• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 11:58
CEST 17:58
KST 00:58
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
[ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt2: News Flash8[ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt1: New Chaos0Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - Presented by Monster Energy15ByuL: The Forgotten Master of ZvT30Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book20
Community News
Weekly Cups (March 23-29): herO takes triple6Aligulac acquired by REPLAYMAN.com/Stego Research7Weekly Cups (March 16-22): herO doubles, Cure surprises3Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool49Weekly Cups (March 9-15): herO, Clem, ByuN win4
StarCraft 2
General
Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - Presented by Monster Energy Aligulac acquired by REPLAYMAN.com/Stego Research Weekly Cups (March 23-29): herO takes triple What mix of new & old maps do you want in the next ladder pool? (SC2) herO wins SC2 All-Star Invitational
Tourneys
Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament RSL Season 4 announced for March-April StarCraft Evolution League (SC Evo Biweekly) WardiTV Mondays World University TeamLeague (500$+) | Signups Open
Strategy
Custom Maps
[M] (2) Frigid Storage Publishing has been re-enabled! [Feb 24th 2026]
External Content
Mutation # 519 Inner Power The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 518 Radiation Zone Mutation # 517 Distant Threat
Brood War
General
ASL21 General Discussion A cwal.gg Extension - Easily keep track of anyone Behind the scenes footage of ASL21 Group E BW General Discussion BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/
Tourneys
[ASL21] Ro24 Group E 🌍 Weekly Foreign Showmatches [ASL21] Ro24 Group F Azhi's Colosseum - Foreign KCM
Strategy
Fighting Spirit mining rates What's the deal with APM & what's its true value Simple Questions, Simple Answers
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Starcraft Tabletop Miniature Game General RTS Discussion Thread Darkest Dungeon
Dota 2
The Story of Wings Gaming Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
G2 just beat GenG in First stand
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas TL Mafia Community Thread Five o'clock TL Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Canadian Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine The Games Industry And ATVI European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books Movie Discussion!
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion Cricket [SPORT] Tokyo Olympics 2021 Thread General nutrition recommendations
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
[G] How to Block Livestream Ads
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Funny Nicknames
LUCKY_NOOB
Money Laundering In Video Ga…
TrAiDoS
Iranian anarchists: organize…
XenOsky
FS++
Kraekkling
Shocked by a laser…
Spydermine0240
ASL S21 English Commentary…
namkraft
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 2316 users

Why SC2 is not as popular as BW in Korea?

Forum Index > Closed
Post a Reply
raff100
Profile Joined April 2011
498 Posts
December 11 2016 15:04 GMT
#1
As the title says,why Starcraft 2 has not been able to captivate the Korean audience?
What difference does it make Broodwar a better game according to Korean fans?

Deleted User 26513
Profile Joined February 2007
2376 Posts
December 11 2016 15:09 GMT
#2
On December 12 2016 00:04 raff100 wrote:
As the title says,why Starcraft 2 has not been able to captivate the Korean audience?
What difference does it make Broodwar a better game according to Korean fans?


Why eating in front of a camera is popular in Korea ? God knows... Korea is weird.
They have BW and they don't want a replacement
Ziggy
Profile Blog Joined June 2013
South Korea2106 Posts
December 11 2016 15:11 GMT
#3
A day on TL wouldnt be a proper day without someone asking a question like the OP
WriterDefeating a sandwich only makes it tastier. @imjustziggy
LegalLord
Profile Blog Joined April 2013
United States13779 Posts
December 11 2016 15:12 GMT
#4
I don't think there needs to be any deep reason why. They just preferred BW to SC2 and that's all that needs to be said about it.
History will sooner or later sweep the European Union away without mercy.
aQuaSC
Profile Joined August 2011
717 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-12-11 15:15:55
December 11 2016 15:12 GMT
#5
One of the reasons was the fact that you had to initially buy the game to play it in their pc bangs, while there was no such restriction on BW as it was mostly pirated - you only need BW key to enter Blizzard's battle.net which is pretty much abandoned by now. I read somewhere that Blizzard learned from that mistake with Overwatch, you don't need to own Overwatch license to play it there.
TL+ Member
Eighty7Gaming
Profile Joined November 2015
12 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-12-11 15:21:21
December 11 2016 15:20 GMT
#6
Governmental monopoly (kespa) on potential grassroots organizations and it's inability to adapt to a new audience is the leading theory imo.
Lexender
Profile Joined September 2013
Mexico2656 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-12-11 15:20:55
December 11 2016 15:20 GMT
#7
For the same reason Sudden Attack is more popular than CS:GO:

Korea is weird.

The same reason they play a shit ton of old games like AION and Lineage 1.

Koreans just have their own thing going and I don't think anybody could ever come with a reason why exactly.
Clonester
Profile Joined August 2014
Germany2808 Posts
December 11 2016 15:26 GMT
#8
Because BW was fine 2010 and nobody asked for a replacement in Korea.

The replacement still came and was then a game that made alot different (and worse with Bnet 2.0). Didnt help that the leading ProScene of BW did not switch over at the beginning but at a point, where the problems of SC II have been at a high peak (end of 2012, Brofestor 1000 times inferiour to any BW matchup).
BW is almost for free (go to PC Bang, play it) while you need your own WoL and later HotS copy to play SC II. And if you stayed with SC II, you even needed LotV.

Its not only because Korea is weird (have you seen Kartrider Esport?) but also because Blizzard made mistakes with SC II on top of the inherent problem that a great game played by millions was pushed aside by a game which is quite different while also very expensive.
Bomber, Attacker, DD, SOMEBODY, NiKo, Nex, Spidii
Marou
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Germany1371 Posts
December 11 2016 15:27 GMT
#9
On December 12 2016 00:12 aQuaSC wrote:
One of the reasons was the fact that you had to initially buy the game to play it in their pc bangs, while there was no such restriction on BW as it was mostly pirated - you only need BW key to enter Blizzard's battle.net which is pretty much abandoned by now. I read somewhere that Blizzard learned from that mistake with Overwatch, you don't need to own Overwatch license to play it there.


I think its one of the big reason SC2 didnt take off so much in Korea. I was living there shortly after the game was released and people were NOT playing SC2 in PC Bangs.

Another thing is that strategy game are not as popular as they used to be. BW got insanely popular because the timing for the game was so perfect, it was a time where PC Bangs were exploding and BW was just one of the best, if not the absolute best multiplayer game out there. People got into it, and they got into more and more as they discovered the infinite depth of gameplay that BW offers. That success was replicated by LoL and now Overwatch is on the same path, it's just that the game are more tailored to what people want to play these days.

SC2 missed its window in south korea, the game was still a commercial success but it needed more than that to become a mainstream thing like BW, LoL or OW. Multiplayer had to be free to play, and the arcade should have been better on release too, Korean love mods. Couple years ago i could see more people playing WC3 UMS than there were people playing SC2 in PC Bangs.
twitter@RickyMarou
Chris_Havoc
Profile Joined August 2016
United States600 Posts
December 11 2016 15:32 GMT
#10
One reason was for over a decade BW was in many ways South Korea's "national esport". BW has it's own well-defined history and cultural significance that just doesn't exist in other esports (yet).

Brood War will likely never truly disappear for the Korean fans who both love it and grew up watching it.
Owner of the SC2 Esports Anthology channel on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SC2EsportsAnthology
JimmyJRaynor
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Canada17408 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-12-11 15:38:01
December 11 2016 15:33 GMT
#11
South Korea created their own grass roots eSports scene for BW.
An American company Blizzard controlled SC2 esports from day 1.

Blizzard should've done whatever it took to get the grassroots Korean BW eSports guys on board.

On December 12 2016 00:32 Chris_Havoc wrote:
One reason was for over a decade BW was in many ways South Korea's "national esport". BW has it's own well-defined history and cultural significance that just doesn't exist in other esports (yet).
Brood War will likely never truly disappear for the Korean fans who both love it and grew up watching it.

I'm sure South Korea has its own versions of Don King, Vince Mcmahon, and Dana White. You just can't fuck with those types of people you have to negotiate with them. Blizzard did a poor negotiation job with the top "power brokers" of the BW esports scene at the start.

I always get a laugh out of US companies that come up to Canada thinking they can take over by just setting up shop here. Its funny watching them get stomped and leave town. hi Target!
Ray Kassar To David Crane : "you're no more important to Atari than the factory workers assembling the cartridges"
Shinokuki
Profile Joined July 2013
United States923 Posts
December 11 2016 18:09 GMT
#12
On December 12 2016 00:20 Lexender wrote:
For the same reason Sudden Attack is more popular than CS:GO:

Korea is weird.

The same reason they play a shit ton of old games like AION and Lineage 1.

Koreans just have their own thing going and I don't think anybody could ever come with a reason why exactly.

lmao contributing sc2's success towards korea's weirdness and other reasons. Look people sc2 was not a good game. it constantly had problems and balance issues. the game wasnt pretty nor entertaining. why is sc2 so pathetic in the non koreans regions as well?
Life is just life
Deleted User 26513
Profile Joined February 2007
2376 Posts
December 11 2016 18:41 GMT
#13
On December 12 2016 03:09 Shinokuki wrote:
Show nested quote +
On December 12 2016 00:20 Lexender wrote:
For the same reason Sudden Attack is more popular than CS:GO:

Korea is weird.

The same reason they play a shit ton of old games like AION and Lineage 1.

Koreans just have their own thing going and I don't think anybody could ever come with a reason why exactly.

lmao contributing sc2's success towards korea's weirdness and other reasons. Look people sc2 was not a good game. it constantly had problems and balance issues. the game wasnt pretty nor entertaining. why is sc2 so pathetic in the non koreans regions as well?

Thank god you are here to tell us how it is...

+ Show Spoiler +
Did your mommy hate you ?


TL is pretty sad place lately.
Garuga
Profile Joined June 2015
49 Posts
December 11 2016 18:47 GMT
#14
It's called nostalgia porn.
outscar
Profile Joined September 2014
2832 Posts
December 11 2016 18:51 GMT
#15
On December 12 2016 03:09 Shinokuki wrote:
Show nested quote +
On December 12 2016 00:20 Lexender wrote:
For the same reason Sudden Attack is more popular than CS:GO:

Korea is weird.

The same reason they play a shit ton of old games like AION and Lineage 1.

Koreans just have their own thing going and I don't think anybody could ever come with a reason why exactly.

lmao contributing sc2's success towards korea's weirdness and other reasons. Look people sc2 was not a good game. it constantly had problems and balance issues. the game wasnt pretty nor entertaining. why is sc2 so pathetic in the non koreans regions as well?


+100500 BW is just better. Ask any pro, caster who played BW everyone will agree that BW is better. Even IdrA I remember told on his stream that.
sunbeams are never made like me...
Pokebunny
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
United States10654 Posts
December 11 2016 18:53 GMT
#16
On December 12 2016 03:09 Shinokuki wrote:
Show nested quote +
On December 12 2016 00:20 Lexender wrote:
For the same reason Sudden Attack is more popular than CS:GO:

Korea is weird.

The same reason they play a shit ton of old games like AION and Lineage 1.

Koreans just have their own thing going and I don't think anybody could ever come with a reason why exactly.

lmao contributing sc2's success towards korea's weirdness and other reasons. Look people sc2 was not a good game. it constantly had problems and balance issues. the game wasnt pretty nor entertaining. why is sc2 so pathetic in the non koreans regions as well?

Even before Blizzard's involvement, SC2 esports was so much bigger outside of Korea than BW ever was. I mean in BW we had a $5k online tournament and thought it was the best thing ever. I loved foreign BW but we had no concept even of progamers outside of Korea.
Semipro Terran player | Pokebunny#1710 | twitter.com/Pokebunny | twitch.tv/Pokebunny | facebook.com/PokebunnySC
KadaverBB
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Germany25658 Posts
December 11 2016 18:53 GMT
#17
This thread simply will not go well and it has been discussed to death.
AdministratorLaws change depending on who's making them, but justice is justice
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
WardiTV Team League
12:45
Group B
WardiTV800
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
mouzHeroMarine 157
ProTech123
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 33424
Calm 6396
Bisu 2603
Sea 2077
Mini 1242
EffOrt 962
Soma 802
Stork 522
Hyuk 339
Rush 318
[ Show more ]
Snow 302
ggaemo 261
firebathero 230
Soulkey 200
hero 146
sorry 82
PianO 70
HiyA 66
Sea.KH 51
Hyun 35
Terrorterran 33
Aegong 33
Shinee 28
scan(afreeca) 15
Rock 15
IntoTheRainbow 14
Movie 11
soO 10
Sexy 7
Dota 2
Gorgc6423
canceldota141
Counter-Strike
pashabiceps1267
fl0m646
ceh9251
kRYSTAL_16
Heroes of the Storm
XaKoH 125
Other Games
singsing1720
FrodaN1452
hiko627
B2W.Neo615
Beastyqt573
DeMusliM276
crisheroes274
KnowMe170
QueenE48
Trikslyr33
Organizations
StarCraft: Brood War
Kim Chul Min (afreeca) 12
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• Michael_bg 2
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Nemesis3047
• TFBlade1290
Other Games
• Shiphtur83
Upcoming Events
OSC
8h 2m
RSL Revival
18h 2m
TriGGeR vs Cure
ByuN vs Rogue
Replay Cast
1d 8h
RSL Revival
1d 18h
Maru vs MaxPax
BSL
2 days
RSL Revival
2 days
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
2 days
BSL
3 days
Afreeca Starleague
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
[ Show More ]
Sparkling Tuna Cup
4 days
The PondCast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-03-31
WardiTV Winter 2026
NationLESS Cup

Ongoing

BSL Season 22
CSL Elite League 2026
CSL Season 20: Qualifier 1
ASL Season 21
CSL Season 20: Qualifier 2
RSL Revival: Season 4
Nations Cup 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S2: W1
CSL 2026 SPRING (S20)
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
BSL 22 Non-Korean Championship
CSLAN 4
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
StarCraft2 Community Team League 2026 Spring
IEM Cologne Major 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
CCT Season 3 Global Finals
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.