Gyeongju to host 18th Korea e-Sports Games finals

The finals for the national esports games will take place this weekend in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang, with the presidential award ready for the winning team.

Organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the 18th edition of the Korea e-Sports Games will take place at the Gyeongju gymnasium in Hwangseong-dong, Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang on Saturday and Sunday featuring five official games: “Eternal Return,” “Brawl Stars,” “FC Online,” “League of Legends” and “Puyo Puyo Champions.”

The opening ceremony is set to take place at noon Saturday at the gymnasium, and more than 300 will participate in the event including 208 players representing 16 local governments.

The overall winning local government will receive the presidential award, while the top in each event will receive the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism award. The selected exemplary local government will also get ministerial commendations.

The closing ceremony will take place on location at 7 p.m. Sunday, with the top three teams in each category receiving awards. 

Additional events — activities associated with the Gyeongju Water Pool Festival and chances to try games designed for players with disabilities ahead of the esports para games — will also be featured at the site.

“To take the esports industry to the next level, we need to build a stronger amateur ecosystem rooted in local communities,” a ministry official said. “The ministry will expand its support for locally based esports competitions including the Korea e-Sports Games, and continue to provide policy support for the balanced regional development of esports.” 

The 18th Korea e-Sports Games will be livestreamed through Naver’s Chzzk, SOOP and YouTube, and will also be free to attend in person.

BY SHIN WOO-JIN [shin.woojin@joongang.co.kr]