Webzen Reports 40% Drop in Operating Profit to 49.9 Billion KRW Last Year... "Will Establish Growth Drivers"

Webzen announced on the 7th that its sales (operating revenue) for last year amounted to 196.2 billion KRW, down 18.93% from the previous year. Operating profit and net profit were 49.9 billion KRW and 57.5 billion KRW, respectively, decreasing by 39.87% and 20.47%.

Sales in the fourth quarter of last year increased by 63.77% year-on-year to 70.6 billion KRW, and operating profit rose by 3.37% to 18.2 billion KRW. Net profit increased by 43.98% to 20.5 billion KRW.

Webzen stated, "Although the absence of new releases in the first half of last year caused a slight slowdown in performance during that period, the decline was offset in the second half by the release of new subculture games such as 'I Want to Become a Dark Competent!' and 'MU Monarch.'"

Webzen plans to focus on the development and release of the subculture game 'Tervis,' which it is developing in-house this year, while simultaneously expanding external investments and game publishing capabilities to diversify its gaming business.

Kim Tae-young, CEO of Webzen, said, "We are securing development capabilities by increasing both in-house development and external investments, and preparing game service schedules for each project according to our mid- to long-term business strategy. This year, as changes in game trends and business environments are expected domestically and internationally, we will quickly respond to various environmental changes and establish continuous growth drivers."