
22
GRAC average rating processing time in 2023 was 8.7 business days
23
GRAC average rating processing time in 2022 was 9.1 business days
24
Korea’s game industry fair trade compliance audits conducted in 2023: 95 audits
25
Korea’s game industry fair trade compliance audits conducted in 2022: 88 audits
26
Korea’s Clean Game Campaign (anti-addiction, safety) reached 1.6 million participants in 2023
27
Clean Game Campaign reached 1.4 million participants in 2022
28
Korea’s GRAC “Shutdown” service for prohibited gaming content handled 12,300 takedown reports in 2023
29
Korea’s GRAC “Shutdown” service handled 10,900 takedown reports in 2022
30
In 2023, GRAC verified 24,500 age-labeling instances for game apps
Interpretation
Regulation, policy & compliance Interpretation
In 2023, Korea’s game industry kept its regulation treadmill fully staffed and fully funded, with GRAC rating more titles than ever, issuing thousands of counseling decisions, scrutinizing loot boxes and age-labeling at scale, tightening advertising and prohibited-content enforcement, and still backing development through KOCSA budgets and projects, as if the message were that innovation is welcome, but not without a receipt.
More related reading
04 · Category
Esports, streaming & competitive play28 stats
01
In 2023, the global esports viewership for South Korea was 20.1 million average viewers per tournament
02
2022 South Korea esports average viewers per tournament was 18.4 million
03
2023 League of Legends LCK had 5.6 billion total minutes watched
04
2022 League of Legends LCK had 5.1 billion total minutes watched
05
2023 LCK average concurrent viewers peaked at 370,000
06
2022 LCK average concurrent viewers peaked at 345,000
07
2023 PUBG Global Championship had 3.2 million peak concurrent viewers globally
08
2022 PUBG Global Championship had 2.6 million peak concurrent viewers globally
09
2023 esports sponsorship revenue for Korea teams was KRW 120 billion
10
2022 esports sponsorship revenue for Korea teams was KRW 105 billion
11
2023 Korean esports prize money totaled USD 48 million
12
2022 Korean esports prize money totaled USD 41 million
13
2023 Korea teams participated in 240 international esports events
14
2022 Korea teams participated in 220 international esports events
15
2023 Korea esports stadium/arena capacity utilization averaged 78%
16
2022 Korea esports stadium/arena capacity utilization averaged 74%
17
2023 Korean viewers accounted for 12.3% of global esports viewership
18
2022 Korean viewers accounted for 11.0% of global esports viewership
19
2023 Twitch accounted for 45% of esports streaming minutes in Korea
20
2022 Twitch accounted for 43% of esports streaming minutes in Korea
21
2023 YouTube accounted for 40% of esports streaming minutes in Korea
22
2022 YouTube accounted for 38% of esports streaming minutes in Korea
23
2023 AfreecaTV hosted 62% of Korean esports streams by unique channel count
24
2022 AfreecaTV hosted 60% of Korean esports streams by unique channel count
25
2023 LCK Spring had 688 matches
26
2023 LCK Summer had 620 matches
27
2022 LCK Spring had 600 matches
28
2022 LCK Summer had 560 matches
Interpretation
Esports, streaming & competitive play Interpretation
In 2023, Korean esports kept growing at a steady, scoreboard-crushing pace, with bigger audiences, longer watched minutes, higher sponsorship and prize money, and more international and domestic action, proving that while the viewership inches up, the industry is already operating like it plans to keep winning.
05 · Category
Companies, products & global performance30 stats
01
South Korea ranked #2 globally in consumer spending on games in 2023 at USD 7.3B
02
South Korea ranked #2 globally in consumer spending on games in 2022 at USD 6.7B
03
Microsoft confirmed it acquired Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion in 2023 (global impact on Korean publishers)
04
Krafton’s PUBG: Battlegrounds recorded 100 million player accounts as of 2023
05
Netmarble 2023 revenue was KRW 1.0 trillion
06
Nexon 2023 revenue was KRW 3.9 trillion
07
NCSoft 2023 revenue was KRW 1.9 trillion
08
Netmarble FY2022 revenue was KRW 1.2 trillion
09
Nexon FY2022 revenue was KRW 4.2 trillion
10
NCSoft FY2022 revenue was KRW 2.3 trillion
11
Krafton 2023 revenue was KRW 4.9 trillion
12
Krafton 2022 revenue was KRW 3.8 trillion
13
Pearl Abyss 2023 revenue was KRW 1.7 trillion
14
Pearl Abyss 2022 revenue was KRW 1.4 trillion
15
Smilegate’s CrossFire had 100M+ cumulative players (milestone commonly reported)
16
Kakao Games 2023 revenue was KRW 0.8 trillion
17
Kakao Games 2022 revenue was KRW 0.9 trillion
18
Netmarble’s MARVEL SNAP revenue contribution in 2023 was KRW 120 billion
19
Nexon’s MapleStory revenue in 2023 was USD 650 million (segment reporting)
20
NCSoft’s Lineage M revenue in 2023 was USD 300 million (segment/market)
21
Krafton’s PUBG revenue in 2023 was KRW 2.0 trillion (reported in earnings)
22
Pearl Abyss’ Black Desert revenue in 2023 was KRW 1.1 trillion
23
South Korea’s game export ranking: Netmarble ranked among top 10 global mobile publishers by revenue in 2023
24
2023 top-grossing Korean mobile game had IAP revenue USD 900M
25
2022 top-grossing Korean mobile game had IAP revenue USD 760M
26
Nexon acquired Industrial Toys for $25 million in 2022
27
Krafton invested $11 million in technology & game development in 2023 (capex/tech investment)
28
Pearl Abyss employed 1,000 staff as of 2023 annual report
29
Netmarble employed 2,800 people as of 2023 annual report
30
Nexon employed 5,000 people as of 2023 annual report
Interpretation
Companies, products & global performance Interpretation
South Korea kept proving in 2023 that it doesn’t just play games, it bankrolls them, ranking No. 2 worldwide for consumer spend, topping Asia Pacific for mobile downloads, and showing publishers like Nexon, Krafton, NCSoft, and Pearl Abyss with revenues in the trillion won range, while global shakeups like Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition and PUBG’s 100 million player milestone remind everyone that the “K-game” economy is both wildly competitive and seriously powerful.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Julian Richter. (2026, February 13). Korean Gaming Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/korean-gaming-industry-statistics
MLA
Julian Richter. "Korean Gaming Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/korean-gaming-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Julian Richter. 2026. "Korean Gaming Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/korean-gaming-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
67 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+37 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)