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Game localization into
Korean
Interesting facts about Korean
- The majority of Korean speakers are located in South Korea, which has a population of over 51 million people
- There are over 80 million speakers of Korean worldwide
- Modern Korean is written in the Hangul alphabet that consists of 14 consonants and 10 vowels
Other languages of localization
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Korean users around the world
Korean is the official language of both North Korea and South Korea, but over the past 75 years of political division, the two Koreas have developed some noticeable vocabulary differences. The majority of Korean speakers are located in South Korea, which has a population of over 51 million people. Korean is also spoken by significant communities in China, Japan, and other countries around the world. It is estimated that there are over 80 million speakers of Korean worldwide.
Korean as a language
Korean has a complex grammar, and it is ranked at the top difficulty level for English speakers by the United States Department of Defense. Modern Korean is written in the Hangul alphabet, which was created in the 15th century, although it did not become the primary script until the 20th century. It consists of 14 consonants and 10 vowels.
Korean in Game Localization
Game localization into Korean is an important aspect of the gaming industry, and many game developers invest significant resources into ensuring that their games are accessible and engaging to Korean players. This is because Korea is a huge market and Korean gamers are willing to spend large amounts of money on their passion.
On Steam, Korean is the 11th most used language as of February 2023. This is 1.5% of its users. Keep in mind that Steam had 132 million monthly active users in 2021 and it had a peak of 33.2 million concurrent users in January 2023. Also consider that roleplaying games, such as MMORPG and RPG adventure games, are the most popular games in Korea. Other popular genres include MOBA games, shooters, and simulation games.
According to the English Proficiency Index for 2021 (EPI) by Education First, South Korea ranks 31st out of 100 countries in English proficiency. Specifically, the report showed that 27.89% of Koreans have a proficiency level of intermediate or above in English. Young people are more likely to have good English skills. Even so, the Korean public prefers to play games in their native language to fully immerse themselves and understand the nuances.
Revenue and number of players in the countries that use Korean
According to Newzoo’s revenue estimates for 2021, Korea is the 4th largest games market in the world in terms of game revenue, with $8.3 billion. Besides, gamer penetration is high in South Korea. There are around 33 million gamers. Also, Korea is the market with the second highest average revenue per user (ARPU): about $250 a year. Only Japan is ahead.
Newzoo’s Key Insights Into South Korean Gamers 2022 reveals that 76% of people consider themselves game enthusiasts. These are consumers who engage with gaming through playing, viewing, owning, and/or social behavior. Up to 45% watch and play since Korean gamers are really into eSports and streaming.
As in many other regions, mobile gaming is the leading driver of Korea’s game revenue, with 56% of the total. The aforementioned report found that 59% of South Koreans play mobile games. PC was the second most used platform by 41% of gamers, and console was last with 20%.
Another principal factor to consider is demographics. Koreas has an older public than in other countries: 17% are 10-20 years old, 30% are 21-35 years old, another 30% are 36-50 years old, and 23% are 51-65 years old.
Some interesting facts
about the Korean game market
- Korea is the 4th largest games market in the world in terms of game revenue with $8.3 billion
- Korea is the market with the second highest average revenue per user (ARPU): about $250 a year
- There are around 33 million gamers
Ready to grow?
Spend little. Gain a great deal!
Localizing a video game into more languages is a relatively small outlay compared to how much you will gain.
Spend a few thousand and gain several million new players.
Spend a few thousand and gain several million new players.
