Bang Jun-hyuk’s Netmarble stake will rise to 38.34% in Tencent-linked share deal

Bang Jun-hyuk, Netmarble’s founder and chairman, has agreed to purchase 11.15 million shares from Tencent affiliate Han River Investment in a ₩374 billion (about $270 million) transaction. The block represents 13.41% of Netmarble, and the deal is scheduled to close through an after-hours block trade on September 21 at ₩33,538 per share. 681011

The proposed transaction would materially change who controls the South Korean game publisher. Bang’s stake would increase from 24.93% to 38.34%, while Han River Investment’s holding would fall from 18.11% to approximately 4.7%. 3810

What Bang is buying—and why it matters

Han River Investment is selling most of its Netmarble position, and Bang will take the shares directly rather than allowing the block to enter the open market. Netmarble said the move is intended to pre-empt market uncertainty that could result from a large volume of shares being released at once. 3512

In market terms, that potential supply is often described as an overhang: investors may anticipate further selling, which can weigh on a stock even before the shares are actually sold. By arranging a private block transaction, Bang removes much of that immediate disposal risk while consolidating his position as Netmarble’s largest shareholder. 1418

The agreed price of ₩33,538 per share includes a discount associated with a block trade compared with Netmarble’s average market price during the month before negotiations. 914

How ownership changes after the deal

Shareholder	Before the transaction	After the transaction
Bang Jun-hyuk	24.93%	38.34%
Han River Investment, a Tencent affiliate	18.11%	About 4.7%

The change widens the gap between Bang and the Tencent-linked shareholder and gives the founder a substantially larger direct stake in the company. The numbers describe the planned post-transaction structure; the purchase had not yet closed in the reports announcing the agreement. 6810

What happens to Netmarble’s Tencent partnership?

Netmarble has said the strategic partnership with Tencent will remain unchanged despite Tencent’s much smaller equity position. That means the transaction should not automatically be read as an end to the commercial relationship. 468

The more precise interpretation is that Tencent’s ownership and potential governance influence will decline, while the company says its strategic cooperation will continue. The sources provided do not establish that the deal will change any particular game, distribution arrangement, or operating agreement.

How the deal fits Bang’s leadership at Netmarble

Bang is identified in company coverage as Netmarble’s founder and chairman, as well as chairman of Coway. His increased stake therefore reinforces the role he already holds at the gaming company while also bringing the ownership structure closer to founder control. 367

Netmarble’s broader corporate history includes its expansion beyond games through the acquisition of a controlling interest in Coway, a home-appliance rental company. Reuters reported in 2019 that Netmarble had been selected as the preferred bidder for a 25% interest in Woongjin Coway. 17

What the deal says about Netmarble’s share price

The available reports support a conclusion about potential pressure, not a definitive claim about Netmarble’s subsequent share-price performance. Tencent’s proposed disposal of more than 10% of Netmarble could have created a large amount of sell-side supply; Bang’s direct purchase is intended to reduce that overhang. 1218

The block-trade discount also shows that the agreed price was negotiated for a large private transfer rather than set by an ordinary open-market purchase. That discount should not, by itself, be treated as a forecast of where Netmarble’s shares will trade after completion. 914

Bottom line

Bang Jun-hyuk is set to spend ₩374 billion on 13.41% of Netmarble, raising his ownership to 38.34% and reducing Tencent affiliate Han River Investment’s stake to about 4.7%. The immediate purpose is to absorb Tencent’s block sale and limit market uncertainty, while the strategic partnership between Netmarble and Tencent is expected to continue. 6810