Esports diplomacy project links Korea, Japan, Germany

A poster for .DE (Diplomacy Meets Esports), a project that includes a League of Legends tournament bringing together teams from Korea, Japan and Germany. Courtesy of Embassy of Germany in Seoul

The German embassies in Seoul and Tokyo are launching a new esports initiative aimed at connecting young audiences across borders through competitive gaming, officials said.

The project, titled “.DE” (Diplomacy Meets Esports), centers on a League of Legends tournament that will bring together teams from Korea, Japan and Germany. Organizers say the event blends esports competition with cultural diplomacy, reflecting the growing role of gaming in contemporary society.

The initiative builds on Germany’s and Korea’s recent experiences hosting major global esports events, including the League of Legends World Championship in 2024 and 2023. Korea remains widely regarded as a global powerhouse in the game, producing star players such as Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok and Heo "ShowMaker" Su, while the competitive scenes in Germany and Japan have expanded rapidly in recent years.

The offline final will be held in Tokyo on March 1, featuring two teams qualifying from Japan and Korea, along with a specially invited team from Germany. In addition to high-level gameplay, organizers say the event will emphasize interaction and exchange among players from different cultural backgrounds.

The German Embassy in Seoul said the project reflects its efforts to engage digitally native audiences and to recognize esports as an increasingly influential cultural space in both East Asia and Europe.