Korean Pro-Gaming

In Korea there is a professional sport that will earn you an average of 60,000USD a year, the matches are usually over within 15 minutes and the strain is all n your mind and fingers. E-Sport, but more specifically the e-sport surrounding Starcraft has grown at a phenomenal rate within Korea. With the overhaul and introduction of high speed internet in 1999 teens looked to online gaming as a cheap outlet for fun. 11 years later and these gamers have become national sporting hero’s.

There are at least 3 channels on Korean TV broadcasting prerecorded and live Starcraft shows 24hours a day. Professional teams are sponsored by big names such as Coca-cola and Korean electronics giants Samsung, not to mention high speed internet providers in Korea looking to promote themselves.

The lucrative Korean market has stretched into the west and now professional games from Europe and America move to Korea to take advantage of such an opportunity, not only to improve their game but to get into sponsorships. There are also massive gaming tournaments held in Korea attracting up to 600,000 attendees with finals packing out TV studios and love venues.

Now not being a big sports guy myself and a self professed geek, I could totally buy into this culture! However it is often said that the way these pro gamers act it becomes more of a job as opposed to fun, so perhaps ill stick to my casual games amongst friends.