Korea's Ministry of Information and Communication, which is known for its catalytic role in the country's rapid broadband penetration and its regional advocacy of code division multiple access (CDMA) mobile phone technologies, said it would help fund and support the online game industry.

Even at this early stage, Korea is already among the top developers of online games, software and services globally.

The ministry said it has earmarked $11 million toward the further development of Net gaming technologies, including 3-D game engines.

A further $3 million will support the training of online game specialists, a project to combat online game addiction and industry regulatory support.

"The ministry is seeking to develop the game industry as one of the nation's top strategic industries," it said in a statement.

In a survey early last year, Internet measurement company NetValue said 65 percent of all Korean Internet users surveyed visited Net game Web sites during one month.

A study later in 2001 by Ipsos-Reid predicted that by this year eight in 10 Internet users 12 to 24 years old in South Korea will have tried online games at least once.

Reported By Newsbytes.com, http://www.newsbytes.com .

05:49 CST