This coverage previewed the “2026 Connect Fair: K-Game Export Business Matching” ahead of its September 11 run in Pangyo, alongside the parallel GXG 2026 x INDIECRAFT public exhibition. The event has now concluded, and the numbers exceeded the roughly 30-partner, 80-studio estimate this coverage originally reported: 44 international investor/publisher partners and approximately 82 Korean indie studios participated, generating over 240 meeting requests and connections through the pre-event matching system.
Organized by Seongnam City (Mayor Shin Sang-jin), co-hosted by the Seongnam Industry Promotion Agency (President Lee Ju-yeon) and the Korea Mobile Game Association (Chairman Hwang Sung-ik), the event ran at the Gravity Josun Seoul Pangyo Autograph Collection’s Space Ballroom — with more than 30 consultation tables running back-to-back 30-minute one-on-one business meetings throughout the day.
Who Showed Up
Domestically, major publishers NCsoft, Nexon, Netmarble, Kakao Games, and Com2uS all attended as partner companies alongside the indie studios seeking deals. Internationally, the confirmed roster included Japan’s Cygames and indie-focused publisher Phoenixx; Singapore’s Habby (publisher of Archero); China’s TapTap distribution platform; Taiwan’s Softstar Entertainment; Vietnam’s GAMOTA; and Spain’s DALOAR Studios — a genuinely global spread across East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe rather than a regionally narrow guest list.
One international partner representative: “It was meaningful to meet excellent Korean indie games directly. I want to have more conversations with developers so good opportunities can connect, both culturally and commercially.”
Korean developer’s response matched that enthusiasm. One participating studio CEO: “Meeting good partners in one place at exactly the right time as we prepare for overseas expansion was a huge help. I hope events like this continue regularly so indie developers keep getting these kinds of real opportunities.”
A Microsoft-supported afterparty followed the formal matching sessions, extending networking between domestic and international participants into the evening.
The Numbers in Context
That this was INDIECRAFT’s first time running an export business matching event under its own name — and still produced this scale of turnout and connection volume — is the headline the organizers are drawing from the results. Seongnam Industry Promotion Agency President Lee Ju-yeon: “That the first-ever Connect Fair produced results at this scale and scope is itself evidence of how much global market interest exists in K-Indie games. We won’t be satisfied with this result alone — we’ll continue preparing multi-pronged support so indie developers can keep growing on the world stage.”
Korea Mobile Game Association Chairman and INDIECRAFT co-organizing chair Hwang Sung-ik: “This Connect Fair was a valuable occasion where Korea’s excellent indie and small-to-medium game developers met global partners directly. The Association will continue supporting K-Indie games’ global expansion and success without reservation.”
