This list is old. But it gives you an idea of how much a professional Starcraft player earns in South Korea. StarCraft is dubbed "the National Sports of South Korea."
a documentary on the Starcraft scene in South Korea
NOTES:
- American dollar to Korean won exchange rate was rounded up to 1:1000 (from 1:900, at the time of data release) for easier computation
- Monthly and yearly incomes are estimates, calculated from the contract data
- This list doesn't include other sources of income like bonuses, prizes won, product endorsements, TV appearances, etc...
TEAM NAME
NICKNAME, NAME - INCOME - CONTRACT - MONTHLY - YEARLY
SK1T
iloveoov, Choi Yunsung - $450,000 - 4.2005->3.2008 - $13,000 - $155,000
Kingdom, Park Yongwook - $300,000 - 4.2005->3.2008 - $8,500 - $100,000
GoRush, Park Taemin - $300,000 - 4.2005->3.2008 - $8,500 - $100,000
KTF
Reach, Park Jungsuk - $400,000 - 1.2005->12.2007 - $11,000 - $140,000
YellOw, Hong Jinho - $330,000 - 4.2004->3.2007 - $9,500 - $110,000
Nal_rA, Kang Min - $330,000 - 4.2004->3.2007 - $9,500 - $110,000
CJ
XellOs, Seo Jihoon - $150,000 - 4.2006->3.2007 - $13,500 - $160,000
sAviOr, Ma Jaeyoon - $70,000 - 4.2006->3.2007 - $6,000 - $75,000
MBC Game
July, Park SungJoon - $110,000 - 4.2006->3.2007 - $10,000 - $110,000
PuSan[S.G], Park Jiho - $40,000 - 4.2006->3.2007 - $3,500 - $40,000
Sea.Shield , Yum Bosung - $20,000 - 4.2006->3.2007 - $2,000 - $22,000
Pantech
NaDa, Lee Yoonyeol - $600,000 - 8.2004->7.2007 - $17,000 - $205,000
Silver, Shim Somyung - $90,000 - 8.2006->1.2008 - $5,000 - $60,000
TheROCK, Ahn Kihyo - $60,000 - 8.2006->1.2008 - $5,000 - $30,000
Samsung
JJu, Byun Eunjong - $70,000 - 1.2006->12.2006 -$6,000 - $75,000
Stork, Song Byungkoo - $50,000 - 1.2006->12.2006 - $4,500 - $55,000
ZergLee, Lee Changhoon - $46,000 - 1.2006->12.2006 - $4,000 - $50,000
LeCaf
AnyTime, Oh Youngjong - $40,000 - 3.2006->2.2007 - $3,500 - $43,500
Bright, Kim SungKeon - $24,000 - 3.2006->2.2007 - $2,000 - $25,000
ShinHwA, Choi Karam - $20,000 - 3.2006->2.2007 - $2,000 - $22,000
Ongamenet
ClouD, Cha Jaewook - $40,000 - 6.2006->5.2007 - $3,500 - $45,000
Casy[Alive], Han Dongwook - $36,000 - 6.2006->5.2007 - $3,000 - $40,000
ZeuS, Jeon Taekyu - $18,000 - 6.2006->5.2007 - $1,500 - $20,000
Estro
Tester[gm], Seo Kisoo - $28,000 - 10.2006->9.2007 - $2,500 - $30,500
Eliza, Cho Yongsung - $24,000 - 10.2006->9.2007 - $2,000 - $26,000
Cool[fOu], Kim Wonki - $24,000 - 10.2006->9.2007 - $2,000 - $26,000
Hanbit
GGPlay, Kim Joonyoung - $23,000 - 4.2006->3.2007 - $2,000 - $25,000
DaezanG, Park Daemahn - $18,000 - 4.2006->3.2007 - $1,500 $20,000
Free[gm], Yoon Yongtae - $6,000 - 4.2006->3.2007 - $550 - $6,500
Starcraft Professional Competition
This proves the fact that the world has gone crazy... I mean some of them are making hundreds of thousands of dollars for playing games. I admit it requires talent and great intelligence but still.. They are even stars for doing that.. In most countries when you do that they tell you: Get a real job already! :) Still puzzled.. Never knew that it is like that in Korea..
ReplyDeleteIt depends on your location, really. More and more countries are supporting the fast-growing gaming industry. Warcraft III is as big in China as Starcraft is in South Korea. In Germany, gaming tournaments sprout here and there and the Americans love their consoles.
ReplyDeleteIt's E-Sports. I'm pretty sure these progamers didn't start playing Starcraft to earn money but to enjoy the game. They just became so good at it that some people were wiling to pay them to play. They play the game they enjoy and they get paid for it.
wow! how addicted are they in this game, I wonder? good findings!
ReplyDeleteGood post and this enter helped me alot in my college assignement. Gratefulness you seeking your information.
ReplyDeleteShortapps, I'm fine with that comment if you also think the same for people playing tennis, grid iron, soccer, basketball and any other sport.
ReplyDelete