The Launch of OnGameNet StarLeague
Original Korean title
온게임넷 스타리그 출범
The 1999-2000 origin point of Korea's professional esports league culture.
Originated around 2000Last updated: August 4, 2026
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What does it mean?
Starting with the '99 PKO tournament in 1999 and officially adopting the name "StarLeague" from the 2000 Freechal-sponsored season, OnGameNet StarLeague became the starting point of Korea's esports spectator culture, introducing open studio sets and live audience seating.
Where did it start?
Korea's esports league culture began with the '99 PKO tournament in 1999, and the name "StarLeague" was first used for the 2000 Hanaro Telecom Tooniverse StarLeague. Riding that tournament's popularity, the dedicated gaming channel OnGameNet launched on July 24, 2000 at the proposal of Hwang Hyung-jun, growing from a handful of contract staff broadcasting out of a converted storage room into a full broadcaster with roughly 80 employees. Around the same time, in February 2000, the Minister of Culture and Tourism used the term "e-sports" at the founding ceremony of the 21st Century Pro-Gamers Association (now the Korea e-Sports Association), helping popularize the term.
How is it used?
Cited as the starting point of Korea's esports industry.
Ratings by context haven't been confirmed yet.
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The Launch of OnGameNet StarLeague: The 1999-2000 origin point of Korea's professional esports league culture.
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