K Poker Cup: Everything You Need to Know – Schedule, Venues & History

The K Poker Cup (often referred to as KPC) is one of the most dynamically growing live poker tournament series in South Korea , carrying forward the legacy of the former Korea Poker Cup in a modern format. The series primarily targets players from the Asian region, attracting massive fields from China, Japan , Taiwan , and the host nation, South Korea , thanks to excellent structures and luxury casino venues. Whether for recreational players or experienced pros, KPC tournaments offer an international standard gaming experience at accessible buy-ins, making them an ideal destination for poker tourism.

At a Glance

• Founded: 2018 (originally as Korea Poker Cup)
• Region: Asia
• Currency: KRW (South Korean Won)
• Most Iconic Venues:
  • Les A Casino (Jeju)
  • Paradise City (Incheon)

History & Prestige

The K Poker Cup has rapidly evolved from a local favorite into a must-play series on the Asian poker circuit, respected for its professional organization and luxurious settings. Its reputation is built on consistent growth, record-breaking prize pools, and its ability to attract a vibrant mix of top-tier pros and enthusiastic amateurs from across the continent.

Origins

The roots of the series go back to the Korea Poker Cup, which began serving the growing Korean poker market years ago, laying the foundation for live poker culture on the peninsula. Recently, the brand was refreshed as K Poker Cup (KPC) to appeal to an even wider international audience and to unify the tournament calendar in the region, setting a new standard for local events.

Growth & Records

Today, KPC has become one of the region’s defining festivals, continuously breaking previous attendance records. The popularity of the series is well illustrated by the fact that Main Event fields regularly exceed 1,000 entries; for example, at the April 2025 stop, the main tournament set a record with 1,228 entries, nearly doubling the prize pool compared to the guarantee. A unique feature of the festival is that, alongside local Korean players, it attracts a large number of entrants from Taiwan and Japan , resulting in a highly diverse and action-packed field.

Events & Structure

Each festival schedule is carefully crafted to provide non-stop action over the course of a week or more, ensuring that every type of player finds a game that suits their style. Players can expect a diverse range of formats including No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha, with buy-ins designed to suit both recreational players looking for fun and high rollers seeking massive payouts.

Flagship Events

The backbone of the KPC schedule is the Main Event, which typically starts with a buy-in around 1,000,000 – 1,300,000 KRW and offers a multi-day structure for players. However, the organizers also ensure variety, so everyone can find something in the schedule, whether it be the highest stakes or entertaining side events:

• Jeju Open Mystery Bounty: The exciting bounty format offering huge instant prizes for eliminating opponents.
• Single Day High Roller: A favorite one-day tournament for wealthier players and pros, featuring higher stakes and a faster pace.
• Ladies Event: The series pays special attention to female players, often hosting an exclusive tournament under the name KPC Venus Event.

Player Experience

The K Poker Cup is famous for its “soft” fields compared to major international series (e.g., EPT ), thanks to the many recreational Asian players who play primarily for fun. Blind structures are generally deepstack, giving players room for post-flop play, preventing the tournament from becoming an “all-in fest” in the early stages.

Online Qualification

Want to qualify for the next K Poker Cup or other major Asian tournaments? Through online satellites, you can win entry rights and travel packages for a fraction of the total cost, allowing you to embark on the adventure with less risk. You can regularly find such qualification opportunities at the following partner rooms:

• GGPoker: Register & Bonus
• WPT Global: Register & Bonus
• Natural8: Register & Bonus

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