Commemorating the 88 Seoul Olympics, the International Esports Academic Conference 2026 is set to take place on August 20 (Thursday) in Room 205, 2nd Floor, Doyak Hall at the Korea National Sport University. The event is co-organised by the Korean Alliance of Sport Science, the Korean Society of Esports Industry, and the Esports Industry Committee, focusing on the theme of 'Reimagining Esports through the lenses of science, society, and the future.'

Rather than viewing esports as mere competition or entertainment, the conference aims to explore its role within AI, ageing societies, digital literacy, and public policy. The proceedings kick off at 9:50 AM with registration, followed by an opening address, keynote speeches, oral presentations, and a panel discussion moderated by Cho Hyun-joo, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute of Sport Science.

In the keynote, Professor Song Seok-rok of Kyungdong University will present 'Redefining Esports Functions: Strengthening National Competitiveness and Designing the Future through Three Mega AI Projects.' Following this, Professor Seth Jenny from Slippery Rock University in the US will share insights into the state of the American esports industry. Additionally, on August 19, a pre-conference discussion featuring esteemed scholars like Professor John Mallett from the University of Queensland will be held at the Olympic Parktel.

The oral presentation session will cover various studies on the social and industrial value of esports. Key presentations include: ▲Professor Heo Geon-sik of Seoil University’s study on esports programs for cognitive enhancement and dementia prevention in the elderly; ▲research from Dankook University (Han Sang-yong, So Byeong-gyun, Kim Se-yoon, and Lee Jong-hyun) on how social gaming impacts social capital and online engagement among the middle-aged; ▲and further research from Dankook University (Lee Kang-yul, So Byeong-gyun, Kim Se-yoon, and Heo Jin-woo) on how initial esports experiences affect digital self-efficacy and technical proficiency.

Meanwhile, Boston University researcher Song Seo-jin will explore the potential for human-AI collaboration in esports with a presentation titled 'Trusting AI Under Pressure: What eSports Can Teach Us About the Future of Human–AI Collaboration.'

Researcher Yuk Tae-yong will analyze the public value of local government esports facilities, using the Asan Esports Arena project as a case study. The event will conclude with a panel discussion led by Professor Seo Dong-hwi of Daegu Catholic University, debating the findings and the future trajectory of the industry.

This international gathering is significant for moving beyond the narrow industrial perspective, instead linking esports to human-technology collaboration in the AI era, responses to ageing societies, digital inclusion, and public policy.

Professor Song Seok-rok, President of the Korean Society of Esports Industry, noted, "By bringing together domestic and international researchers, we hope to share insights on the future role and policy potential of esports, paving a new path for both industry and academic research."