Seoul, South Korea – September 2, 2025 – The Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA, Acting President Yoo Hyun-seok) announced that the “Game Culture Festival 2025” will be held from September 5 to 14 at Hiker Ground in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. The 10-day event, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and supported by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), aims to highlight the cultural and artistic value of games and create a festival that all generations can enjoy.
This year’s festival is themed as a “powerful platform where games and culture meet”, offering game exhibitions, esports tournaments, music and art showcases, and interactive programs designed to expand the cultural horizons of K-Games while boosting Korea’s profile as a global content tourism hub.
Immersive Spaces & Indie Game Showcase
Leading domestic and global game companies will present their latest titles and fan favorites, including:
- Neowiz & Hidea – Cats & Soup
- Nexon – Mabinogi Mobile
- Netmarble – RF Online Next
- Nimble Neuron – Eternal Return
- Dev Sisters – Cookie Run: Kingdom
- Blizzard Entertainment – Overwatch 2
- Smilegate – Lost Ark, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Shift Up – Stellar Blade
- Krafton – Enjoy
Visitors can experience each game in immersive themed zones across Hiker Ground’s exhibition floors. In addition, award-winning indie titles such as Ratopia, Snow Bros. 2 Special, and Hug Me Animal Mansion (all recognized as “Excellent Games of the Month 2025”) will also be on display, spotlighting creativity in Korea’s indie game scene.
Art, Music, and Cross-Media Experiences
The “Art Ground” will feature original concept artwork from major studios including Nexon, Smilegate, Shift Up, NCSoft, and Krafton, showcasing the artistic side of game development.
Other attractions include an OST Listening Zone, an AR hologram photo booth where visitors can pose with 3D character models, and a cosplay experience zone. On September 6 (Saturday), a live Game OST Concert will be held on the outdoor stage at Hiker Ground, blending music, gaming, and Seoul’s Cheonggyecheon ambiance for a unique evening performance.
GCF Esports League – Live Onsite and Online
The “GCF Esports League” will take place on September 13–14 at the CKL Stage in Gwanghwamun, featuring tournaments for League of Legends and Eternal Return, the latter being part of Korea’s newly established regional esports league (KEL). Matches will be broadcast live on KOCCA’s official YouTube channel (@KOCCA_Kcontent) and on SOOP.
Additional programs include a Brawl Stars family match, the “Hotami Mission Game” based on a popular webtoon story, as well as board games, PC games, and arcade experiences—ensuring entertainment for all ages.
A Festival for Culture, Tourism, and Industry
“Through this festival, we aim to expand the cultural and artistic value of games, foster a healthy game culture, and revitalize the industry,” said Yoo Hyun-seok, Acting President of KOCCA. “Hosting the event at Hiker Ground, a new cultural landmark, also provides an opportunity to showcase the excellence and creativity of K-Games to international visitors and contribute to content-driven tourism.”
The Game Culture Festival 2025 is free of charge, and full program details are available on the official website (www.kgcf.kr).
