The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) are set to host the 2026 Game Culture Forum on May 22 at KINTEX in Ilsan.

The forum, themed 'Login for All,' aims to foster an environment where everyone can enjoy gaming. It will serve as a platform for industry experts, academics, and players to discuss the current state of accessibility for disabled gamers and the challenges that lie ahead.

The programme consists of four presentations and a panel discussion. Key topics include: ▲Barriers to gameplay for disabled users and current accessibility status ▲Creative models for improving accessibility ▲Establishment of guidelines for game accessibility and future tasks.

The first presentation will be delivered by Professor Choi Eun-kyung of Hanshin University's College of Esports Convergence, titled 'Barriers to gameplay for disabled users and current accessibility status.' She will share insights from her research, detailing the specific hurdles gamers with disabilities face and potential paths for improvement based on both domestic and international trends.

Lee Yu-won, CEO of Banjiha Games, and Kim Kang, CEO of Kangsters, will present 'Creative models for improving accessibility,' focusing on their respective titles 'Seoul 2033' and 'Wheely-X Play.' They will share practical examples of how UI, subtitles, and information delivery can be adapted, alongside the use of assistive gaming devices.

In the final session, Kim Hyo-eun, a senior researcher at the KOCCA Content Industry Policy Research Center, will present 'Establishment of guidelines for game accessibility and future tasks,' drawing on research conducted since 2022.

She will outline the development process of these guidelines, categorising accessibility features by visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive domains, providing actionable examples for developers. She will also discuss the next steps in scaling these efforts into formal standards and industry-wide collaboration.

Following the presentations, Lee Seung-hoon, head of the Game User Protection Centre, will moderate a 40-minute panel discussion. Participants include Kim Sung-hoe, creator of the 1-million-subscriber YouTube channel 'G-Sik Baek-gwa,' Lee Chul-woo, Chairman of the Korea Game User Association, and Kim Min-jun and Kim Kyu-min, members of the Coupang disabled esports team, who will offer their perspectives from the front lines.

A hands-on zone for assistive gaming technology will also be available, featuring the 'Wheely-X Play' system, which integrates wheelchair exercise equipment with interactive gaming.

Yoo Hyun-seok, Acting President of KOCCA, stated, "We hope this forum becomes a public square where various voices concerning game accessibility can connect. KOCCA remains committed to fostering an inclusive gaming culture through continuous policy dialogue with industry players, academics, and users alike."

The 2026 Game Culture Forum is free for anyone interested in gaming. Pre-registration begins on May 12 via the official KOCCA website where you can also find further details about the event.