Gaming has become very popular nowadays. It’s one of our main sources of entertainment, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic forced us all to stay home.

But one particular country takes gaming more seriously than the rest. In the esports world, gamers from across the globe fear and respect South Korea when it comes to their talent and teamwork. But not many people outside the gaming industry realize how serious South Korea is when it comes to gaming. So here are three reasons why it’s a force to be reckoned with in this arena.

1 . They’re thereal League of Legends 

League of Legends, also known as LoL, is one of the biggest games in the world, for casual gaming and tournaments. They pioneered gaming tournaments that took competitive gaming to another level.

They’re always in the top three of Twitch, the largest streaming platform for gamers. In their tournaments, they give away as much as 6.45 million USD to the winning team. Because this game is so popular, only the best of the best (the most skilled players from different countries) compete in its tournaments.

But South Korea dominates everyone with excellent teamwork and sheer talent. They were named champions in six out of ten League of Legends tournaments and made the top five eight times throughout the last decade. 

2. Gaming is a huge part of their culture

As time goes by, the international gaming scene continues to improve by leaps and bounds. In South Korea, they welcome all innovations with open arms. 

According to the 2019 White Paper on Korean Games published by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korean gaming market is estimated to be worth around 12.9 billion USD (14.9 trillion KRW). The penetration rate of gamers in South Korea is one of the highest in the world. 

Gaming appeals to a wide range of people, especially the youth. About 91 percent of South Korean teenagers claimed that they play video games, and 85 percent of those in their 20s do so as well. 

3. South Korea treats esports as an academic discipline

Since gaming exploded exponentially in South Korea in the last decade, Bang Seung-ho, principal of the Ahyeon Polytechnic High School, fought to bring video games into South Korea's schools. 

According to an article in The Washington Post, "When Bang started out, people dismissed him as eccentric, and many parents viewed the course as a waste of time. Even today, there are plenty of cynics, but Bang said they are coming around to the idea of esports as a way of channeling their children's interests and abilities—and as a pathway to a career." 

In South Korea, the future is bright for gamers. People from all over the world respect them and the local gaming scene continues to evolve in many ways. That’s why the country will always do what it can to preserve its status as a gaming giant.