Students of Gen. G Global Academy, a school that offers both secondary and esports education, participate in tryouts in front of esports organizations and agencies to become professional gamers of the game "Valorant," Aug. 12. Courtesy of Gen. G Global Academy

Kang Min-kyu would be a high school junior under Korea's standard academic system. However, driven by his passion for video games, he enrolled in Gen G. Global Academy (GGA) in 2022 at his parents' suggestion.

Kang Min-kyu, a student at Gen. G Global Academy, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the school. Kang said he is happy with his life at the school that combines academics and esports training. His goal is to attend a U.S. university and major in business and marketing. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

Aspiring to build a career in the esports industry, he finds greater satisfaction in this specialized esports education institution. It allows him to balance his passion for esports with academics, in contrast to the more rigid Korean education system, which often requires students to follow a uniform track instead of focusing on their individual goals and desired careers.

"My parents recommended this school to me. It was my decision to choose this school, and I'm extremely satisfied with being able to pursue both esports and academic studies," Kang said in an interview with The Korea Times.

Established by esports organization Gen. G Esports in 2019, the GGA is at the forefront of nurturing talent for the esports industry, including esports players — one of the most coveted professions among teenagers today — through a structured program that teaches both academics and esports education.

About 50 students are enrolled in the academy, with 15 of them in the international class aiming to enter universities abroad, especially in the United States, where the college esports league is highly active.

Students at the GGA aspiring to become professional players have the chance to participate in tryouts, where they can showcase their skills to representatives from prestigious international esports teams.

Also, students like Kang, who want to work in the esports industry, receive in-depth education on various aspects of esports, such as broadcasting, marketing and even academic research, including studies on esports and human physiology.

Based on his experiences in esports classes at this school, Kang has even presented a paper to the Korea Society for e-Sports Industry on the impact of the computer mouse on game control.

"My goal is to attend the University of California, Irvine, in the future. There, I want to major in business or marketing to work in an esports-related field," Kang said.

A teacher at Gen. G Global Academy gives students a science lesson. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

The academy has become an emerging option for talented students like Kang, who love playing video games and dream of entering the esports industry. Following last year's success, the GGA's international class of 2023 saw all its students accepted into U.S. universities.

GGA said all 10 graduates received admission offers, including scholarship benefits, from prestigious American universities such as California State University, the University of Illinois, Ball State University and the University of Utah. These students are continuing their studies either as club players in U.S. college esports leagues or by choosing specific majors such as computer engineering, business, psychology and game design.

The exterior of Gen. G Global Academy school located in Gangnam District, Seoul / Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

Shifting perceptions of gaming

Cherie Jo, academic part lead at the GGA, said unlike in the past when there was a predominantly negative perception of video games, many parents now recommend this school to their children, hoping their gaming-enthused kids will work in video game-related industries.

"Some parents suggested our school to their child when they saw them neglecting studies and only focusing on games, thinking it would be better for them to continue their education here. These students, who used to sleep or disregard classes in their previous schools, are now actively participating in both academic and esports classes," Jo said.

Students attend academic classes from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and after lunch, from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., they receive esports training and education about the gaming industry.

Gen. G Global Academy students participate in an esports class in the afternoon after completing their regular academic classes in the morning. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

"Gen. G Esports opened this school in 2019 with the belief that the esports industry can flourish with the emergence of young talent. Many students choose professional gamer as their favorite future career, and this school was established with the intention of opening paths for students to succeed in the esports field," Lee Seung-hyun, director of the academy, said.

"The college esports league is growing in Korea, and it's already very active in the U.S. Rather than teaching that winning games is everything, we emphasize why good teamwork and excellent leadership are important in esports. Parents are very satisfied sending their children to our school because we provide education that fosters such cooperation while teaching both academics and esports," the director added.

Cherie Jo, left, academic part lead at the GGA, and the school's director, Lee Seung-hyun, attend an interview with The Korea Times at the academy's building in Seoul. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

This school is gaining attention not only domestically but also internationally for its unique teaching method that aims to nurture esports players and those who want to work in the related industry by teaching both academic subjects and esports.

"MBA school students from (the University of California, Los Angeles) have also shown interest in our teaching methods and are scheduled to observe our classes," Lee said.

"We believe education is about empowering students to pursue what they love and are passionate about. Video games once thought of as mere entertainment or an aberration, have become a burgeoning industry through the intersection of digital technology, and it is our goal to train them to be contributing members of the esports industry and our society."