People Power Party Representative Jeong Yeon-wook said this week that competing regional bids to take G-STAR out of Busan can’t continue, and he vowed to protect the city’s status as the “permanent home” of South Korea's largest international game exhibition. G-STAR is a big draw in South Korea (a country that officially honored the first ever esports player with a postage stamp earlier this year), and welcomes over 200,000 visitors across its run every year, making it one of Asia’s most lucrative annual gaming events. It’s little wonder that lawmakers have now got involved to preserve its status on home territory – and it’s also little wonder what other regions want a slice of the pie.
The move comes after closed-door government discussions revealed that other South Korean regions are hungry to host the show, according to a report by Inven Global. Rep. Jeong then used a party-government consultation with Busan Metropolitan City to discuss the issue on the same day.
What Rep. Jeong said
Jeong was clear about where he stands on this. "G-STAR, which draws more than 200,000 visitors during its event period, is a valuable asset that Busan has guarded for a long time," he said. "Moves to move G-STAR to another region can never be tolerated, and we must protect it at all costs."
He also tied the exhibition to Busan's wider ambitions, saying they are vital to the city's future. "Steadfastly protecting G-STAR is a key pillar in Busan's leap toward becoming a premier marine tourism city," Jeong added.
Why this matters for the gaming calendar
Catch-up with the preview for last year’s G-STAR
G-STAR is synonymous with Busan, having been held in the city every single year since 2009. It is, indeed, a permanent fixture of Busan’s calendar, which is why it would come as a bit of a shock to everyone if it ever left the city, even for just one year. What’s more, sixteen years of consistent hosting has allowed the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) venue to build its infrastructure and audience around the show. A relocation would disrupt that continuity. Busan has proven it can host it, people love visiting – moving it makes little sense.
Rep. Jeong committed to continuing legislative action in South Korea's National Assembly to defend Busan's stake in the exhibition, with a broader goal of establishing the Suyeong District and the wider city as global marine tourism destinations.
That all said, rival regions are allowed to make formal bids in closed-door government settings. The fact that Rep. Jeong made his declaration suggests regions are preparing their bids. If so, the pressure on Busan to secure its position is real.
What to watch next
No timeline has been given for when a final decision on hosting rights might be reached. More details on the competing regional bids are expected to surface as the National Assembly takes up the issue. G-STAR 2026 has not yet publicly confirmed its venue arrangements, and Jeong's intervention suggests those arrangements may not be as settled as in previous years.
