As most readers may be well aware, the Korean online gaming market is probably the most advanced in the world. Online gaming is highly popular, with 2 TV channels broadcasting nothing but online matches of games like Starcraft 24 hours a day. Professional teams of gamers are sponsored by large corporations and individual gamers can earn $250.000 a year.

Hence, it might not be surprising that Softbank, a large Japanese telecom and media company, is planning to strengthen its presence in the Korean gaming market next month. According to an article in today's ET News, Softbank's subsidiary GungHo Online Entertainment has set up a fully-owned affiliate by the name of GungHo Korea. Softbank already owns the Korean online gaming company Gravity which is known for MMORPGs as Ragnarok and Requiem Online. The establishment of the new subsidiary seems to be a further step to access the leading technology that is being used in the Korean market.


In fact, interest in the Korean market and technology is not limited to companies from other East Asian countries. Last year, for example, one of the world's leading game manufacturers, EA Sports, chose to enter a co-development agreement with Korea's Neowiz in order to access the company's expertise in mass online gaming. Fifa Online, the game the two companies developed together, has proved to be very successful. Thus, it is highly possible that other companies will follow the footsteps of EA and involve Korean manufacturers when developing MMORPGs or, like Softbank, will enter the market themselves to gain access to the latest technology.