South Korea has taken a formal step towards the Olympic Esports Games, with the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee launching a dedicated working group to prepare for the International Olympic Committee’s upcoming esports competition.

The initiative signals full-scale preparations by national sporting and government bodies, as questions around hosting, governance, and national team structures remain unresolved ahead of the event’s debut.

Korean Sport & Olympic Committee Begins OEG Preparations

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee confirmed it has established a multi-stakeholder working group focused on the Olympic Esports Games, a new global event being developed by the International Olympic Committee.

According to a press release, the group will examine the feasibility of hosting the Olympic Esports Games in South Korea, while also exploring frameworks for developing and managing national representative teams. The committee described the move as the start of full-scale preparations in response to the IOC’s esports initiative.

Broad Representation Across Government, Sport And Industry

The working group brings together representatives from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, national sports organisations, academic institutions, and experts from the esports and gaming industries. KSOC said this structure is necessary due to the fundamental differences between esports and traditional Olympic sports.

Key issues identified include game intellectual property rights, privately operated league ecosystems, industrial policy considerations, military service obligations, and athlete status. KSOC noted these challenges cannot be addressed by sports bodies acting alone, requiring coordinated input from government and industry.

Scope Of The Working Group’s Mandate

KSOC outlined several core responsibilities for the group, including analysis of IOC esports-related policies, review of national team selection and management systems, and the development of cooperation models linking government, sport, and industry stakeholders.

The committee added that the group’s membership could be expanded in future, depending on external developments such as the IOC’s confirmation of the Olympic Esports Games title lineup and competition structure.

Regional And Political Context Behind The Move

The announcement comes amid growing activity around Olympic-aligned esports in Asia. Earlier this month, the Olympic Council of Asia signed a 10-year strategic partnership with Tencent Esports, highlighting the region’s increasing influence in esports governance.

It also follows renewed discussion around potential host nations, after the IOC withdrew from a proposed long-term esports partnership in Saudi Arabia. South Korean lawmakers have since publicly encouraged efforts to position the country as a potential host for the Olympic Esports Games.

South Korea’s Esports Hosting Credentials

South Korea is widely regarded as a global esports hub, having hosted major international events across multiple competitive titles. High-profile tournaments, including top-tier League of Legends competitions and the PUBG Nations Cup, have been staged in Seoul, reinforcing the country’s reputation for large-scale esports production and infrastructure.

What Are The Olympic Esports Games?

The Olympic Esports Games were approved during the 142nd IOC Session in July 2024, following the reception of the Olympic Esports Week held in Singapore in 2023. The event is designed as a multi-title international competition connecting the Olympic movement with competitive gaming.

The inaugural Olympic Esports Games were initially scheduled for 2025 but have since been postponed to 2027. The IOC has named the Esports World Cup Foundation as a founding partner to help build the event. While multiple competitive games are expected to feature, the final list of titles has yet to be confirmed.

Long-Term Implications For Korean Esports Policy

KSOC President Ryu Seung-min said the working group aims to strengthen links between traditional sport and esports, while enabling Korea’s gaming industry to align more closely with international sports structures. He added that the initiative could support new forms of international sports cooperation that resonate more strongly with younger generations.

As the IOC continues to shape the Olympic Esports Games, South Korea’s early organisational move positions it to influence both hosting discussions and the broader policy framework surrounding esports at the Olympic level.

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