Korea's council pushes tax credits for games, which drive 57.7% of content exports
Summary
Eleven Korean content associations, including K-GAMES, launched the K-Content Industry Council on September 15, targeting 220 trillion won revenue and $27 billion exports by 2030.
Extending production tax credits, now limited to video content and webtoons, to games, music and publishing is the council's top legislative priority.
Games drive 57.7% of Korea's content exports yet stay excluded from the credit.
The UK, France and Canada apply digital content credits of 25-40% that rival studios already claim.
"The solution lies in shifting the policy frame"
01
Games carry Korea's export weight without the credit rivals get
Games account for 57.7% of Korea's content exports, the largest share of any genre.
Korea restricts production tax credits to video content and webtoons, excluding games, music and publishing.
More than 12 countries, including the UK, France and Canada, apply digital content credits of 25-40%.
Nexon and Krafton earn revenue in the same markets where rival studios claim that credit.
02
Budget increases alone cannot close a 14-trillion-won gap
A KOCCA model presented to the National Assembly in June capped flat-policy 2030 revenue at 205.9 trillion won.
Flat policy also holds exports to $18.7 billion, missing the target by $8.3 billion.
Raising the content budget 10% annually still lifts revenue only to 215.3 trillion won.
Korea's 2027 content budget rose just 9.5% to 1.77 trillion won, while culture and arts spending grew 44.6%.
03
Council commits to annual audits and further budget fights
The council will publish an annual "K-Content 220 Trillion Won Implementation Audit Report" using KOCCA statistics, starting the first half of next year.
It plans to submit regulatory reform recommendations and hold a Korea-China Content Industry Exchange Meeting in second-half 2026.
Vice Minister Kim Young-soo pledged to pursue further budget increases at the parliamentary review stage.
The proposed 2027 culture budget already rose 22.6% to 9.63 trillion won.
What this means
For Publishers & Developers: Nexon and Krafton would gain a 25-40% cost offset matching Western rivals if the credit passes.
For Investors & VC: A KOCCA model shows budget hikes alone miss 2030 targets, making tax reform the real value trigger.
Events
Companies
Games
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Locations
South Korea
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