Nexon founder Kim Jung-ju dies at 54

Kim Jung-ju, the founder of global gaming giant Nexon Co. died in late February. He was 54.

NXC Corp., the holding company of Nexon, announced on Tuesday that Kim passed away in Hawaii. “Please excuse us that we can’t explain the details of Kim’s death as his family members are deep with grief,” the holding firm stated. “The late founder had been receiving treatment for depression, and we are sad that this worsened recently,” the company added.

Born in 1968, Kim studied computer science at Seoul National University and graduate school of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and founded Nexon in 1994. The company has grown into one of the largest gaming developers in the world, with hit online games including MapleStory, KartRider, Sudden Attack, Dungeon Fighter and others.

He resigned from the chief executive position at NXC last July. Kim was replaced by Lee Jae-kyo who was serving as NXC’s managing director of the brand and communications department. “I’ve held the CEO position of NXC for 16 years since the creation of Nexon’s holding company. Now is the time to assign a capable successor,” Kim said at the time.

Last December, Forbes Asia featured Kim among 15 philanthropists in the Asia-Pacific region. According to the magazine, Kim donated a total of 6.3 billion won ($5.2 million) to two children's hospitals in Korea. “Since its foundation, Nexon has been able to grow thanks to the great love and interest it has received from children and teenagers. For the past 10 years, I have been looking for ways to help in the rehabilitation and treatment of children with disabilities in Korea," he stated at the time.

Write to Chang Jae Yoo at yoocool@hankyung.com
Jihyun Kim edited this article.