On the 13rd, Kakao Games held an offline event at KINTEX in Ilsan to commemorate the 4th anniversary of the domestic service of 'Uma Musume: Pretty Derby.'

Developed by Cygames, 'Uma Musume' is a subculture game where players train characters based on real-life racehorses. Since its successful launch in June 2022, when it quickly climbed to the top of the sales charts, it has maintained its service thanks to a solid, dedicated fandom. It is rare for a single IP to maintain consistent popularity in the mobile game market for four years, as the longevity of subculture games is directly tied to user loyalty.

An estimated 3k users attended the 4th-anniversary event. In the entry line, active-duty soldiers in uniform—seemingly on leave—could be seen holding character cheering fans while waiting for their turn. It was a scene that demonstrated how 'Uma Musume' has evolved beyond a mere game into a distinct fandom culture. The 'welcome goods,' which sold out early in the morning, further attested to the high level of enthusiasm among attendees.

The 'Tracen Academy'-themed fountain sculpture in the center of the venue created the most unique atmosphere. The organizers had planned the space simply as a rest area and photo spot. However, visitors voluntarily placed their personal merchandise on the fountain's pedestal and surrounding area, transforming it into a new exhibition space. In addition to acrylic stands and plushies, fans added character towels and keyrings purchased in Japan. A culture of proudly showing off one's favorite characters to other users formed naturally.

Even with hundreds of items placed on the floor, not a single theft occurred. It was a display of mature event culture born from mutual trust among users and a shared affection for the game—a belief that no one would take items left unattended.

In one corner of the venue, a 'Moja-ne-cut' photo booth was set up, featuring the theme units that gained popularity as an April Fool's Day prank. Visitors took commemorative photos with special frames. The DIY area, where fans could craft their own cheering tools, was also bustling. Witty 'cheerfuls'—hand-drawn signs featuring characters from the game—decorated the exhibition walls and various parts of the venue.

Stage programs ran from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM. In the morning, the animation 'Uma Musume: Pretty Derby - Road to the Top' was screened on a large screen, drawing the audience into the world of the game. In the subsequent 'Infinite Relay Quiz,' users held up wooden answer boards to compete on their deep knowledge of in-game settings and stories, with rewards given to those who participated in the consecutive correct answer challenge.

In the afternoon, a race prediction event was held, where attendees guessed the winner of a toy horse race. Using personal tickets distributed at the entrance, the crowd engaged in cheering matches that felt like a real racetrack. This was followed by live 'Room Matches' where users competed with characters they had trained themselves. As participants played in real-time, cheers and sighs erupted from the audience with every win and loss. Event matches against staff members were also held, adding to the excitement.

The exhibition and photo zones featured a series of illustrations from story events held over the past four years. Users reminisced as they looked back on the game's history. Notably, the "message wall" from the 1st-anniversary event three years ago was brought back, drawing much attention. The original cheers, such as "Let's go to the 10th anniversary," remained intact, and users added new messages of support to the guestbook to celebrate the 4th anniversary.

Three main attractions based on in-game minigames—'Dash! Dash! Running Board,' 'Harvest! Extra-Large Dream Carrots,' and 'Sakura Bakushin O's Problem Solving'—were linked to a stamp tour to encourage participation. Users who collected stamps exchanged them for physical rewards at the information desk.

A Kakao Games representative stated, "We planned this event to meet our users in person and express our gratitude on our 4th anniversary," adding, "We plan to continue providing meaningful experiences through diverse content that allows for offline communication."