The Chungbuk Global Game Center, supported by Cheongju City and operated by the Cheongju Cultural Industry Promotion Foundation, announced it will be hosting the Indie U 2025 indie game contest for developers across Korea’s Chungcheong region. Submissions are open until August 17.
Chungcheong’s Vision to Become a K-Game Hub: The Legacy of Indie U
Now in its third year, Indie U is a flagship indie game festival for the Chungcheong region. Organized through a partnership between the Cheongju Cultural Industry Foundation, Daejeon Cultural Industry Promotion Agency, and Chungnam Content Agency, the competition aims to discover original, creative indie games developed in the region. Its larger mission is to build a K-Indie game hub and nurture a decentralized game development community outside the Seoul capital area.
Diverse Platforms Welcome: A Festival of Creativity
The contest is open to demo-playable games across platforms, including mobile, PC, and VR, and is divided into two categories: General Division and University Division. This reflects the region’s strong commitment to supporting future game industries across a broad range of technologies and platforms.
Eligibility
- Who can apply: Residents or university students in Chungcheong provinces (Chungbuk, Daejeon, Chungnam, Sejong)
- Team structure: Individuals or teams of up to 6 people
- Conditions: At least 30% of team members must reside in the region; university division applicants must provide proof of enrollment
Prize Pool & Judging
This year’s contest boasts a total prize pool of KRW 20 million, a notable amount even among national game contests—highlighting the region’s commitment to supporting indie developers.
Judging Timeline
- Preliminaries: August 21–22 → Top 20 teams selected
- Mentorship: Professional mentoring for the finalists
- Finals: Held in October, with 10 total winners (5 from each division)
Awards
- Grand Prize: ₩5 million each for the top team in General & University Divisions (awarded by the Cheongju Cultural Industry Foundation)
- Additional Awards: Include Excellence, Merit, and Encouragement prizes
How to Apply
Applications are accepted online only via the Chungbuk Global Game Center website. Applicants must download the forms and submit via email by August 17.
📎 Submission Documents:
- Application form
- Consent form for personal data use
- Eligibility checklist
📞 Inquiries: 043-214-0882 or 043-219-1717
Building a Regional Indie Game Ecosystem
Indie U has become a crucial platform for game development in the Chungcheong region, evolving from a simple contest into a broader regional game industry initiative. The collaboration between regional agencies aims to create a unified game development cluster across central Korea.
As IndieGame.com, we look forward to the innovative titles that Indie U 2025 will spotlight. We hope this event serves not just as a contest, but as a launchpad and celebration of indie creativity—shaping the future of the Chungcheong game industry and Korea’s broader gaming culture.
➡️ Visit the official page to learn more and apply!
