The gaming industry is expressing high expectations following the nomination of a candidate for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) who hails from the gaming sector. Choi Hwi-young, who led the early growth of NHN, is the first private-sector CEO to be nominated for the position since the ministry's inception in 2008, bringing extensive experience from both the IT and gaming industries.

President Lee Jae-myung nominated Nol Universe CEO Choi Hwi-young for the ministerial post on the 11th. Choi previously worked as a journalist for Yonhap News and YTN before joining NHN in 2002 as the Head of Planning for the Naver division. He later served as the CEO of NHN Domestic Business in 2005 and as the CEO of NHN from 2007 to 2009. During that period, NHN aggressively expanded its business by securing titles such as C9, The Lord of the Rings Online, and Monster Hunter Online, and also established a branch in Japan, a market once considered a wasteland for online games, to broaden its reach.

Furthermore, during Choi's tenure at NHN, the domestic gaming industry was responding to the overhaul of the Game Industry Promotion Act following the 'Sea Story' scandal, and Choi is credited with contributing to these efforts. He is recognized as a figure who has experienced both the practical operations of the gaming industry and the shifts in policy. Consequently, the gaming industry is showing anticipation regarding the appointment of Choi Hwi-young as the head of the MCST, the ministry responsible for the gaming sector.

Regarding the nomination, Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik stated, "Choi possesses a diverse background and experience, including roles as a journalist, online portal CEO, and founder of a travel platform. Based on his professional expertise and fresh perspective from the private sector, he is the new CEO of the culture, sports, and tourism sector who will turn the President's vision of opening a 300 trillion won K-Culture market into reality."