About IESI

The International Esports Promotion Institute (IESI) was founded after a delegation of esports association chairpersons from 23 Chinese provinces visited Korea for a training program in 2019. It has since led esports exchange between Korea and China and worked to establish esports as part of everyday life.

The Korea Game Distribution Association is a long-established corporation founded in 1999. Chairperson Jeon Ok-yi also serves as its head, and the association works to keep the game and esports industry healthy and well-regulated.

Many people mistake esports for something individuals simply play alone, but that isn't the case. Esports is a legitimate sport that trains the body and mind together, requires teamwork, and operates under clear rules and competition.

In countries such as China, esports has already become a form of recreational sport that whole communities enjoy together. As the birthplace of esports, Korea should live up to that status and establish esports as a national recreational sport enjoyed by people of all ages and genders — that is Chairperson Jeon's core message.

The China-Korea E-Sports Carnival (CKEC) — Tournaments have been held consistently in cities such as Incheon and Chongqing, and online/offline matches continue to connect young people and enthusiasts across both countries.

Standardizing esports degree programs and certifications — IESI has supported the launch of Korean-style esports departments at Chinese universities and helped build a professional certification system covering more than 20 roles, including players, referees, and coaches.

New uses for closed schools and idle spaces — IESI is pursuing plans to convert vacant spaces and shuttered schools nationwide into esports experience/education centers and cultural cafés where local residents can gather.

An industry that creates jobs — Esports connects not only players and coaches but also media, K-pop, entertainment, cosplay costuming, robotics, and many other fields, giving it strong potential to create new jobs for young people and local communities.

CKEC (China and Korea E-Sports Carnival & Challenger) is a world-class esports culture festival created jointly by Korea and China. It is an international event supported by the China Internet Online Service Industry Association — registered with China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism — together with Korea's International Esports Promotion Institute and the Korea Game Distribution Association.

Over the past several years, China and Korea have each grown into globally recognized powerhouses in the esports industry. Building on this momentum, national-level industry associations and local governments from both countries held multiple rounds of negotiations in 2019 and jointly launched CKEC.

CKEC's roles are divided between Korea and China, each with its own supporting, hosting, organizing, and partner institutions.

In China, work is already underway to grow esports into a recreational and national sport, with the International Esports Promotion Institute and Sejong E Co., Ltd. participating across every related field.

Korea, too, needs to advance esports through the stages of education, certification, professionalization, and industrialization in line with this trend. The International Esports Promotion Institute and Sejong E Co., Ltd. aim to play a key role in building the foundation for Korea's recreational and national sports.