KPC Poker: Complete Guide, Schedule, and Tour History

KPC Poker Overview

The KPC Poker (formerly known as K Poker Cup and King Poker Cup) is one of the most dynamically growing live poker tournament series in South Korea , carrying forward the legacy of its former tours in a modern, unified 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 Poker 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, now unified as KPC Poker)
• Region: Asia
• Currency: KRW (South Korean Won)
• Most Iconic Venues:
  • Les A Casino (Jeju)
  • Paradise City (Incheon)

History & Prestige

KPC Poker 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. Ultimately, lifting a KPC Poker trophy now carries the combined weight, history, and elevated prestige of both former tours.

Origins & A New Era

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, a new era began as K Poker Cup and King Poker Cup officially came together under one unified brand: KPC Poker. Moving forward, the legacy names will no longer be used, with all future tournaments, announcements, and updates taking place under the KPC Poker name.

Visual Identity

Along with the new identity comes a brand-new logo, reflecting the strength, precision, and prestige of the next chapter. The new visual identity ditches traditional casino clichés for a bold, architectural aesthetic. At its core is a three-dimensional “K” constructed from intersecting lines-a design that perfectly symbolizes the two legacy tours merging into one unified powerhouse. Set against a pitch-black background, the rich metallic gold gradient and sleek, futuristic typography exude luxury, setting the tone for a premium, high-stakes tournament experience.

Growth & Records

Today, KPC Poker has become one of the region’s defining festivals. For players, this consolidation translates directly into massive value: a combined player base means significantly bigger guarantees and larger payouts across all upcoming Main Events. 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 Poker 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.
• KPC Venus Event: The series pays special attention to female players, often hosting an exclusive ladies’ tournament.

Player Experience

KPC Poker 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 & Satellites

For players looking to join the next KPC Poker festival on a budget, online satellites offer the perfect opportunity to win entry rights and travel packages for a fraction of the total cost. As major Asian poker events frequently collaborate with top online platforms, you can regularly find qualification paths through GGPoker, secure your seat via Natural8, or take advantage of promotional qualifiers on WPT Global.