Jung Da-hyun is a reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues in Korea, including foreign residents, education, environment and politics. Driven by a deep interest in people’s stories, she focuses on investigative and feature reporting through direct interviews and field coverage. She received the Amnesty International Korea Media Award for her “Deepfake Crisis at Schools” series. Reach her at dahyun08@koreatimes.co.kr. Always open to hearing your stories.
Street cheering for 'LoLdcup' to take place at Gwanghwamun Square
This photo shows the final match of the 2022 Leauge of Legends (LoL) World Championship, which took place at Chase Center in San Fransico, Nov. 6, 2022. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
By Jung Da-hyun
In the lead-up to the 2023 League of Legends (LoL) World Championship, various events, including street cheering, are set to unfold at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul from Thursday to Sunday.
This year's final match is scheduled for Sunday at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro District, Seoul, featuring a face-off between Korea and China.
League of Legends (LoL), an online battle arena video game developed and published by the American company Riot Games in 2009, has been hosting its world championship annually since 2011.
The championship is often referred to as "LoLdcup" by gaming enthuisiasts, combining the words LoL and World Cup, as it enjoys a popularity comparable to the FIFA World Cup.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Riot Games entered into a business agreement on Sept. 25 to organize various events for esports fans, such as a live concert and a viewing party, to take place at Gwanghwamun Square for the first time.
On the eve of the final match, Saturday, Gwanghwamun Square will transform into a vast concert hall, featuring performances from artists associated with LoL, such as Alan Walker, Nicki Taylor, (G)I-DLE and F.T. Island. Alan Walker has collaborated on a remix of LoL music, while Nicki Taylor sang the title track of the 2015 LoL World Championship.
During the final match, fans can gather at Gwanghwamun Square to watch the live stream on a large screen and cheer together.
From Thursday to Sunday, booths will be set up there, allowing attendees to experience and participate in esports related activities. These booths will showcase game content from small and medium-sized game companies supported by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, along with experience zones promoting 12 games.
There will also be a booth catering to foreign game fans visiting Korea, offering experiences with hanbok, a form of traditional Korean clothing.
Furthermore, anticipating a significant influx of Chinese esports fans due to the Korea-China final match, the city plans to implement promotions targeting Chinese tourists, aligning with the city's tourism policy.
To ensure safety during the event, the Jongno District Office, Guro District Office, National Police Agency and National Fire Agency will establish a cooperative system.
More than 330 safety personnel will be deployed to Gwanghwamun Square over the weekend to manage potential overcrowding issues. A free shuttle from Guil Station on Seoul Subway Line 1, near Gocheok Sky Dome, to Sindorim Station on subway lines 1 and 2 will be operated from 9 p.m. to midnight to disperse the spectators moving at once after the final match ends at Gocheok Sky Dome.
"We hope that Gwanghwamun Square, where citizens often gather for various events, will evolve into an open space showcasing Seoul's charm to a global audience during this year's LoL World Championship,” said Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon.