The finals of the 2027 League of Legends (LoL) World Championship—commonly known as Worlds—will take place at the Seoul Arena in Chang-dong, Dobong-gu, Seoul. This marks the return of the tournament's finals to Seoul four years after the 2023 event at Gocheok Sky Dome.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that Riot Games officially revealed Seoul as the host city for the 2027 Worlds finals during the "2026 LoL Showcase" held in New York on the 14th (local time).

Worlds is the premier global esports tournament where top professional teams from various regions compete to determine the world champion. First held in Sweden in 2011, the tournament rotates to different global regions annually. In Seoul, finals previously took place at the Sangam World Cup Stadium in 2014 and Gocheok Sky Dome in 2023.

Earlier, the Seoul Metropolitan Government submitted a hosting proposal and underwent rigorous evaluations, including on-site inspections. After being selected as the preferred negotiating city for the finals last August, the city finalized the Seoul hosting agreement through detailed discussions with Riot Games.

The upcoming tournament will be split between Seoul and Suwon. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be held at the Suwon Convention Center in Gyeonggi Province, while the grand finals will take place at Seoul Arena, a large-scale performance and cultural venue currently under construction in Chang-dong, Dobong-gu.

Seoul plans to develop the tournament into a global festival linked with the city's cultural and tourism resources. The city aims to collaborate with relevant organizations and local communities to stimulate tourism spending—such as lodging, dining, and shopping—among visitors and vitalize regional commerce in northeastern Seoul, including the Chang-dong area.

According to a study by the Korea e-Sports Association, the 2023 Worlds in Seoul generated an economic ripple effect of approximately 740 billion KRW. At the time, roughly 200,000 domestic and international visitors traveled to Seoul, resulting in estimated tourist spending of 190.6 billion KRW, media effects worth 200 billion KRW through global live broadcasts, and 21 billion KRW in direct domestic expenditures by the organizer.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to discuss detailed support measures required for hosting the event with Riot Games and proceed with follow-up procedures such as signing the official contract.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]