▶ Held at KINTEX Ilsan on February 21st and 23rd
▶ To commemorate the 10th anniversary, a special indie game zone, “Illustrator Play,” has been created.
Korea’s leading comprehensive subculture event, “Illustrator Fes,” kicked off its tenth year today (the 21st) at Halls 4 and 5 of KINTEX Exhibition Center 1 in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province. The two-day event, which runs until the 22nd, features a variety of programs, including a creator market, a cosplay stage, and a random play dance. It also features a special zone, “Illustrator Play,” where indie game developers will showcase their work.
‘Illustrator Play’ has established itself as a gateway to indie games.
“Illustrator Play” is an exhibition and experiential space where domestic indie game developers can connect directly with visitors. First introduced as the “Indie Craft Special Zone” at the 3rd event, it adopted its current name starting with the 6th event.
As the event continued, its scale expanded. The 6th and 7th editions featured an indie game zone with over 20 booths, establishing itself as a key element of the event. Beyond being a simple experience zone, it served as a communication platform where developers and users could exchange feedback on-site.
In particular, it is evaluated that it provides practical opportunities to small teams and individual developers with limited financial resources through creator-friendly policies such as partial support of booth participation fees and provision of exhibition infrastructure.
The synergy between subculture fanbases and indie games
What makes Illustrator Fest so appealing to indie developers is its robust audience base. The first event attracted approximately 10,000 attendees, and the second event sold over 20,000 advance tickets, bringing the total number of visitors to over 25,000.
Given the significant overlap between subculture fanbases and indie game users, the ability to meet potential users in person is considered a significant advantage. For indie developers who struggle to rely on online promotion, this provides a valuable opportunity to engage with gamers offline.
The 10th anniversary special program is also abundant.
Special programs have been prepared for the 10th anniversary. The 2nd Korea Subculture Contest will feature an exhibition, performances, and an awards ceremony for the illustration and music categories. A specialized subculture conference, “Illustacon,” will also be held. This provides a platform to explore the present and future of the creative ecosystem. Furthermore, a commemorative goods package, created in collaboration with a crowdfunding platform, will be unveiled, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Rising tuition fees are a burden
Meanwhile, it has been reported that the cost of booth participation has increased by approximately 50% compared to previous events due to the increase in KINTEX rental fees. Concerns are being raised that this could be a burden for some indie developers.
Nonetheless, Illustrator Festival has established itself as a leading offline platform connecting subculture and indie games. As direct encounters between creators and fans become increasingly rare, the event’s significance is growing.
Illustrator Festival 10 continues at KINTEX until the afternoon of the 22nd.
