KeSPA announced on the 13th that esports has, for the very first time, been cemented as an official category at the 55th National Youth Sports Festival. This tournament, a comprehensive sporting event for primary and middle school athletes, has made history by adding esports to its roster, with FC Online standing as the sole featured title.

While esports previously dipped its toes into the national stage as an amateur discipline at the 95th National Sports Festival back in 2014—lasting a brief two-year stint—it has been absent ever since. Now, after a decade-long hiatus, esports is finally making its grand return to the official national sporting circuit. This inclusion is being hailed as a pivotal moment for nurturing young talent and firmly planting esports within the institutionalised sporting landscape.

The association is keen to use this platform to build a structured system where youth athletes can flourish. They are actively supporting these players to ensure a clear pathway to higher tiers of competition. Furthermore, KeSPA is pushing forward with its 'School Esports Support Program,' aiming to weave these activities directly into the formal school curriculum for a more systematic approach.

The 55th National Youth Sports Festival esports tournament is scheduled to take place at the Busan Esports Arena over two days, from May 23rd to May 24th. The competition will feature both 3-person team matches and individual categories for the U12 and U15 divisions, with each region sending a squad of three players and one coach. Regional qualifiers are slated for between March and April, and further details regarding the full schedule, tournament guidelines, and rules will be provided in due course. Best of luck to all the young competitors.