Nexon is establishing an investment-focused entity and moving in earnest to identify promising game startups.
According to the game industry on the 28th, Nexon established Nexon Partners Co., Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of Nexon Korea, at the end of last month to revitalize early-stage investment in Korea's game industry. Lee Jeong-heon, CEO of Nexon's Japan subsidiary, was appointed as the head.
Kim Han-jun, chief investment officer (CIO) of Nexon Korea, was named as an inside director. Kim, a seasoned investment professional who worked at Deutsche Bank and Macquarie and served as executive vice president in charge of investments at NCSOFT in 2021, joined Nexon Korea in 2024.
Nexon Partners also brought on Piao Yanli (Kellis Park), former vice president of Tencent, as a director. Piao, who made Nexon's "DUNGEON & FIGHTER" and Smilegate's "CrossFire" hits in the Chinese market, served as head of Tencent Korea and played a key role in the process of Korean games entering China.
A Nexon official said the company is planning to invest in companies capable of discovering and nurturing promising intellectual property (IP). However, the specific investment size and management plan of Nexon Partners were not disclosed.