The Korean company has turned its eyes to Chinese gamers as the game market in the world's most populous country is growing at a breathtaking rate. According to the Korea Game Development & Promotion Institute, the Chinese game industry posted total sales of no more than 11.34 billion yuan last year, but it grew a whopping 59.1 percent from the previous year. It is estimated that sales will reach some 26.23 billion yuan (W3.7 trillion, US$1=W1,009) by 2012.

SK is reportedly in talks with three or four Chinese game makers which are listed or are preparing to list on the Hong Kong stock market.

Chinese game companies have grown so much that Chinese-made games accounted for 70 percent of the local game market last year, according to a source at SK. But the recent collapse of the Chinese and Hong Kong stock markets has made mergers and acquisitions easier. "Chinese companies are much more friendly now than during the bubble," he said.

Entry into the Chinese game market will give SK a second pillar in the online content industry in that country. The Korean company stepped into China's music industry with the purchase earlier this month of a 42.2-percent stake in TR Music, the third largest record company in China.

(englishnews@chosun.com )