Lee calls gaming 'defining force' of Korea's future

President Lee Jae Myung sits beside a game character while holding a Level 3 helmet at PUBG Seongsu, a game and cultural space created and operated by Korean gaming company Krafton, the developer of the global hit PUBG: Battlegrounds, in eastern Seoul, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps

President Lee Jae Myung tested Krafton’s artificial intelligence (AI)-driven life simulation game inZOI on Wednesday at PUBG Seongsu, a game and cultural hub operated by Krafton, the creator of PUBG: Battlegrounds, in eastern Seoul. But his message was anything but virtual: Korea, he said, must embrace gaming as a defining force for its cultural and economic future.

In the first-ever presidential on-site visit to a gaming industry discussion event, Lee vowed to make K-games a cornerstone of Korea’s cultural exports and to dismantle the “repressive” policies of the past, signaling a major policy shift in how the government views gaming.

The visit underscored his broader plan to position gaming as a key pillar of K-culture and a driver of Korea’s global competitiveness, as he urged a move away from restrictive regulations and toward innovation-led growth.

“It’s time to change our policy direction,” Lee said during the meeting. “The government’s aim is to make Korea a leading global cultural industry nation, and I believe the game industry is a vital part of that.”

President Lee Jae Myung tries out inZOI, an AI-based life simulation game, at PUBG Seongsu, the game and cultural space operated by Korean game company Krafton in Seoul, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps

The president criticized the previous administration’s “four major addictions” policy, which had classified gaming alongside gambling and drugs.

President Lee Jae Myung tries out inZOI, an AI-based life simulation game, at PUBG Seongsu, the game and cultural space operated by Korean game company Krafton in Seoul, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps

“Because the previous administration pursued repressive policies rather than supportive ones, Korea lost our lead (in the game industry) to China, even though we had once been ahead,” he said.

During the tour, the president explored Krafton’s exhibition zones, tested new gaming technologies and listened to industry executives discuss the sector’s challenges and global potential.

The meeting brought together executives from major gaming companies including Nexon, Krafton, Netmarble, NCSoft and Neowiz; professional gamers, game music composers and other industry figures; and the culture minister and Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik.

Addressing public concerns about game addiction and excessive immersion, the president called for a shift in social perception toward gaming.

“When I was young, reading comic books was seen as something only students who didn’t study did,” the president said. “But now, comics, animation and webtoons have become major industries in their own right.”

He emphasized that negative side effects should be managed and addressed, rather than used as a reason to suppress industry growth.

“Of course, games can be so engaging that some people get overly immersed,” he noted. “But we should deal with those side effects as they come, while recognizing that as technology advances, people will inevitably have more leisure time. The real question is how we spend that time. Enjoying our free time in meaningful and entertaining ways will become an important part of life — and that can’t be solved through suppression. Instead, we should turn it into an opportunity.”

Lee went on to praise the economic and social value of the gaming industry, citing Krafton’s global success as an example.

“I heard that Krafton’s PUBG: Battlegrounds generated 2.7 trillion won in sales last year, yet the company employs only a few hundred people,” he said. “That means its operating profit margin must be incredibly high. This industry makes a huge contribution to national wealth. For a resource-poor, export-driven country like Korea, game exports are truly a form of genuine export.”

President Lee Jae Myung listens to an explanation from officials at PUBG Seongsu, the game and cultural space operated by Korean game company Krafton in Seoul, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps

The president also discussed the importance of job creation for young people and improved working conditions as part of broader efforts to advance the gaming industry. He emphasized that ethical and fair practices in the industry should not rely solely on the goodwill of corporations, calling for institutional measures to address potential conflicts.

He further encouraged industry leaders to take pride in their contributions to the nation’s cultural economy.

“Stand tall and take pride in knowing that you are the backbone of Korea’s cultural industry,” he noted.

Reiterating that games are not addictive substances, Lee stressed, “It should be a positive, inclusive industry where many people can grow and prosper together.”