NHN achieved its highest quarterly performance to date, driven by stable growth in its gaming and payment sectors, along with the expansion of its artificial intelligence (AI) graphics processing unit (GPU) business. The company has transitioned to a structure where all core businesses—gaming, payments, and technology—contribute evenly to profits, reducing reliance on specific sectors or temporary factors.
On August 11, NHN reported consolidated revenue of 757.9 billion won and an operating profit of 57.9 billion won for the second quarter of 2026. These figures represent increases of 25.3% and 164.1%, respectively, compared to the same period last year, marking the highest quarterly results in the company's history.
To enhance profitability, NHN has been focusing on business restructuring and cost control. The growth of its existing gaming and payment businesses, combined with the success of its AI GPU sector, has significantly improved profitability. NHN CEO Jung Woo-jin stated, “This second-quarter performance is the first quarter where the results of management efficiency and cost control, along with the performance of key businesses, have been confirmed as profits. We aim to use this as a starting point for growth in the second half of the year.”
In the second quarter, revenue from the gaming sector rose by 21.5% year-on-year to 139.6 billion won. Revenue from web board games increased by 15% due to changes in regulatory environments and the growth of offline tournaments for 'Hangame Royal Hold'em.' Overall revenue from mobile games in Japan also grew by 47.2% compared to the previous year.
The payment sector reported revenue of 394 billion won, a 27.3% increase from the same period last year. NHN KCP saw a 34% rise in transaction volume and a 27.5% increase in revenue due to the influx of new large merchants.
The AI GPU business has emerged as a new growth driver for NHN. Revenue from the technology sector reached 159.8 billion won, marking a 52.9% increase year-on-year, the highest growth rate among all business segments. With the launch of NVIDIA B200-based GPU services in the Yangpyeong region, NHN Cloud's revenue surged by 85.3%. The company is currently discussing new long-term contracts for remaining GPU capacity to further expand revenue.
In response to increasing GPU demand, NHN plans to secure at least 30MW of additional AI data center capacity by the second half of 2027, which is comparable to the combined capacity of its current data centers in Yangpyeong, Pangyo, and Gwangju.
Management efficiency has also supported profitability improvements. Operating expenses for the second quarter increased by 20.1% year-on-year to 700 billion won, which is lower than the 25.3% revenue growth rate. Advertising expenses decreased by 25.5% from the previous quarter to 17.5 billion won due to reduced marketing costs for web board games and some new titles.
NHN plans to expand its global business, focusing on its gaming and AI GPU sectors. In gaming, the company will continue to introduce new titles, particularly in the Japanese market, where it aims to maintain growth. In September, NHN will showcase new titles, including 'Puchipoyong of the Fantasy World,' at the Tokyo Game Show.
In the technology sector, NHN is preparing GPU services for global customers by securing a data center in Japan. Currently, AI GPU revenue is primarily generated from the Yangpyeong region, but the company plans to expand its GPU services to global clients by establishing additional data centers in Japan.
Kim Dong-hoon, CEO of NHN Cloud, noted, “Recently, there has been an increase in GPU demand from overseas companies, and we plan to finalize contracts with some clients soon.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.