St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. & Seoul, Korea (May 18^th & May 19th, 2026)

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‍– USA Esports, the nonprofit organization serving as the independent representative body for esports in the United States, today announced a strategic partnership with the Korea e-Sports Association (KeSPA), one of the world's most established and respected esports governing bodies.

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The partnership, facilitated by SXNGA and announced concurrently in Seoul, marks a significant milestone in the development of international esports cooperation and competitive pathways for American players. USA Esports President & CEO Jesse Bodony signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) alongside KeSPA President Alex Youngman Kim at KeSPA Headquarters in Seoul during his recent trip to the city and country which many consider the “birthplace of esports.”

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Under the terms of the MOU, USA Esports and KeSPA will collaborate across key areas including national team selection frameworks, delegation exchanges, youth and scholastic esports pathways, high-performance coaching and officials training, competition operations, and general knowledge sharing across organizations.

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"We see this partnership as a true exchange," said Bodony. "KeSPA has decades of experience building infrastructure and operating as a national governing body, and we're eager to learn from that model. At the same time, the United States has developed one of the most robust scholastic esports ecosystems in the world, and we're excited to share those practices with our Korean counterparts. This is about both sides growing together."

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Said Alex Youngman Kim, the president of KeSPA: "We are delighted to establish a strategic partnership with USA Esports. I am confident that this collaboration will serve as a prime example of a complementary partnership within the esports industry. For KeSPA in particular, this alliance is deeply meaningful as it provides additional momentum for the expansion of scholastic esports—a key initiative included in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s long-term development plan and a project KeSPA is pursuing with full dedication. We look forward to your interest and support as our two representative organizations unveil various collaborative models together.”

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For American esports athletes, the partnership opens doors that have not previously existed at an institutional level. Players, coaches, and officials will have access to cross-border training opportunities, exposure to international competition standards, and direct engagement with one of the most deeply rooted esports cultures in the world.

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A 12-month roadmap will guide the collaboration, with early priorities focused on launching pilot programs that demonstrate mutual value and establish a foundation for long-term cooperation between the two nations' esports ecosystems.

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About USA Esports

USA Esports is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established to serve as an independent, sustainable representative body for esports in the United States. USA Esports works collaboratively with stakeholders to advance the full pipeline of esports competition in the United States. In November, USA Esports will field 16 teams and hundreds of players representing the United States at the Esports Nations Cup.

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About KeSPA

The Korea e-Sports Association (KeSPA) is an organization authorized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and an associate member of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, established on February 29, 2000, to foster a healthy leisure culture for esports, activate domestic infrastructure and international exchange, and promote the rights and interests of esports players and teams.

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To achieve these goals, the association hosts various leagues, including Asian e-sports competitions, the KeSPA Cup, the Republic of Korea Esports League, the LCK Challengers League, the LCK Academy Series, the Esports University League, national middle and high school tournaments, and amateur esports competitions.

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Furthermore, it carries out various initiatives such as dispatching national e-sports teams, operating the Esports Hall of Fame and dedicated esports facilities, acting as the official esports event selection body, and conducting Clean Esports Campaigns.

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Media Contact: contact@usaesports.us

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