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South Korea proposes KRW117bn 2027 games budget with new large-project grants

South Korea's proposed KRW117 billion 2027 games budget adds a Global Frontier programme for two mid-to-large projects while expanding indie-game and youth internship support.

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By Press The Game Editorial TeamPublished October 21, 2026
South Korea proposes KRW117bn 2027 games budget with new large-project grants
Seoul panorama, shown as an illustrative image for South Korea's games-policy announcement; this is not a photograph of the October 20 meeting. · Cafuego / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 ·

South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism proposed a games-sector budget of KRW 117 billion (USD 88.0m) for 2027, up KRW 5 billion (USD 3.76m) from KRW 112 billion (USD 84.2m) in 2026. The ministry presented the proposal at an industry advisory meeting in Seoul on Oct. 20; it still requires National Assembly approval.[1][2]

The main new programme, Global Frontier, would receive KRW 6 billion (USD 4.51m) to select two projects with estimated production costs of about KRW 10 billion (USD 7.52m) to KRW 40 billion (USD 30.1m). Each would receive KRW 3 billion (USD 2.26m) in the first year and could receive up to KRW 6 billion in total over two years. The ministry described it as its first direct production-support effort for mid-to-large projects. Indie-game creation support would increase from KRW 9.3 billion (USD 6.99m) to KRW 13.8 billion (USD 10.4m), with the target rising from 130 games to 200.[1][2]

The proposed youth internship budget would rise from KRW 1 billion (USD 752k) to KRW 6.6 billion (USD 4.96m), expanding a 40-person pilot to as many as 500 participants. The draft does not include dedicated games-sector funding for artificial-intelligence transformation or a production-cost tax credit. Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young said he would seek AI-related funding during parliamentary review and continue building support for a tax credit.[1][3]

Separately, Chae said the government wants Korean-developed games adopted as esports disciplines at domestic and international multi-sport competitions. The Korea e-Sports Association proposed starting with the National Youth Sports Festival and National Sports Festival; Chae said he would discuss policy and budget support with Korean Sport & Olympic Committee president Ryu Seung-min. This is a policy objective, not confirmation that any new game has been selected.[1][4]

PTG currency note: USD equivalents are rounded estimates using the Bank of Korea’s Oct. 20, 2026 rate of KRW 1,330.3 per USD 1. Historical budget figures use this same rate for scale, not historical USD values.[5]

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