Gaming Centers Become a New Leisure Hub for Korean Adults (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s arcade industry is seeing a resurgence in spending as venues grow larger and attract an older, more affluent clientele, according to new data from KB Kookmin Card.
An analysis of card transactions at about 400 entertainment and leisure merchants nationwide found that average per-person spending at arcades reached 24,105 won (about $18) between January and November, surpassing the 20,000-won mark for the first time. That figure represents a 22.5 percent increase from last year and a 33.2 percent jump compared with 2023.
Consumers in their 30s spent the most per visit, averaging 26,077 won, followed by those in their 20s at 24,316 won. While people in their 20s made up the majority of visitors—accounting for 52 percent of all arcade customers—those in their 30s, who represented 27 percent of visitors, showed significantly higher spending. The share of visitors in their 30s has also risen steadily, from 21 percent in 2023.
Industry analysts attribute the trend to the transformation of traditional arcades into large-scale game centers located in high-traffic areas. These venues often span multiple floors and feature a wide range of attractions, from crane games to rhythm-based machines, encouraging longer stays and higher spending.
KB Kookmin Card said the shift also reflects changing leisure habits among consumers in their 30s, whose discretionary spending is increasingly directed away from alcohol-centered socializing toward sports and entertainment activities.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
