Prime Minister Kim Min-seok visited Nexon’s headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on the morning of the 15th, underscoring the cultural value of the game industry and listening to voices from the field. In a meeting with the company’s leadership that day, Kim expressed his intent to elevate games as a national core content industry and expand support—while also working to strengthen player protection in order to boost trust in the industry.

In attendance from the Prime Minister’s Office were Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Lee Jin-won, Director of the Office for Social Coordination. Representing Nexon were Co-CEOs Daehyun Kang and Jungwook Kim, Executive Vice President for External Communications Yong-dae Kim, Executive Vice President of Investments at Nexon Korea Han-jun Kim, and Chief of the Financial Management Division Jeong-an Kwon. Also accompanying the visit from related ministries and organizations were Kim Jae-hyun, Director-General for Culture and Media Industry at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Lee Do-kyung, Secretary-General of the Youth Foundation.

In his opening remarks, Kim said, “As I came into the Nexon building, the atmosphere I felt—along with the staircase and the paintings on the walls—was very youthful and fresh,” adding, “It’s meaningful for me to be here at Nexon, one pillar of K-sports and K-content.” He continued, “This morning I was in discussions about the ABCD (AI, Bio, Connectivity, Data) industries, and games and esports sit at the very heart of the ‘C’—content and culture.”

He also offered praise for the industry’s achievements. “Right now, games account for 70% of content exports,” Kim said, adding, “I want to express my gratitude for Nexon’s hard work over more than 30 years—accumulating unrivaled competitiveness and driving the growth of the game industry.”

As a policy direction for the industry’s long-term sustainability, Kim presented a balance between promotion and protection. “I want to hear your perspectives on the management environment for the game industry and find ways for the government to put our heads together and support you,” he said, while emphasizing that “it’s not only about promoting the industry overall—player protection must happen alongside it. That’s how trust in the game industry rises, and how it can grow globally.”

Touching on business models that have recently been at the center of controversy, Kim added, “I understand that Nexon has been working to move beyond the one-size-fits-all approach of randomized items (loot boxes),” and continued, “I also know there have been difficulties in the course of those attempts, and I evaluate those efforts as meaningful.”

He also voiced support for improving cultural perceptions. Sharing an anecdote from an interview with professional gamer Lee Sang-hyeok (Faker), Kim said, “What left an impression on me was his answer about the direction of Korean games—that while short-term fun is good, we also need games like art films that offer philosophical insight.”

Finally, Kim concluded, “Just as the President has said that games and esports are not addiction or a disease, the government recognizes them as an important culture and industry,” adding, “The government will promote the game industry while also thoroughly protecting gamers, so that the industry can move forward in the right direction.”

After the meeting, Kim moved to the Sound Design Team’s studio on the fourth floor to observe the actual game production process. Watching a demonstration of Foley recording by working-level staff, Kim said, “This was more interesting than touring a semiconductor or automobile factory,” and encouraged the team’s creativity.

The visit took place as part of the government’s broader policy follow-through on the President’s stated aim to dispel negative perceptions of games and esports and to reaffirm their value as cultural industries. Based on feedback gathered during the on-site visit, the government plans to review detailed policy measures to strengthen the game industry’s global competitiveness and improve trust in the sector.

This article was translated from the original that appeared on INVEN.