(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kang Geon-taek = The Ministry of Science and ICT collaborated on the 'K-Metaverse' from the 10th to the 13th (local time) at the world's largest comprehensive content festival 'South by Southwest' (SXSW) held in Austin, Texas, USA. It was announced on the 11th that it would operate a pavilion and support the participation of domestic metaverse and XR (extended reality) companies.

SXSW, which started as an indie band music festival in 1987, has now established itself as an ICT (Information and Communication Technology) convergence content fair that exhibits not only music and movies, but also interactive and IT technologies. 220,000 people from 103 countries will participate in this year's event.

The Ministry of Science and ICT selects 10 companies and provides individual booths in the joint pavilion to expand exports and sales channels for promising domestic Metaverse and XR small and medium-sized businesses. We also support IR pitching (attracting corporate investment), buyer matching, and promotional activities targeting local media.

Domestic companies participating in the K-Metaverse joint pavilion include Seven Point One, AI Park, Devs United Games, JL Standard, Inventis, DIOB Studio [039840], Wide Brain, SoulX, Krispy, Tripbitoz, etc. It will showcase Metaverse and XR products and services that are fused with various technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).

Starting with SXSW 2024 (North America), the Ministry of Science and ICT plans to support the participation of about 30 promising Metaverse and XR companies in about 4 regional exhibitions, including AWE USA 202 (North America) and GITEX 2024 (Middle East). am.

In order to create practical results, the Ministry of Science and ICT added that it will provide support throughout the entire process, from strengthening prior capabilities such as customized preliminary consulting and IR training, supporting local business such as investment attraction and buyer matching, and post-management such as business agreements and export contracts.