XLGames’ Moonlight Sculptor nabbed the prime minister’s accolade and a 5 million won prize.

The culture minister’s accolade went to four games: Cherry Bug’s Blade and Soul Revolution, Funnypaw’s Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross, Netmarble N2’s Koongya Catch Mind and Krafton’s Mistover.

Lost Ark took the all streams of technology and innovation award encompassing scenario, sound, graphics and character. The sixth prize it was recognized for was the domestic popularity award.

Best programmer and best designer awards went to AIX Lab’s Shin Jeong-mo and Jeong Won-yong, respectively.

Riot Games Korea was awarded for its social contribution.

Smilegate Entertainment’s FOCUS on YOU won the next-generation game contents award.

Game business innovation award went to Pearl Abyss’ console game business team leader Jeon Gwang-bae.

The start-up award went to Moai Games, the company behind the development of Nexon’s Traha. Moai Games took home 2 million won prize money.

The independent game award went to Team Tapas' Warrior Restaurant. 

The best firm for dutiful execution of autonomous regulations was Takeone, which developed Netmarble’s BTS World.

The good game award went to BTS World.

A total of 20 awards were given across 13 categories.

The selections were selected by an expert evaluation committee (60 percent), as well as industry personnel (20 percent) and online votes (20 percent), the Korea Association of Games Industry explained.

The 2019 Korea Game Awards took place on Wednesday, on the eve of Korea’s biggest annual game exhibition G-Star.

G-Star 2019 will take place from Thursday through weekend in Busan at the Bexco exhibition hall.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)