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In the world , as of 18 Sep 2025
Chang Byung-gyu

Chang Byung-gyu

C. Byung-gyu
$1.01 B ₹ 9,345 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #3113 Ranking as of 18 Sep 2025 By Forbes

More on Chang Byung-gyu

Gender

Male

Age

53Y

Country

South Korea

Born On

January, 1973

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Married

Children

Unknown

Education

KAIST - Master Of Science

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Video Games)

Primary Organization

Krafton

Titles

Founder & Chairman

Sources of Wealth

Krafton

Industry

Gaming, Technology, Investments

About Chang Byung-gyu


C hang Byung-gyu is a highly successful South Korean serial entrepreneur and investor, best known as the founder of the video game giant Krafton. A veteran of the Korean tech scene, Chang had already founded several successful tech companies and a venture capital firm before embarking on the venture that would make him a multi-billionaire. He founded Bluehole Studio (which later became the core of Krafton) in 2007.

The company's fortunes were transformed with the 2017 release of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), a battle royale game that became a global cultural and commercial phenomenon, selling tens of millions of copies and popularizing an entire genre of gaming. As the chairman of the board of Krafton, Chang oversaw the company's explosive growth and its massive initial public offering in 2021, one of the largest ever in South Korea. He is a highly respected figure in the country's startup ecosystem, known for his ability to identify and scale disruptive ideas.

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Quick Reads


  • Founder and chairman of the South Korean video game company Krafton.
  • Krafton is the parent company of the studio that developed the hit game PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).
  • PUBG became a massive global success and one of the best-selling games of all time.
  • A serial entrepreneur, he also founded the search engine First Snow, which he sold to Naver.
  • Took Krafton public in a multi-billion dollar IPO in 2021.

Early Life and Background


Chang Byung-gyu is a South Korean business executive, investor, and self-made billionaire, best known as the founder and Chairman of Krafton, the video game publishing and holding company famous for the global sensation PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG). Chang's background is one of elite academic and technical rigor: he attended Daegu Science High School, graduating early, and enrolled at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology).

He earned a Bachelor's, Master's, and ultimately a PhD in Computer Science from KAIST, solidifying his foundation in deep technology. This elite technical training, combined with his early entrepreneurial zeal, positioned him to become a serial founder and a national leader in South Korea's transition to the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Career Journey of Chang Byung-gyu


Chang Byung-gyu's career is a continuous stream of successful tech ventures. In 1997, he co-founded Neowiz, a holding company, and served as its Chief Technology Officer (CTO). After leaving Neowiz in 2005, he founded a search engine startup, First Snow, which he successfully sold to Naver Corporation in 2006 for ₩35 billion won ($31 million), securing his initial wealth.

His defining move came in 2007 when he founded Bluehole Studio (later renamed Krafton), a video game developer. In 2017, the studio released PUBG, which became a global phenomenon and a massive financial success. Chang restructured the company, establishing Krafton as the holding company in 2018. Simultaneously, he served as the first and second Chairman of South Korea's Presidential Committee on the 4th Industrial Revolution (2017–2020), leveraging his tech expertise to guide national policy. His success cemented his status as a gaming billionaire and an influential figure in national technology strategy.

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Chang Byung-gyu's Timeline


1997:

Co-founds Neowiz (First Venture).

2006:

Sells his search engine startup First Snow to Naver Corporation (First Exit).

2007 (March):

Founds Bluehole Studio (later Krafton) (Founding).

2017:

PUBG achieves global phenomenon status (Market Apex).

2017–2020:

Serves as Chairman of the Presidential Committee on the 4th Industrial Revolution (Political/Civic Role).

2018 (November):

Establishes Krafton as the holding company for Bluehole (Corporate Structuring).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Chang Byung-gyu's wealth is rooted in his founding equity and continued leadership of the publicly listed gaming giant, Krafton (KRX: 259960), and his investment firm.

  • Krafton (Founder & Chairman): The core asset, a video game publishing and holding company famous for the global hit PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG). The company's success is built on massive global gaming revenue.
  • Neowiz (Co-founder & Former CTO): His first successful tech venture.
  • First Snow (Founder): A search engine startup successfully sold to Naver Corporation.
  • BonAngels (Founder): A venture capital firm he founded in 2012, which invests in early-stage Korean tech startups.
  • Political Role: His chairmanship of the Presidential Committee on the 4th Industrial Revolution positioned him as a national thought leader.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


Chang Byung-gyu's social impact is massive and cultural, stemming from Krafton's dominance in global gaming and the economic activity generated by the PUBG phenomenon. His career is a testament to the profitability of deep-tech expertise applied to the entertainment sector.

His civic contributions, serving as Chairman of the Presidential Committee, focused on proposing industrial innovation plans for the South Korean government, structurally contributing to national technology policy. His philanthropy, channeled through his venture firm BonAngels, supports the next generation of Korean tech entrepreneurs.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Chang Byung-gyu maintains the highly professional and intellectual style of a South Korean tech executive and academic. His attire is consistently formal, favoring tailored suits for corporate and political engagements. His aesthetic reflects his status as a deep-tech visionary who successfully navigated both the gaming industry and national governance.

Residing in Seoul, his luxury is the profound financial security and influence derived from commanding a multi-billion dollar, globally dominant gaming company. His life is defined by his commitment to technical innovation and his unique role in linking the technology sector to national industrial strategy.

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Quotes and Philosophy


No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He is the founder and Chairman of Krafton, the company behind the global hit game PUBG.
  • He holds a PhD in Computer Science from KAIST.
  • He was the Chairman of South Korea's Presidential Committee on the 4th Industrial Revolution.
  • He successfully sold his search engine startup, First Snow, to Naver Corporation.
  • He is the founder of the venture capital firm BonAngels.
  • He co-founded Neowiz, his first major tech venture.
  • PUBG became a cultural phenomenon due to its pioneering battle royale format.

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Sources & References


This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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