Lawmaker Cho Seung-rae: I've returned after witnessing firsthand a massive mega-platform that proves a nation's cultural standing and digital competitiveness, rather than just treating games as simple entertainment. Seeing Gamescom in person made me realise why it's called the world's biggest gaming show in terms of scale and composition. It wasn't just limited to games; it offered plenty of sights to see through convergence with cutting-edge industries like artificial intelligence.

In particular, I saw global political and business leaders, including the German President, visiting the site to treat gaming as a national strategic agenda. Seeing this gave me a heavy sense of responsibility that our own parliament and government need to show much more active support and interest in the gaming industry.

Lawmaker Cho Seung-rae: The global market is moving toward genre diversification and expansion onto consoles and PCs, showing fresh flows powered by convergence with AI tech. I got the distinct impression that platform diversification is essential for South Korean games to seize global leadership.

I believe the global market has fully entered a diversified era where platform boundaries have crumbled and technology meets creativity. I felt a sense of crisis that if we stay complacent in the areas where we've traditionally been strong, we could be left behind in the blink of an eye. At the same time, seeing the works submitted by domestic game companies at Gamescom this year gave me confidence that our gaming industry still holds plenty of potential and capability.

Lawmaker Cho Seung-rae: Business model innovation and platform diversification. Up until now, South Korean games have been overly lopsided toward mobile platforms and random-box-centric business models. However, the global mainstream market we confirmed at Gamescom is still driven by console- and PC-based AAA blockbusters boasting solid storytelling and polish. Lately, major domestic game companies are also introducing such new titles to overhaul their physiques. But to match global users' expectations, bold genre pioneering and business model diversification targeting the global audience need to happen much faster.

Along with this, institutional improvements must go hand in hand so companies can freely unleash their capabilities. To help our companies properly adapt to rapidly changing environments, I've sponsored a total revision bill for the Act on the Promotion of the Game Industry (hereinafter the Game Act). In the second half of this year, I'll work hard so the bill can be discussed in earnest and processed by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee in the National Assembly.

For the gaming ecosystem to keep growing, the role of indie and small-to-medium developers is crucial. To that end, the parliament and government must massively expand practical infrastructure support—such as tax benefits, fund creation, and global marketing aid—to lower the barrier to entry for creators.

Lawmaker Cho Seung-rae: The question that stuck in my head throughout the entire time in Germany was, 'Why must domestic and foreign developers and users necessarily go to G-STAR?' I think the clear identity and business infrastructure showcased by Gamescom are core elements that we need to introduce to our G-STAR immediately.

Up to now, G-STAR has contributed quite a bit to publicising the domestic gaming industry and improving public perception. Now that the industry has matured, G-STAR is facing a new phase as well. It's time to ponder together where G-STAR's focus and identity should lie.

The core task is how to build a more powerful business platform. Gamescom's biggest strength was acting as a business bridge where companies from over 60 countries gather to forge actual investments and sales channels. G-STAR's functions in this area need to be beefed up further. Alongside the deliberations of the G-STAR organizing committee, the parliament must also deeply ponder policy support at the national level so these B2B trading infrastructures can directly connect to global investment attraction for domestic small-and-medium and indie developers.

Lawmaker Cho Seung-rae: I analyze the worries over G-STAR's weakened status as a transitional phenomenon that appeared while domestic game companies were overhauling their physiques to target the global market. I understand that various overseas game companies and convergence tech firms filled the G-STAR booths instead, which I don't think deviates much from new trends.

Since participating in G-STAR costs companies a lot of money, simply appealing to patriotism has its limits. The parliament and policy authorities could start full-fledged discussions on introducing tax support or policy support measures for G-STAR participation.

Lawmaker Cho Seung-rae: For B2B to expand further and yield results, we must support a powerful marketing system that lures global buyers and drastically scale up investment-attraction infrastructure for small businesses. We should review dedicated budget and infrastructure support to mobilize the overseas branch networks of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency across the board, inviting influential global buyers and key decision-makers from overseas distribution platforms to G-STAR.

Support for building an advanced, AI-based regular business matching platform that meticulously connects large buyers with domestic companies is also required. Additionally, we can review providing government export vouchers or overseas localization budgets to companies that successfully land overseas contracts or investment attraction through the G-STAR B2B hall. Various measures like tax benefits and game fund matching should also be actively debated.

Based on the experience of visiting Gamescom, we are preparing to invite politicians from major countries to this year's G-STAR. By running these various networking attempts in parallel, we expect G-STAR can be upgraded to the next level.

Lawmaker Cho Seung-rae: One of the standout spots at this Gamescom was the Indie Area, packed with indie games armed with fresh ideas. Fostering indie and small-to-medium games must accompany G-STAR's success and the sustainable growth of South Korea's gaming industry.

We need to create an independent global indie and console signature zone in the most accessible core area of the G-STAR exhibition hall, and review government budget support plans by checking the current status and systems of G-STAR participation fees and booth setup costs.

We also need to thoroughly discuss institutional support measures that match global game companies or large platform enterprises with domestic indie games to help them enter the market, while receiving help in game publishing, distribution, and promotion through connections with large domestic game companies.

Lawmaker Cho Seung-rae: Regulations used exclusively in South Korea, such as the youth game closing time choice system (selective shutdown system) or identity verification systems, must be improved urgently to fit global standards. Creating a freer and more creative game creation environment through the settlement of rating classification private-transfer and subsequent deregulation is also necessary. Excessive post-management after private transfer could rather shrink the industry further.

In addition, the reality where we can't even run modest prize events properly because we are tripped up by gambling issues must be rectified swiftly. Everything that needs urgent improvement has been packed into the full revision bill of the Game Act.

Lawmaker Cho Seung-rae: We have reached a fair amount of content agreement regarding parts where there were differences of opinion with government authorities for the bill's passage. Based on this, we intend to persuade members of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee so the bill can be discussed in earnest after the parliamentary audit. I've already explained the necessity of the bill to the office of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee chairperson and the ruling party's floor leader.

Lawmaker Cho Seung-rae: This full revision bill contains attempts to completely overhaul the framework of the current Game Act. Categorizing games into specific location-type games (arcade games) and digital games to resolve gambling issues is the biggest foundational framework. Therefore, this must be pushed through. Based on this, the various regulatory elements mentioned earlier must definitely be resolved through the swift passage of the bill.

Lawmaker Cho Seung-rae: During last year's National Assembly Strategy and Finance Committee audit, I already questioned the necessity of tax credits for game production costs. German figures I met at Gamescom were also pondering active tax support systems. Since many countries are already pushing forward with various support policies, I think introduction is an absolute must.

However, regarding the tax support part for e-sports leagues, government authorities shifted direction to financial support. If sufficient support is practically delivered, I don't think we necessarily have to insist on tax support as the method.

Lawmaker Cho Seung-rae: I think it's a necessary voice. Developing console- and PC-based AAA blockbusters that currently dominate the global gaming market requires long-term investment of at least three to five years and massive R&D costs.

Right now, the gaming industry desperately needs both R&D tax credits that promote tech development and production cost tax credits that help game development itself. We need to fine-tune the system so R&D tax credit items can broadly recognize core game tech development costs, such as game engines, graphics optimization solutions, and AI-based development tools.

Lawmaker Cho Seung-rae: To improve perceptions of the gaming industry up to now, we've held various events in the parliament, such as game exhibitions and game OST orchestra concerts. We also formed a party-level game special committee to steadily strengthen communication with the industry.

After getting elected as a freshman lawmaker, I've created a game forum since 2017 and kept activities going. Thanks to these efforts, views on games inside the parliament have changed a lot compared to the past. I will continue to run various activities side by side for perception improvement, including game exhibitions.

Lawmaker Cho Seung-rae: South Korea's gaming industry settling as today's export powerhouse was made possible because there were field industry workers and gamers who genuinely loved domestic games.

I will strive to build a pleasant working environment where industry workers can fully realize their capabilities and dreams. For gamers, we will closely consult with the government to craft more diverse support measures so the domestic gaming market remains healthy and continuously gives pride and affection.

Now, I think the gaming industry is not just a simple entertainment or leisure field, but one of South Korea's future growth engines. Its importance will grow even larger going forward. Just as I've kept up my interest in the gaming industry steadily over the past 10 years, I will keep up my unwavering love for games moving forward.