Busan Confirmed as Host City for G-STAR 2025–2028
- Korea Game Industry Association (K-GAMES) announces mid-term evaluation results, securing Busan as the next host city
- Mayor Park Heong-joon: “We will enhance G-STAR’s global competitiveness over the next four years, establishing Busan as a truly global gaming hub.”
The City of Busan (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it has been confirmed as the host city for G-STAR 2025–2028 following the mid-term evaluation of the G-STAR host city selection, organized by the Korea Game Industry Association (K-GAMES, Chairman Kang Shin-chul).
G-STAR: Korea’s Largest Global Gaming Exhibition
G-STAR is Korea’s largest international gaming exhibition, hosted by K-GAMES. The event operates on an eight-year cycle (2021–2028), with a mid-term evaluation conducted after four years to assess eligibility for hosting the remaining term.
Busan has successfully hosted G-STAR since 2009 in partnership with the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency (President Kim Tae-yeol), marking 16 consecutive years of successful events.
G-STAR has become a flagship gaming festival, featuring:
- Major game company announcements
- Esports tournaments
- Industry conferences
- Diverse gaming-related programs
To support the event, Busan has continuously expanded infrastructure and improved local amenities, including facilities at BEXCO.
Evaluation Criteria & City Commitment
The host city evaluation covered:
- Municipal funding investment
- Exhibition infrastructure support
- Accommodation & transportation support
- Collaboration with local government & agencies
- Public infrastructure development
- The future vision for the event
During the mid-term evaluation, key city officials—including Vice Mayor Lee Joon-Seung, Director of Culture & Sports Jo Yoo-jang, and President Kim Tae-yeol of the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency—emphasized:
- Busan’s unwavering support for G-STAR
- Continuous efforts in hosting the event successfully
- Close collaboration with organizing bodies
They pledged to further enhance G-STAR’s scale and quality in the coming years.
G-STAR 2025: November 13–16 at BEXCO
With Busan confirmed as the host city, G-STAR 2025 is set to take place from November 13 to 16 at BEXCO. The event promises an even richer and more diverse lineup of content, catering to global gaming enthusiasts and industry professionals.
G-STAR’s Record-Breaking 20th Anniversary in 2024
The 2024 edition, marking G-STAR’s 20th anniversary, achieved record-breaking milestones:
- 3,359 booths—the largest exhibition space in its history
- 215,000 visitors—the highest attendance since the COVID-19 pandemic
The event concluded with overwhelming success, reaffirming its status as a premier global gaming exhibition.
Busan’s Vision as a Global Gaming Hub
Mayor Park Heong-joon stated:
“For the past 16 years, Busan has grown alongside G-STAR, becoming the heart of Korea’s gaming industry. Over the next four years, we will further strengthen G-STAR’s international competitiveness and solidify Busan’s position as a true ‘Global Gaming City.’”
