CEO Jang Hyun-guk Received 8.6 Billion KRW in the First Half... Highest Salary in the Gaming Industry

Jang Hyun-guk, CEO of Wemade

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Among domestic game company CEOs in the first half of the year, the highest-paid individual was Jang Hyun-guk, CEO of Wemade. This recognition came as Wemade hit the jackpot by investing in Lionheart Studio, the developer of "Odin: Valhalla Rising."

According to Wemade's semi-annual report on the 17th, CEO Jang Hyun-guk received a total compensation of 8.622 billion KRW, including a bonus of 8.122 billion KRW and a salary of 500 million KRW in the first half of the year. Wemade invested approximately 5 billion KRW in Lionheart Studio in 2018. In June, Wemade sold 2.99% of Lionheart Studio's shares for 118.7 billion KRW, earning a 23-fold profit over five years. Currently, Wemade holds a 4.23% stake in Lionheart Studio.

A Wemade representative explained, "The bonus of 8.122 billion KRW received by CEO Jang was paid within 10% of the performance profit based on the company's executive bonus regulations, evaluated through the investment in Lionheart Studio."

During the same period, Kim Taek-jin, CEO of NCSoft, followed with a compensation of 5.77 billion KRW. CEO Kim received a salary of 1.166 billion KRW and a bonus of 4.6 billion KRW. Compared to the 9.4 billion KRW received in the first half of last year, this is about a 64% decrease. NCSoft explained that CEO Kim's compensation this year was reviewed and decided by the compensation committee based on the continuous and successful launches of Lineage 2M and Lineage W.

The third highest-paid individual was Bae Dong-geun, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Krafton. CFO Bae received a total compensation of 4.131 billion KRW in the first half of the year, including a salary of 531 million KRW and a bonus of 3.6 billion KRW. In addition to CFO Bae, Lee Byung-wook, Director Lim Woo-yeol, and Director Yoon Jin-won also received over 2 billion KRW in compensation within Krafton during the first half of the year.

High earners in the gaming industry in the first half of this year were concentrated in NCSoft and Krafton. NCSoft's Lineage W, released in November last year, maintained top sales rankings through the first half of this year, while Krafton achieved high sales through PUBG Mobile and PUBG India, leading to related bonuses being paid.

Additionally, at NCSoft, former Senior Vice President Jung Jin-soo (2.948 billion KRW), former Vice President Woo Won-sik (2.54 billion KRW), and Senior Vice President Kim Taek-heon (2.529 billion KRW) were among the top 10 highest-paid individuals in the gaming industry in the first half of the year.