Online Games Market in Korea Grew More Than 20%, according to Pearl Research

Market research and consulting firm Pearl Research forecasts the online games market in South Korea grew 20% in 2008.  These key findings are contained Pearl Research’s new “Online Games Market in Korea” study.

Highlights from the study:

 -          South Korea has one of the highest personal computer (PC) ownership rates worldwide with an 80% adoption rate.

 -          The top five game operators in Korea in 2008  are  NHN (revenues up 51% year-over-year);  Nexon; NCsoft  (revenues up 5% year-over-year); Neowiz  (revenues up 29% year-over-year), and CJ Internet (revenues up 21% year-over-year).  The robust revenue growth for these game operators, despite an economic downturn, demonstrates the resilience of online games in Korea.

 -         Top online games include NCsoft’s Aion and Lineage series, CJ Internet’s Sudden Attack, EA’s FIFA Online 2, Nexon’s Dungeon and Fighter and Activision Blizzard’s World of Warcraft.  

-         The majority of Korea’s titles operate on a free-to-play basis, with users purchasing virtual items. Ironically, the worldwide economic downturn has not affected this business model as much, as these virtual items are small-ticket items.

 While South Korea has a robust online games market, critical challenges include intense domestic competition; a government crackdown on web board games; lack of capital for smaller publishers; and rising development costs.

The “Online Games Market in Korea” report provides an in-depth analysis of the Korean online games market and contains an executive summary; 2008 to 2014 forecasts for web board, casual and MMORPGs; inhibitors and drivers to growth; deep marketplace analysis; discussion of key market players, and strategic conclusions. To purchase this report, please call (+1) 415-738-7660 or email research  (at) pearlresearch.com.

About Pearl Research

Pearl Research, a business intelligence and consulting firm, specializes in the Internet and technology markets with a special focus on emerging markets and platforms. Based in San Francisco and China, Pearl Research publishes in-depth research reports and provides customized research and consulting services. Visit http://www.pearlresearch.com or call 415-738-7660 for more information.