As the world’s attention turns to the City of Light for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Korea is seizing the opportunity to showcase its booming gaming industry alongside its rich culture.
They established their cultural center, known as Korea House, at the Maison de la Chimie in the 7th arrondissement of Paris.
This is a collaboration between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee aims to promote K-culture to both athletes and visitors.
This cultural center has been a staple since the 2000 Athens Olympics, but its Paris iteration in 2024 is the largest to date.
As of 2023, games accounted for 64.1% of Korea’s cultural/entertainment exports, bringing in around $8.34 billion, outperforming even K-pop and Korean TV series in terms of export value.
Which Korean Game Developers Are Showcasing Their Titles at The 2024 Paris Olympics?
Several prominent Korean game developers are showcasing their titles at Korea House. These include Nexon, Netmarble, Krafton, and Pearl Abyss, among others.
Each company has brought some of its most popular or recent titles to the pavilion, providing a glimpse into the diverse and dynamic world of Korean gaming.
Netmarble
Netmarble has brought two major titles to the venue.
The first is Solo Leveling: Arise, an action role-playing game (RPG) that was released globally on May 8. This game is based on the immensely popular web novel and webtoon “Solo Leveling,” which has garnered 14.3 billion views worldwide. According to Sensor Tower, the game has already grossed $100 million in revenue within three months of its launch.
The second title is Arthdal Chronicles: Three Factions, an open-world massively multiplayer online RPG (MMORPG) that was released on April 24 in selected regions. This game is based on the 2019 TVN drama of the same name, giving users the experience of living on the fictional continent featured in the drama, and playing as one of three factions.
Pearl Abyss
Pearl Abyss is using the Olympic platform to build excitement for its upcoming expansion to the hit MMORPG Black Desert Online. Titled “Land of the Morning Light: Seoul,” this patch is set to release on August 7.
The expansion will introduce several new locations like the Royal Investigation Bureau, Dongshipjagak, Mt. Ahshi, Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeok Palace, Flower Sunken Swamp, and Ruins of a Castle. Players get a chance to play 8 new stories, 10 new bosses, and a new “Palace Management” system after completing the story.
Pearl Abyss is showcasing trailers for Land of the Morning Light: Seoul, which gives us an idea of what’s to come.
Nexon
Nexon is bringing its critically acclaimed title, Dave the Diver, to both Korea House and a nearby athlete hospitality lounge. This single-player action-adventure RPG, which combines deep-sea exploration with sushi restaurant management, represents the innovative and diverse nature of Korean game design.
Com2us
Com2us is also making its presence felt at the Olympic venue, showcasing Darksword: Battle Eternity, a VR action RPG, alongside Nexon’s offerings in the athlete hospitality lounge. The game was released on June 22, 2023, and is available on Meta Quest 2.
Krafton
Krafton’s iconic battle royale shooter PUBG: Battlegrounds is also a part of the Korea House display. This game, which has a massive global following, adds an exciting element to the pavilion, attracting both gamers and non-gamers alike.
What More Is in Korea House?
Besides gaming, Korea House also features a display of K-pop idols’ performance outfits, courtesy of HYBE (the management company of BTS).
Additionally, there is a photo booth from Photoism that allows visitors to take selfies with athletes from Korea’s national team.
The article is based on CHO YONG-JUN’s article in The Korea JoongAng Daily.
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