Kwon Hyuk-bin
Kwon Hyuk-bin | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1974 South Korea |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist |
| Known for | Founder of Smilegate |
Kwon Hyuk-bin (; born 1974) is a prominent South Korean entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. He is a billionaire who founded Smilegate in 2002, which has grown to become the third-largest gaming enterprise in South Korea. Smilegate is known for creating hit games like Crossfire and Lost Ark. Among these, Crossfire holds the distinction of being the most widely played first-person shooter worldwide.
Within South Korea's affluent circles, Kwon is counted among the top wealth holders. As of April 2025, Forbes valued his fortune at approximately US$2.55 billion, placing him 13th among the nation's richest individuals.
Education and career
Kwon earned a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Sogang University. Following an unsuccessful attempt with an educational startup named 4Csof, he opted to turn down a software engineering position at Samsung to dedicate himself to game development. He also formed a strategic alliance with Tencent to facilitate entry into the Chinese technology sector.
Philanthropy
Kwon oversees three charitable organizations: Hope Studio, which emphasizes social impact; Orange Planet Entrepreneurship Foundation, aimed at nurturing young business talent; and Future Lab, which focuses on fostering creative learning opportunities for children and adolescents. His philanthropic efforts include donations exceeding $5 million toward establishing schools in Vietnam and China, as well as contributions surpassing $2 million to his alma mater, Sogang University.