Students undergo a posture correction session at a gaming academy in Gwanak District, Seoul, on April 18. Korea Times photo by Jeon Yoo-jin

A classroom in Gwanak District, Seoul, buzzed with the energy of young gamers on Thursday with both students and instructors focused intently on the fine art of using a computer mouse, a seemingly simple yet crucial tool.

This wasn't just any classroom—it was a professional videogame player training academy. Here, mastering the use of a mouse is considered the first step toward competing in games where reaction times are measured in milliseconds.

Here, understanding the proper grip and movement of a mouse is taught with precision and detail, sometimes consuming over an hour of instruction. This foundational skill is crucial in a field where even a fraction of a second can distinguish between victory and defeat.

By 6 p.m. daily, groups of middle and high school students gather here after school, their faces set with determination, dreaming of becoming the next esports champions. For instance, 16-year-old Kim Seung-hyun practices up to 15 hours a day, asserting his commitment, "I am definitely pursuing this path."

The esports industry's growth has led to increased academies dedicated to training professional gamers. With esports continuously expanding and even becoming an official part of the Asian Games, more teens are entering these academies with dreams of debuting as professional gamers, much like youngsters seeking out talent agencies to become idols.

However, becoming a professional player today requires more than just gaming skills. Due to the global nature of competitions and the increasing number of international fans, proficiency in foreign languages is now essential.

For instance, middle school student Eom Jong-hwan has been attending English classes since early this year in preparation for joining an international team or competing abroad in first-person shooter games like Valorant.

Hanwha Life Esports players check their equipment before the start of the 2024 LCK Spring Finals qualification match at the KSPO Dome in Seoul Olympic Park on April 13. Yonhap

Plan B is essential

Moreover, physical fitness and character are also important. Another student, Lee Da-sol, 15, balances intense gaming sessions with four weekly gym visits to strengthen his back muscles necessary for long gaming sessions.

Group living skills are also honed in these academies, with some students like Shin Jung-woon, 18, undergoing communal living training to foster teamwork and cooperation skills prized by large esports teams during selection processes.

Despite the rigorous training, the reality is that very few make it to the professional level. The competitive nature of the games and the relatively short career span of players make it challenging to secure a spot on a pro team.

Coach Choi Seong-min, a former Battlegrounds player, emphasizes the slim chances of making it big in esports, saying, "The probability of succeeding as a pro gamer is just 0.1 percent." He advocates for students to explore diverse career paths as alternatives.

As the number of trainees increases and the starting age drops, there is a growing call for proper guidelines to support the aspirants' "second life" in case they do not succeed in esports.

Professor Kim Jung-tae from Dongyang University's game sStudies department said, "It's not wise for primary and secondary students to jump into becoming a professional gamer without a Plan B," adding "There needs to be delicate communication between parents and children, and guidelines that ensure they do not lose interest and passion in their school education."

Choi also suggests quickly assessing students' potential and guiding those with less likelihood of success towards other career paths, maximizing their skills in more viable directions.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.