Starcraft is huge in Korea!
It is the online video game, which has swept the nation, arguably causing the amount of cyber-cafes in Korea to multiply from 500 to 15,000 in only two years.
However, in Korea Starcraft is not only confined to being used for entertainment, it is also a means to make money. In Korea, there are professional tournaments and leagues for Starcraft and many other games. The above video is of a match in on of these tournaments and from the atmosphere, you can sense the scale of popularity that Starecraft has in Korea. Professional Starcraft competitors are recognized on the streets and treated like celebrities: conducting interviews and signing autographs.
This example shows how use of digital technologies does not have to be defined as “practice” or “play”, in fact it can often be a blend. What started as something designed to entertain has evolved into something much more, being a profession for some people while continuing to be a form of entertainment for many others, even becoming an addiction.
The gaming culture in Korea seems to be similar to the sporting culture in Australia: It is highly popular, competitors have celebrity status and are looked up to and they both have professional leagues. One of the only differences is the question: is the gaming culture a healthy one?
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