Esports wouldn't be what it is today without Korea, Riot Games CEO says

Korea solidified its position as a global Esports powerhouse with the successful hosting of the 2023 League of Legends World Championship, following the appointment of a new CEO for Riot Games. The country's gaming culture, industry are key factors.

Riot Games CEO Dylan Jadeja speaks to the press about the 2023 Worlds finals at the Banya Tree Club & Spa Seoul in central Seoul on Nov. 15. [RIOT GAMES]

Korea has risen as the League of Legends' biggest powerhouse, especially following the country's successful hosting of the 2023 League of Legends (LoL) World Championship last week and Dylan Jadeja rising to the position of CEO of Riot Games, the Los Angeles-based creator of the infamous Esport.

The new CEO, who assumed the role in September, cited Korea as a critical force in the Esports industry with the country's avid gaming culture and robust industry.

“Esports would not be the global phenomenon it is today without Korea,” Jadeja said in a statement. “So when we decided to bring Worlds 2023 back to Korea, the global powerhouse of the Esports industry, we knew we had to host an event that would match the energy and passion of the players and truly celebrate the League of Legends community.

Korean Esports team T1 recently made history by claiming its fourth title as the most successful team in the tournament's history.

The gaming giant came up with a series of new innovations for Korea's hosting of the popular gaming tournament.

"We introduced new and exciting ways for fans to interact with our sport, like the new Swiss stages, which were incredibly well received by fans worldwide. We also welcomed incredible musical performances by NewJeans and HEARTSTEEL, debuted stage themes that embrace Korea and its rich culture, and introduced a new take on the Worlds FAN FEST,” the CEO said.

Jadeja joined Riot Games as the chief financial officer in 2011 and then held the position of global president since 2017.

The new CEO credits Korea, which is home to star players Faker, Deft, Gumayusi, Chovy and others, as the game mecca and global powerhouse of Esports, for another hosting of a successful Worlds this year. Including Worlds 2023, this is the fourth time for an international LoL tournament to be held in the country, following 2022 Mid-Season Invitational, Worlds 2018 and Worlds 2014.

The LoL Worlds 2023 was held throughout Seoul and Busan for the past six weeks from October, with the final round taking place at Gocheok Sky Dome in western Seoul on Nov. 19. The venue greeted T1 fans with not only a flurry of laser beams and K-pop performances, but also ultimately the team’s 3-0 win against China’s Weibo Gaming.

It marked the team’s first win in seven years since Worlds 2016, when it beat another Korean team, Samsung Galaxy.

The Korean Esports team T1 raises the Summoner's Cup following their victory after the finals of the 2023 League of Legends World Championship on Nov. 19 at Gocheok Sky Dome in western Seoul. [RIOT GAMES]

Riot Games made sure to meticulously tend to the details for the fans who made it to Gocheok Sky Dome — the 18,000 tickets for which were sold out in a matter of minutes. The video game developer recruited one of the hottest K-pop girl groups, NewJeans, to sing the new LoL anthem “Gods,” while its in-house virtual artist group HEARTSTEEL sang its debut song “Paranoia” with the real-life artists behind the characters, including K-pop star BAEKHYUN of EXO.

On the other side of the Han River, about 5,000 fans braved the cold weather at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, huddled like penguins in Antarctica, to view the game livestreamed from the square’s big screen and cheer for their home team.

Having hosted multiple tournaments in Korea, Riot Games certainly knew the way to liven up the atmosphere leading up to the finals. Right up until the final round started on Sunday afternoon, it hosted a four-day Worlds FAN FEST at the square from Nov. 16, forming a partnership with the Seoul Metropolitan Government. It was the first time the Seoul government opened its square for an Esports event. It saw 130,000 visitors throughout the period, peaking at 54,000 visitors on Nov. 18 during a live music concert of all of LoL soundtracks with artists including Nicki Taylor, Mushvenom, (G)I-DLE, FT Island and Alan Walker.

Riot Games also hosted a pop-up store at the Lotte World mall in Songpa District, southern Seoul, that drew a daily average of 5,000 visitors over a 10-day period, underscoring the fervor surrounding the event.

“Riot’s objective is to enhance player experience,” Jadeja emphasized. “We will put games at the center of everything we do — from the actual games that we make, to the way we engage with players, to the experiences we bring to them in Esports, our music, TV and through any future expressions of our intellectual property. Our strategy will focus on making our live games the very best they can be for players, investing in genre-defying games and experiences and making Riot the best place in the world to make games.”

League of Legends, launched in 2009, has grown into a massively franchised universe with top-tier leagues in four regions globally, more than 150 million monthly players and a massive international fanbase.

The game has become a major contributor in the Esports industry as it made its historic medal debut at the 19th Hanzhou Asian Games in September.

T1’s victory on its home turf was also congratulated by none other than President Yoon Suk Yeol himself, who also mentioned Korea’s Asian Games title at the Hanzhou Asiad and that the win reaffirmed “Korea’s reputation as the home of Esports.”

“The government will provide solid and sound support for the Esports sector so that it can become the global market leader,” Yoon said in his congratulatory message uploaded on Facebook on Nov. 20.

Jadeja sent out his special thanks for the cooperative effort of the Seoul and Busan city governments for successful hosting the event, as well as the pro players and their fans.

“We extend our sincere thanks to the numerous players and Esports enthusiasts whose contributions significantly enhanced the success of Worlds. We are also grateful to every pro player who actively participated in the event, as well as to the cities of Seoul and Busan for their unwavering support.”

Jadeja also asked the fans to keep up their enthusiasm for Riot Games’ next string of LoL endeavors, which celebrates its 15th anniversary next year.

“As we approach 15 years of League next year, we’re proud to be on this journey with players, bringing gaming, entertainment, sports and technology together into holistic, mind-blowing experiences. Anticipate an exciting experience as we approach the game’s 15th anniversary next year.”

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]