Korea’s Changwon City Boosts Local Art Scene with NFTs

Nexon Korea Intensifies its Blockchain Focus with Nexon UniverseSouth Korean gaming giant Nexon Korea is moving its dedicated blockchain division to its recently renamed subsidiary, Nexon Universe. According to local news outlet Newsis, this subsidiary, initially known as Nexon Block and founded last year, will welcome approximately 80 employees from the parent company’s blockchain group. The leader at the helm of Nexon Universe will be Kang Dae-hyun, who serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Nexon Korea.Photo by Shubham Dhage on UnsplashNFT-powered MapleStory UniverseNexon Korea’s blockchain division has so far been overseeing the MapleStory Universe project, an NFT-powered ecosystem that utilizes MapleStory’s intellectual property.The objective of MapleStory Universe is to establish an environment that facilitates the seamless movement of NFTs, which represent in-game characters and items, throughout its ecosystem. Beyond this, the project is dedicated to forging connections with other NFT initiatives, aiming to become part of the broader global blockchain community.In August of last year, COO Kang participated in a blockchain conference to highlight Nexon’s ongoing transformative endeavors. The transition of offline games to online platforms marked Nexon’s first evolution, while the second ambition revolves around the expansion of its gaming ecosystem using the capabilities of Web3, Kang said.Turning in-game items into NFTsAmong these strategic moves is the development of MapleStory N, the first game within the MapleStory Universe. This desktop-based MMORPG is currently under development and incorporates blockchain technology. MapleStory N will allow gamers to earn items during gameplay, which can subsequently be transformed into NFTs. The fees collected from in-game economic interactions will be distributed as rewards to both contributors within the MapleStory Universe ecosystem and Nexon.Nexon’s blockchain collaborationsAs part of the MapleStory Universe creation, Nexon joined hands with Ethereum scaling blockchain protocol Polygon. In particular, Nexon employs a Polygon Supernet, which empowers developers to tailor a blockchain to suit their gaming requirements.Furthermore, Nexon made its entry into the realm of Japanese gaming blockchain Oasys in April, acting as a validator. Oasys, established in February of last year, aims to popularize play-to-earn (P2E) games. Notable validators include Bandai Namco Research, Sega, Ubisoft, Yield Guild Games, KDDI, and Softbank.Adding to its array of collaborations, Nexon forged a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with blockchain wallet company Haechi Labs in May, within the context of the MapleStory Universe undertaking. Nexon Korea’s strategy includes leveraging Haechi’s “face wallet,” which simplifies the process of establishing and overseeing blockchain wallets for users. This is expected to offer a seamless and user-friendly experience for newcomers to the field.

Korea Information Certificate Authority Dives into NFT Domain with New Platform LaunchKorea Information Certificate Authority (KICA), a South Korean certification service provider, has recently ventured into the NFT domain through its new platform, Web3id.kr.Photo by Choong Deng Xiang on UnsplashNFT domainsNFT domains function as user-friendly addresses that simplify the cumbersome 42-character cryptocurrency wallet address. As part of this new initiative, KICA partnered with the Web3 identity platform, Unstoppable Domains, in February to facilitate the creation of NFT domains specifically for the South Korean market.An official from KICA emphasized the versatility of NFT domains, noting that a single domain can act as a distinctive username across various dApp platforms. To celebrate the debut of Web3id.kr, KICA is conducting a promotional event between August 17 and September 16. At the end of this event, 100 lucky participants, chosen randomly from those who promote Web3id on their social media accounts, will be awarded credits. These credits can then be redeemed at Unstoppable Domains for an NFT domain.From Web2 to Web3KICA, with its 24-year legacy, has been a frontrunner in offering Web2 authentication services such as public key infrastructure (PKI) and biometric solutions, emphasizing its prominence in the Know Your Customer (KYC) authentication sector. The firm is currently ramping up its efforts to stay ahead in the evolving Web3 space. A testament to this is its recent acquisition in August of Digitalzone, a digital certificate solution provider that holds a market share of over 50% in the domestic certificate sector for universities and hospitals.

Gyeonggi Content Agency Partners with The Sandbox to Foster Metaverse TalentThe Gyeonggi Content Agency (GCA) is teaming up with global metaverse platform The Sandbox to recruit participants for the “2023 Northern Gyeonggi Cultural Creation Hub: Metaverse Creator Training,” aimed at cultivating specialized experts in the field of the metaverse.Photo by GuerrillaBuzz on UnsplashA space for creators within the metaverseThe training program focuses on nurturing creators who will be active in The Sandbox Metaverse platform. Participants will be trained in The Sandbox’s metaverse content creation tools, namely VoxEdit and Game Maker.The Sandbox also plans to allow anyone and everyone to publish and offer the content they create in the LAND — the platform’s virtual real estate space for interacting and showcasing creativity — by the end of this year.“The Northern Gyeonggi Cultural Creation Hub is a regional hub for support and entrepreneurship in design and content convergence. Through various support programs that implement education, mentoring, and startup funds, we are taking the lead in promoting a startup ecosystem with design and storytelling,” said Tack Yong-seok, director of the GCA.About the training programApplications for the program can be submitted through The Sandbox’s official Naver Cafe and the Gyeonggi Cultural Creation Hub’s online portal until August 27. The opportunity is open to anyone interested in pursuing a career as a metaverse creator.The free training course will take place over eight weeks, from September 2 to October 27, at the Northern Gyeonggi Cultural Creation Hub located in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province. Training sessions will be held every Saturday, the GCA explained.“Since 2022, we have collaborated with partners both online and offline to train over 500 creators. We will expand offline education in regions that have had relatively fewer opportunities for metaverse training,” said Cindy Lee, CEO of The Sandbox Korea.