The Chungbuk Global Game Center, supported by Cheongju City and operated by the Cheongju City Cultural Industry Promotion Foundation, announced that it will hold the Chungcheong region indie game contest ‘Indie U’ until August 17th.
Chungcheong, dreaming of becoming a hub for the K-game industry, and ‘IndieU’
IndieU, which started in 2023 and is now in its third year, is being held in collaboration with the Chungcheong region’s regional hubs, the Cheongju Cultural Industry Foundation, the Daejeon Cultural Industry Promotion Agency, and the Chungnam Content Promotion Agency, and aims to establish a K-indie game hub by discovering creative and original games from game developers active in the Chungcheong region.
This is more than just a simple contest; it has become an important stepping stone for fostering a gaming industry ecosystem in the Chungcheong region. Furthermore, it reflects the Chungcheong region’s strong will to foster a regional game development community, moving beyond the gaming industry structure centered on the metropolitan area.
Creative challenges for indie game developers in the Chungcheong region across various platforms.
The contest category is mobile, PC, and VR games that can be played as demos. Applications are divided into general and university categories, and above all, it is a part that gives a glimpse into the will to foster the future game industry in the Chungcheong region by fostering various game platforms.
Eligibility and Conditions
- Target : College students or the general public in the Chungcheong region, including North Chungcheong, Daejeon, South Chungcheong, and Sejong
- Participation Format : Individual or Team of up to 6 people
- Team composition requirements: At least 30% of the members must be residents of the Chungcheong region, and all university students must submit a certificate of enrollment.
A total prize pool of 20 million won, systematic judging process
The most notable aspect of this year’s IndieU is that the total prize pool is 20 million won, which is a considerable amount even for a regional game contest, and industry insiders say that it shows the Chungcheong region’s commitment to indie games.
Evaluation schedule and process
- 1st Preliminary Round : 20 teams selected through two-day preliminary rounds on August 21st and 22nd.
- Mentoring Process : Expert mentoring provided to selected teams.
- Final Judging : A total of 10 winners will be selected in the October final judging, with 5 teams each from the general and university divisions.
Award details
- Prize : 5 million won each for the general and university divisions (Cheongju Cultural Foundation CEO Award)
- Other awards : Differentiated awards such as Grand Prize, Excellence Prize, and Encouragement Prize
How to apply for participation
Applications are accepted online only. Download the relevant form from the Chungbuk Global Game Center website, fill it out, and submit it via email by August 17th.
- 2025_Chungcheong_Indie_Game_Contest_IndieU_Submission_Recruitment_Announcement.pdf
- Attachment 1._Application_Form.hwp
- Attachment 2._Personal Information Collection and Use Consent Form.hwp
- Attachment 3._Contest_Participation_Criteria_Checklist.hwp
Contact
- Phone: 043-214-0882 or 043-219-1717
A new model for the development of the local gaming industry
Beyond being a simple contest, IndieU has served as a crucial platform for building a gaming industry ecosystem in the Chungcheong region. Building on the experience accumulated over the past three years, this year’s event is expected to expand and become even more substantial.
Above all, this event is particularly significant in that it lays the foundation for developing the entire Chungcheong region into a single game industry cluster through collaboration between the Cheongju Cultural Industry Foundation, the Daejeon Cultural Industry Promotion Agency, and the Chungnam Content Promotion Agency Global Game Center.
IndieGame.com looks forward to the creative works that hidden gaming talents in the Chungcheong region will showcase to the world through this event, and above all, we hope that IndieU 2025 will become a true festival and an important starting point for indies who will shape the future of the Chungcheong region’s gaming industry beyond mere competition.
