By IndieGame.com Editorial Team — December 16, 2025
The city of Gwangju has secured an additional KRW 8.5 billion (approx. USD 6.5 million) in national government incentives, recognizing its outstanding performance in regional content commercialization and game industry development.
The achievement follows top-tier evaluations in two major programs administered by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), further solidifying Gwangju’s position as one of Korea’s leading regional hubs for game and content industries.
Two Consecutive “Excellent” Ratings in Regional Content Development
Gwangju Metropolitan City announced that it received an “Excellent” rating for the second consecutive year in KOCCA’s Regional Specialized Content Development Program Performance Evaluation. As a result, the city secured an additional KRW 7.5 billion in national funding incentives for 2026.
In collaboration with the Gwangju Information & Culture Industry Promotion Agency (GITCT), the city has focused on turning regional cultural assets into commercially viable content. Key outcomes of the program include:
- Development of tourism convergence products based on regional intellectual property (IP)
- Establishment of collaborative frameworks linking large corporations, SMEs, and local franchise businesses
- Creation of regional content distribution partnerships
- Production of IP-based merchandise and fan goods
- Support for hub-linked distribution and commercialization channels
With the newly secured incentive funding, Gwangju will operate the Regional Specialized Content Development Program in 2026 with a total budget of KRW 31.5 billion, consisting of national funding, city funding, and performance incentives. Planned initiatives include:
- AI-converged content production support
- Tourism-linked content product operations
- Collaborative product development with popular IPs
Top Ranking in Regional Game Industry Development Evaluation
In addition to content development achievements, Gwangju also ranked first among all evaluation groups in KOCCA’s Regional Game Industry Development Program Performance Review, earning an additional KRW 1 billion in incentive funding.
This success reflects the structured, end-to-end support system operated by the Gwangju Global Game Center, which provides comprehensive assistance covering the entire game development lifecycle—from production to launch and commercialization.
Since its establishment in 2016, the center has implemented what is often referred to as the “Gwangju Model” for game ecosystem development, offering:
- Indie game discovery and incubation
- Game development funding and production support
- Mentoring and consulting for indie developers
- Support for participation in global game exhibitions
- Commercialization and market entry assistance
Continued Investment in Gwangju’s Game Industry Hub
For 2026, Gwangju plans to allocate a total of KRW 20.5 billion to operate and expand its game industry infrastructure. The budget will support:
- Continued operation of the regional game industry hub
- Targeted support for game audio creators and sound designers
- Ongoing assistance for indie and early-stage game studios
Strengthening Gwangju’s Position as a National Content Industry Hub
Lee Shin-hwa, Director of Gwangju’s Content Industry Division, commented:
“We will ensure that the additional funding translates into tangible outcomes such as increased revenue for local content companies, expanded market access, and job creation. Gwangju will continue working toward becoming a leading content industry hub in Korea.”
Through sustained investment, structured incubation programs, and performance-driven funding, Gwangju is emerging as a model city for regional game and content industry development, demonstrating how local ecosystems can thrive beyond Seoul-centered industry structures.
