Jinju City in the Republic of Korea has been actively promoting the development of the esports industry, which is gaining global attention as a key sector of the cultural content industry. The city has implemented a range of policies and programmes to help build a sustainable esports ecosystem.
In particular, Jinju has continued to expand its esports infrastructure and strengthen local cultural content by hosting competitions, nurturing professional talent, and offering community participation programmes centred around the Gyeongnam Esports Arena, the fourth permanent esports arena established in Korea.
Building on these efforts, Jinju City will host “Esports Championships Asia 2026” from April 24 to 26, 2026, at the Jinju Indoor Gymnasium. The international tournament is organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea and jointly hosted by the Korea Esports Association, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, and Jinju City. National teams from seven Asian countries—including Korea, China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Mongolia—are expected to participate, providing a platform for international esports exchange and competition.
Beyond a conventional sporting event, the tournament will be operated as a participatory K-Culture Festival, combining esports with local culture and tourism. Six esports titles will be featured, including PUBG Mobile, eFootball Series, Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, The King of Fighters XV, and Eternal Return, alongside a variety of cultural programmes and hands-on experiences for citizens and visitors. Through these activities, Jinju aims to present a new model of urban cultural events where esports and local culture come together.
A range of side events will also be offered for families and visitors, including a game experience zone featuring games developed by local companies, game character cosplay events, Jinju tea culture experiences, and exhibitions and sales of regional specialties.
Esports gained global recognition after being adopted as an official medal event at the Hangzhou Asian Games, and it will also be included in the upcoming 2026 Aichi–Nagoya Asian Games, highlighting its rapid growth as a global sport.
“Esports Championships Asia 2026” will serve as an opportunity to expand esports exchanges among Asian countries while showcasing Jinju’s efforts to connect esports with local culture and tourism as part of its urban cultural content strategy.
