Press Start on Game Art:

KCC Explores the Future of Gaming Education and Collaboration

(JULY 30, 2025) - The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) made its first-ever appearance at the Philippine GameDev Expo (PGDX) with the event “Meet the Mentor: Press Start on Game Art,” featuring Professor Sean Kwon, Lead Professor of the Game Art-Game Institute at the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA).

Held on July 25–26, the two-part event - the 25th being online and the 26th onsite - brought together aspiring Filipino game developers, educators, and students for an exclusive learning session with one of Korea’s leading game art educators.

Learning from a Global Gaming Powerhouse

In his keynote lecture, Professor Kwon presented a comprehensive look at Korea’s game industry, which ranks 4th globally with $22 billion in annual revenue and over 84,000 professionals. He shared how Korea’s success has been driven by a strong mobile gaming sector, government support, and a dynamic indie scene.

Beyond market data, Kwon also discussed the challenges the industry faces—such as workforce burnout, rising production costs, and AI’s influence on traditional roles in game development.

Educating for an AI-Powered Future

A core part of Kwon’s presentation focused on the KOCCA Game Institute’s two-year program designed to train future-ready developers. The institute emphasizes hands-on, team-based learning in fields like VR/AR, 3D modeling, and AI-integrated pipelines.

“We don’t just teach students to use tools—we train them to think like developers,” Kwon emphasized. “AI will reshape how we work, but the artist’s vision remains irreplaceable.”

He also called for a shift in game education to prepare talent for creative direction and ethical collaboration with AI, not just technical execution.

Building Bridges Between Korea and the Philippines

With the Philippine game industry growing at an average of 7.2% annually, both Kwon and KCC Director Kim Myeongjin highlighted the potential for deeper collaboration between Korea and the Philippines in training, co-development, and cultural exchange.

“This first-ever participation in PGDX allowed us to promote Korea’s game industry and share knowledge. We hope this leads to future cross-border collaboration in the field,” said Director Kim.

Participants echoed this excitement, with one attendee sharing, “Hearing about Korea’s approach to game education inspired me to keep learning and explore new tools on my own.”

“Meet the Mentor: Press Start on Game Art” marked a meaningful step in connecting the two countries through shared creative goals. As both nations navigate an AI-powered future in gaming, collaboration in education and innovation will be key to leveling up the next generation of talent.