Brian Jeffrey
Vietnam and South Korea have formally established a bilateral accord aimed at promoting collaborative growth and production within the gaming sector.
This alliance covers the exchange of knowledge regarding game rating systems, initiatives in eSports, and training programs for professionals involved in game development.
The agreement was executed on May 26 during the Vietnam GameVerse 2025, the nation’s largest annual gaming festival, hosted in Ho Chi Minh City.
Key participants include the Korea Game Culture Foundation, South Korea’s Game Product Administration Committee, and Vietnam’s Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information.
Vietnam GameVerse, which is organized by the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information in partnership with VnExpress, FPT Online, and the Vietnam Game Alliance, is recognized as the leading gaming event in Vietnam.
This year’s edition marks the third occurrence and showcases a significantly larger scale—twice the size of last year’s event and five times that of the very first edition.
The two-day celebration, happening on May 26–27, gathers prominent Vietnamese gaming firms such as VTC, VTC Online, VNG, Garena, Gamota, Funtap, Gosu, and Soha, in addition to international publishers and tech companies. The program includes both B2B and B2C sessions, industry discussions, cosplay activities, and eSports tournaments.
This year also welcomed participation from various smaller and mid-sized South Korean game studios, including Busidol, Geniesoft, and Readymade.
During the festival, representatives from Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism met with officials from South Korea to delve into collaborative opportunities in the gaming industry.
The two parties exchanged policy insights and accomplishments while exploring future partnership strategies, including worker training initiatives, joint engagement in international gaming events such as Korea’s G-Star and Vietnam’s GameVerse, and co-hosted forums between governmental bodies.
Choi Jae Hwan, Director of the Game Content Industry Division at South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, expressed optimism for strengthened cooperation with Vietnam, recognizing its rapidly growing gaming market. He highlighted the significance of sharing policy experiences and industry insights between the two countries.
The new agreement will enable Vietnamese and South Korean firms to collaborate in game design and publishing. Both sides have committed to exchanging knowledge on game rating systems, promoting eSports, workforce training, and tackling social issues that may arise from the industry’s swift expansion. Vietnam also suggested the establishment of regular bilateral meetings to enhance practical cooperation through a structured communication framework.
At the event, Yu Byong Han, Director of the Korea Game Culture Foundation, stressed that Korea’s gaming success hinges on a vibrant game culture embraced by society. He underscored the need for collaborative efforts between government and businesses to cultivate a positive gaming environment.
The agreement formalized at the festival currently serves as a working protocol, with plans for it to become an official Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) following the conclusion of Vietnam GameVerse 2025.
Additionally, the Korean Cultural Center in Vietnam, along with the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) – Vietnam Office, jointly presented the “Korea Game Pavilion” at the event. This project is designed to assist Korean SMEs in showcasing their game products and navigating the Vietnamese market.
A delegation from the South Korean administration also engaged with Korean exhibitors to discuss strategies for expanding into Vietnam and the global market, reiterating Korea’s dedication to helping gaming companies scale their reach internationally.
