Byung-gyu Chang: The "God of Startups" and South Korea’s Iconic Venture Investor

Byung-gyu Chang is the founder and Chairman of KRAFTON, the global gaming powerhouse behind the hit title PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS. A graduate of KAIST (B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. coursework in Computer Science), he is celebrated as one of Korea's most successful serial entrepreneurs. 

Entrepreneurial Journey:

Neowiz (1997): Co-founded the internet company Neowiz, where he led groundbreaking services like SayClub and the gaming portal Pmang, expanding the company’s reach into the burgeoning online gaming market.
1noon (First Snow, 2005): Founded the search engine startup 1noon, which was later acquired by NHN (Naver) for 35 billion KRW ($36.5 million), marking one of the most successful early exits in the Korean startup scene.
KRAFTON (2007–Present): Established Bluehole Studio (renamed KRAFTON in 2018). As Chairman, he led the company to global success, achieving "unicorn" status and a historic IPO that solidified his position as a global business leader.

Investment & Public Service:
In 2007, he co-founded BonAngels Venture Partners, a pioneering early-stage venture capital firm. As CEO and advisor, he has invested in and mentored over 100 startups, earning him the title "God of Startups" for his role in fostering the next generation of Korean entrepreneurs.

Beyond the private sector, Chang served as the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (2017–2020). In this cabinet-level role, he was a key architect of national policy, advocating for deregulation and government support to vitalize the startup ecosystem and enhance Korea's competitiveness in AI and data.