Orange Planet Foundation Busan Center: A Reliable Partner for Game Developers in the Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam Area 2025-04-03

Smilegate Orange Planet Foundation Busan Center (hereafter referred to as the 'Busan Center') was established to bridge the gap in youth startup support between the capital and local regions. Operated by Orange Planet, the center celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Notably, the Busan Center has partnered with the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency and runs the 'Busan Global Game Center' to actively support local game development startups.

Nyangsper, the developer behind 'ZombieMate' which reached 10 million global downloads, is one of the notable game companies supported by the Busan Center. We spoke with Yoon Eunbin, who plays a key role in supporting game startups at the Busan Center, to hear about the center’s achievements and future plans.

Q1. Hello! Please introduce yourself.

Hello, I’m Yoon Eunbin, Assistant Manager of the Operations Management Team at Orange Planet Busan Center. I support small game studios to grow their capabilities and contribute to the local game industry’s development in various ways.

Q2. Please tell us about the Orange Planet Busan Center.

Busan Center was established in 2015 with the goal of discovering promising game startups and providing systematic and continuous support. It hosts 'Game Developer Conference' to facilitate networking among startups and also runs mentoring programs for developers.

Q3. Can you tell us about the 'Busan Game Developer Conference' held on April 3?

It is a flagship game developer conference in Busan where local startups gather to share insights on the latest trends and development know-how. We organized networking sessions and other programs to strengthen the developer community. Smilegate Megaport’s trend analysis team presented their forecast for this year’s game industry trends. Representatives from XLGAMES, known for 'ArcheAge', and console publisher CKF also attended and shared strategies for improving development capabilities.

Q4. The 3rd Busan University Student Game Developer Camp was successfully held in February. What were the results, and how did participants respond?

One of the biggest achievements is that students majoring in game development in Busan now see it as a must-attend event. Over 100 student developers participated this time—the first time the number has reached triple digits. Many shared positive feedback that it was a valuable experience to grow as professional developers. They were also satisfied with how their passion for game development grew through exchanging ideas and experiences with others.

Q5. You’ve collaborated with the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency on various initiatives like the developer camp. What kind of synergy has that created?

The Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency provides infrastructure such as office space for developers, while the Busan Center offers acceleration programs to strengthen their development capabilities. Early-stage startups especially need a space to focus on development and support to refine their games. Through our collaboration, we help these companies establish a solid business foundation early on.

Q6. You’ve provided extensive support for local university students and game developers. Could you share some representative achievements?

As of March 2025, the Busan Center has supported 80 game startups, accounting for 60% of the 130 game startups currently active in Busan. This clearly demonstrates the center’s contribution to the regional startup ecosystem. It’s also notable that the number of teams hoping to move into the Busan Center has more than doubled compared to last year, showing its role as a hub that helps developers build their capabilities.

Q7. In June, the 'Build 051' exhibition for indie game developers in the Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam region is scheduled. Please introduce the event.  

'Build 051' is a developer exhibition jointly hosted by the Busan Center and Indiebu, a local developer community. The name includes '051', Busan’s area code. Game startups will participate by exhibiting and demoing their game builds.

Q8. Could you share a memorable moment or a time you felt especially rewarded while working at the Busan Center?

There’s a team called 'GamjaJjamppong at the corner'. The members first met as university students and eventually launched a startup after joining the Busan Center. Watching that journey made me realize how much our support helps developers grow—it was deeply rewarding. Now, the GamjaJjamppong team mentors younger developers newly joining the center. This positive cycle of sharing experiences and know-how between generations is truly inspiring.     

Q9. How do you collaborate with the Orange Planet Gangnam Center?

The Busan Center collaborates with the Gangnam Center to help regional game startups expand to broader markets. For instance, when promising teams in Busan grow, we connect them to investment or global expansion opportunities through the Gangnam Center. We also offer infrastructure support, like meeting rooms and lounge access, when Busan-based startup founders travel to Seoul.

Q10. This year marks the Busan Center’s 10th anniversary. What are your future plans and goals?

This year marks a decade since the Busan Center was founded to support game startups. Over the years, we’ve operated various support programs, communicated closely with developers, and built a strong local community. Starting this year, we plan to run more specialized support programs in segmented areas like programming and art. As the game market rapidly evolves, we’ll strengthen programs that reflect current trends and technologies so developers can adapt quickly. Our goal is for the Busan Center to become a key hub and platform that drives the growth and challenges of regional game developers.