The Korea Esports Industry Association co-hosted an international academic conference with the Korean Alliance of Sports Associations from August 19 to 20.

In the keynote address, Professor Song Seok-rok of Kyungdong University presented on 'Redefining Esports Functions: Enhancing National Competitiveness and Future Design through Three Major Mega AI Projects.' Professor Song Seok-rok suggested that esports could serve as a vital testbed for verifying high-performance computing and AI technology, while acting as a strategic space for spreading AI literacy and discussing AI governance.

Following this, Professor Seth Jenny of Slippery Rock University in the US provided an overview of the current state of the American esports industry, sharing shifts and trends concerning professional players, esports corporations, and the broader ecosystem.

The oral presentation session unveiled research exploring the social and policy potential of esports. Professor Heo Geon-sik of Seoil University proposed an esports programme aimed at improving cognitive function and preventing dementia in the elderly. Professor Heo Geon-sik outlined policy directions for local governments, including the creation of silver esports spaces in welfare facilities, the operation of regional senior esports leagues, the training of professional instructors, and the establishment of cooperative systems between local governments, universities, and private institutions.

A research team from Dankook University, including Han Sang-yong, So Byeong-gyun, Kim Se-yun, and Lee Jong-hyun, analyzed the relationship between past social gaming experiences, social capital, and online social participation skills among middle-aged adults. The research team found that gaming community experiences in youth, such as clans and guilds, were linked to the formation of social capital, and that bridging social capital—which involves building relationships with diverse people—plays a crucial role in critical information evaluation and online social participation.

Researchers Lee Gang-yul, So Byeong-gyun, Kim Se-yun, and Heo Jin-woo examined the link between youth esports participation and digital competence in middle age. The researchers noted that higher intensity and proficiency in past esports activities correlated with higher digital self-efficacy in middle age, suggesting that self-efficacy acts as a mediating factor influencing one’s ability to utilise technology.

Song Seo-jin, a researcher at Boston University, explored the future of human-AI collaboration through the lens of esports with a presentation titled 'Trusting AI Under Pressure: What Esports Can Teach Us About the Future of Human–AI Collaboration.'

A panel discussion followed, where experts built upon these findings to debate the potential roles of esports in the AI era, the aging society, digital inclusion, and local community policy, while also mapping out the future direction for the esports industry and academic research.