The Korea Mobile Game Association (KMGA) has unveiled its '2026 Korea Mobile App Report', a comprehensive analysis based on a survey of 204 mobile app experts, conducted in collaboration with Yango Ads.

This report delves into both monetization models and user acquisition (UA) strategies. It reveals that 49% of publishers operate with three or more ad networks. However, for games, the focus is on user experience (UX) over ad fill rates, with most sticking to three or fewer networks. A notable 42% of respondents reported revenue growth, and 67% of users indicated a willingness to engage with ads that offer clear value.

Korean app developers are feeling the pinch in their domestic market. Despite 39% acknowledging market saturation, publishers continue to concentrate their UA efforts locally. Nevertheless, there's a discernible shift towards exploring emerging markets, such as Russian-speaking regions.

"The Korean mobile market has firmly embraced hybrid monetisation models, but the real challenge now is to simplify ad stacks, preserve ad quality, and venture beyond the saturated domestic landscape," explains Kim Ha-neul, Yango Ads' Business Development Manager for Korea. "While most teams are still chasing the same users, high-potential regions like the Russian-speaking market remain significantly underutilised."

He added, "We are delighted to release this research with our long-standing partner, the KMGA, aiming to provide the industry community with practical insights for 2026."

Hwang Sung-ik, President of the KMGA, commented, "We are pleased to highlight the saturation of the domestic market and the high growth potential of emerging markets like the Russian gaming scene through this Mobile App Report. The association will strive to introduce the advantages of global emerging markets alongside Yango Ads to facilitate new market expansion."

The full '2026 Korea Mobile App Report' can be foundon the official Yandex Ads website.