INCHEON, South Korea, July 7 (Korea Bizwire) — The world’s largest soft-tip dart tournament, the K-Dart Festival, opened Sunday at Songdo Convensia in Incheon, drawing 3,500 participants from 16 countries and signaling South Korea’s growing influence in the global dart industry.
Hosted by the Korea Soft Darts Association and organized by Phoenix Darts, a leading electronic dartboard manufacturer, the event showcased the fast-growing sport of soft-tip darts—an electronic variant of the traditional steel-tip game, using plastic darts and digital scoring systems. This modernized format offers greater safety and smoother gameplay, appealing to a global player base.
Korean-made dart machines now account for over 50% of the global market and are exported to 30 countries, underlining Korea’s emergence as a dominant force in the sport’s digital transformation.
Participants from the United States, Belgium, France, Indonesia, and beyond competed in multiple divisions, including the International Singles, International Team Match, and other categories for general players such as Singles, Doubles, and the Ladies Championship. The opening ceremony resembled an Olympic-style procession, with national teams entering the venue carrying their flags.
Beyond the competition, the event offered live K-pop performances, giveaways, and food trucks, creating a festive atmosphere for both players and spectators.
“This is a world-class event,” said Dominik Chabajda, a 30-year-old player from the Czech Republic. “I hadn’t realized Korea hosted such large-scale dart competitions, but this is exactly what the sport needs to globalize.”
Crystal, a 31-year-old participant from Singapore, added, “It’s my first time in Korea, and I hope darts can one day become an Olympic sport.”
The Korea Soft Darts Association said the festival not only celebrates Korea’s industrial leadership in digital dart technology but also aims to elevate darts into the mainstream sports arena domestically.
“Though darts began in England over 500 years ago, Korean innovation has propelled it into the digital age,” said Bang Joon-sik, president of the association. “Our goal is to make ‘K-Dart’ as iconic as K-pop or K-culture, and we’ll continue pushing for broader recognition, including official affiliation with Korea’s national sports federation.”
With international enthusiasm and expanding infrastructure, the K-Dart Festival marks a pivotal step in Korea’s ambition to make soft-tip darts a global cultural export.
Image credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
