The Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency (BIPA) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Korea e-Sports Association (KeSPA) on 6 April, aimed at supporting the national esports squad for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Summer Asian Games.

This partnership follows Busan’s selection as the 'Partner City' for the national team. The goal is to build a robust framework that nurtures talent and keeps them sharp for the international stage.

Both organisations are teaming up for a few key initiatives: ▲hosting national team qualifiers and evaluation matches in Busan, ▲utilising the Busan Esports Arena (Brena) for squad training camps, and ▲backing research to refine the technical aspects of competitive play. It’s a full-service model designed to ensure players are in peak condition from the selection process right through to the final matches.

Brena is set to evolve into a dedicated hub for national athletes. With top-tier gear and training facilities at their disposal, the arena will also facilitate performance analytics and health monitoring to give the team that crucial competitive edge.

The action kicks off this May at Brena, featuring qualifiers for Honor of Kings, Pokémon UNITE, Identity V, and Puyo Puyo Champions, followed by a League of Legends evaluation match in September.

Kim Tae-yeol, president of BIPA, remarked, "It’s incredibly meaningful to see Busan become the official base camp for our national team. We’re throwing every bit of our infrastructure and expertise behind these players to help them reach the pinnacle of Asian esports."

KeSPA President Kim Young-man added, "With the proactive support from Busan City and the agency, our athletes finally have a stable, systematic environment to focus on their training. I’m genuinely excited to see how this collaboration bolsters our team’s competitiveness."

The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Summer Asian Games are scheduled to run from 19 September to 4 October. The national squad is set to compete across nine medal events, including League of Legends and PUBG Mobile. Final rosters will be locked in following the May qualifiers before the intensive training camps begin.