A graphic compares shareholder return policies among major South Korean game companies including Krafton, Netmarble, Com2us and Neowiz, highlighting dividend increases and treasury share cancellations as firms seek to boost investor confidence. Graphic by Asia Today and translated by UPI
March 5 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s major game companies are rolling out more aggressive shareholder return plans, raising dividends and canceling shares as they try to strengthen investor confidence amid uncertainty over new title launches.
The gaming sector often sees sharp swings in earnings depending on whether new releases succeed. Analysts say clearer long-term payout policies can help stabilize market expectations and could support higher valuations if performance improves.
Krafton said it will spend more than 1 trillion won ($675 million) on shareholder returns through 2028, about 44% more than its previous three-year plan of 693 billion won ($468 million).
The company also plans to pay cash dividends totaling 300 billion won ($203 million) over three years, or 100 billion won ($68 million) a year. It said the payout will be structured as a capital reduction dividend for small shareholders, which can reduce tax burdens under Korean rules.
Krafton also said it will buy back more than 700 billion won ($473 million) of its own shares and cancel all of them, a move aimed at improving capital efficiency.
Netmarble said it will pay 71.8 billion won ($48.5 million) in cash dividends, or 876 won per share, roughly equal to about 30% of controlling shareholder net profit. It also plans to cancel 4.7% of shares it already holds.
Netmarble set a longer-term target of lifting its shareholder return ratio to about 40% by 2028.
Mid-sized publishers are also stepping up returns. Com2uS canceled 5.1% of shares it held earlier this year and approved a 14.8 billion won ($10.0 million) cash dividend. The company said five executives, including CEO Nam Jae-kwan, also purchased a combined 13,210 shares.
Neowiz said it plans to return 20% of consolidated operating profit to shareholders under a mid- to long-term policy. Based on 2025 results, that would amount to about 12 billion won ($8.1 million), delivered through a mix of share buybacks, share cancellations and dividends.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260306010001594