`Korean Wave` of PC games invading Germany

A “Korean Wave” of computer games is spreading in Germany.

Games developed in Korea are so popular among Germans that many are following the unique culture of Korean gamers. Organizers of GamesCom 2012, Europe’s largest trade fair and event highlight for interactive games and entertainment that opened in the German city of Cologne, invited Korea as the partner nation in wooing the Korean gaming industry.

Maximilian Schenk, head of the German games association BIU, told a news conference that Korea is “impressive” not only because of the rapid growth of its game industry but also for a gaming culture that is deeply rooted in Korean culture.

He said he envied Korea’s game culture, in which friends go to a “PC bang,” or an Internet cafe, to play games with their friends, adding the country`s professional gamers are popular enough to be models for TV commercials.

GamesCom is one of the world`s three major trade fairs for games together with E3 of the U.S. and the Tokyo Game Show. This year, about 600 companies from around 40 countries are participating this year`s GameScom.

Among them, Korean games have stood out. Nexen and MCSoft, the top two most popular game companies in Korea, have attracted hordes of fans to their exclusive exhibition spaces.

Hong Sang-pyo, head of the Korea Creative Contents Agency who attended the fair, said Korea`s invitation as the partner nation of GamesCom suggests that the country, which accounts for 20 percent of the world’s online gaming market, is recognized by the world for its gaming industry.

jjy2011@donga.com