[Asia Economy Reporter Buaeri] The competition among game companies to build new headquarters is in full swing as they continue to expand their presence day by day. Unlike the manufacturing industry, which is downsizing due to the recession, the gaming industry has enjoyed a boom even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a shortage of office space as the number of employees increased. For this reason, they are establishing new bases in areas such as Pangyo, Guro, and Gwacheon, dreaming of a leap forward.
NC to Build Second Headquarters on 'Prime Land' in Pangyo
NCSoft is constructing its second headquarters on the site of the Pangyo District Office in Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province. Recently, a consortium of Seongnam City and NCSoft signed an agreement regarding the sale of the site. The sale price is 837.7 billion KRW. The planned site for the Pangyo District Office is a 25,719.9㎡ public land located at 641 Sampyeong-dong, Bundang-gu. This land is considered 'prime land' as it is near Pangyo Station and equipped with surrounding convenience facilities. Since the construction of the Pangyo District Office has been delayed, the site is currently used as a temporary parking lot.
The NCSoft consortium consists of NCSoft, Samsung C&T Corporation, the Korea Local Government Officials’ Mutual Aid Association, and Mirae Asset Global Investments. The consortium structure involves NCSoft investing 50%, with the other three companies sharing the remaining 50%. According to the agreement, the consortium will invest 1.8712 trillion KRW to build a software promotion facility on this site by March 2026. The building will have 14 floors above ground, 9 floors underground, and a total floor area of 330,574㎡.
The facility will house NCSoft’s Global R&D Innovation Center and software companies. NCSoft plans to use this facility as its second headquarters.
NCSoft’s workforce has grown from 3,177 employees in 2017 to 4,115 currently, an increase of nearly 1,000 employees in three years. The current Pangyo R&D Center, NCSoft’s main office, can accommodate about 3,000 people, so the remaining employees work scattered across buildings such as the Pangyo Mirae Asset Center and Alpharium Tower.
An NCSoft representative said, "Currently, employees are scattered across several offices besides the headquarters, so we plan to use the new building as the second headquarters," adding, "The goal is to complete it by 2026."
Netmarble Establishes Base in Guro
Netmarble is ushering in a new era with its new headquarters in Guro. Netmarble is set to move into its new building in Guro-gu, Seoul, in the first quarter of this year. Netmarble’s new headquarters, 'G Valley G Square,' is a 39-story building above ground and 7 floors underground, with a total area of 180,000㎡. The space will be occupied not only by Netmarble but also by its affiliate Coway, as well as companies spanning gaming, video, animation, and webtoons, covering a wide range of IT and digital content industries.
In addition to existing office spaces, the new headquarters will include cultural facilities for local residents, such as a character park and a game museum. Notably, 70% of the site will be turned into a park to provide a resting place for local residents and office workers.
Unlike NCSoft, which is expanding its territory in Pangyo, Netmarble’s choice of Guro is tied to Chairman Bang Jun-hyuk’s personal connection to the area. He spent his childhood in Garibong-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul. Moreover, since Netmarble established itself in Guro, the business has prospered, giving the location even more special meaning. Netmarble briefly settled in Sangam in 2009 but returned to Guro in 2012 after Chairman Bang, who had stepped down for health reasons, came back. Since then, Netmarble has been thriving.
At the signing ceremony for the 'G Valley G Square Development Project,' Chairman Bang said, "I have deep feelings about contributing to the neighborhood where I grew up," adding, "We will ensure that the Netmarble headquarters becomes a mecca of advanced IT industry and also a facility that harmonizes well with the local community."
Pearl Abyss, which has established itself as a backbone of the gaming industry with hits like 'Black Desert,' is also building a new base in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. Pearl Abyss is constructing a new headquarters in Gwacheon Information Town with 15 floors above ground and 5 floors underground. Pearl Abyss’s workforce has also grown significantly, from 325 employees in 2017 to 761 currently. Currently, Pearl Abyss employees work in three rented buildings in Dongan-gu, Anyang City. Pearl Abyss plans to enhance work efficiency for its employees in the new Gwacheon headquarters, scheduled for completion in 2022.
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