Early Life
Kwon Hyuk-bin was born in South Korea in 1974. He displayed an early interest in technology and video games. After graduating from Sangsan High School, Kwon earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree in electrical engineering from Sogang University. During his time at university, he was selected for Samsung's software program.
Rise to Success
Kwon initially founded an online education company, 4CSoft, but it was unsuccessful. Undeterred, he founded Smilegate in 2002. Smilegate's breakthrough came with the release of the first-person shooter game, CrossFire, in 2007, after partnering with Tencent. CrossFire became immensely popular, and is the most played first-person shooter game in history. Kwon's leadership propelled Smilegate to become South Korea's third-largest gaming company. In 2020, he was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit for his contributions to the gaming industry.
Key Business Strategies
Kwon's success is attributed to his strategic vision and business acumen. A key strategy was partnering with Tencent to enter the Chinese high-technology market. He also implemented a holding company structure and maintained complete ownership of Smilegate Holdings. He is known for his cautious approach to external investments.
Philanthropy
Kwon Hyuk-bin established the Smilegate Foundation, which has built schools in China and Vietnam. He has donated over $5 million to build schools in Vietnam and China. In addition, he has contributed over $2 million to his alma mater, Sogang University. He also founded the Orange Planet Entrepreneurship Foundation, which supports young entrepreneurs.
