The Netmarble Group labor union (the Netmarble branch of the Korean Chemical, Textile & Food Workers’ Union) has completed all introductory meetings for 2026 wage negotiations with six affiliated corporations under its umbrella. In these meetings—held from December 29 through January 7—the labor side called for wage increases that reflect both a fair sharing of performance outcomes and rising consumer prices, while management emphasized the need for financial endurance to fund new game development and cited operating losses at certain entities to explain the company’s managerial difficulties.

The six entities covered by this round of bargaining are Netmarble N2, Netmarble Nexus, Netmarble JamPot, Netmarble F&C, Netmarble Neo, and Netmarble Monster. At each introductory session, the head of the respective corporation and the union’s bargaining representatives used the meeting to confirm the overall direction for this year’s negotiations.

At the first meeting—Netmarble N2 (December 29)—CEO Kwon Min-kwan referenced the “RF” project (RF Online Next), which has recently delivered results, indicating that it will remain the company’s core focus for the time being. Kwon said RF would need to sustain the company for roughly the next two years, adding that the organization is in a position where it must hold out financially in order to develop the next game. In response, KCTFU headquarters director Ga Gwang-hyun stressed that, as the game industry has established itself as a key pillar of society and the economy, labor–management relations must likewise be formalized as a core pillar.

At Netmarble Nexus (December 30), CEO Kim Jung-min raised the need—regarding next year’s plans—to reinforce staffing for the “Reverse” project (Seven Knights Re:BIRTH) and to carry it forward as a long-term initiative. Kim spoke of the sense of responsibility tied to the success of games slated for release, emphasizing that this is an important period for the company’s continued stability and growth. Union branch chair Park Young-jun replied that building shared understanding between labor and management is the most important factor in wage negotiations, adding that he hopes these talks will lead to job stability and the company’s maturation.

On January 7, introductory meetings for four entities were held in succession. Netmarble JamPot CEO Min Hye-ra defined the session as the starting point for constructive dialogue grounded in trust and mutual respect. Branch chair Park Young-jun noted that it feels burdensome to return to wage talks again immediately after signing a wage-and-collective-agreement pact just one month earlier, but said the two sides should work together by pooling understanding and wisdom.

In particular, Netmarble F&C CEO Seo Woo-won directly addressed the subsidiary’s loss-making situation. Seo acknowledged that there are aspects in which the overall atmosphere across Netmarble has improved, but made clear that Netmarble F&C remains in the red. Expressing a strong desire to bring this situation to a close within the year, he asked for the cooperation of all members. The labor side responded that labor and management are partners, not adversaries, and that given real-world pressures such as business performance and rising prices, wage issues should be resolved through mutual understanding rather than conflict.

At Netmarble Neo, Kim Hye-ran, head of the Management Support Division, assessed 2025 as a period in which the company sustained meaningful attempts—such as launching four new titles and taking on a variety of genres. Kim added that, for these achievements not to remain a one-off but to connect to a company that continues to grow, management will also carry a profound sense of responsibility. The union side emphasized that the company’s business results must be shared with employees in a reasonable way—and that empathy and buy-in regarding that process must accompany it—stressing coexistence through ongoing communication.

Netmarble Monster CEO Kim Geon explained that this time of year is when crucial decisions are made for the company each year, and that the current discussions are likewise a very important process. Branch chair Park Young-jun said it is important to continue the growth trajectory referenced in media coverage of Netmarble, adding that the company must recognize that the people who truly sustain it are the workers on the ground.

These introductory meetings confirmed that each Netmarble Group entity is carrying managerial tasks such as continuing investment to develop new titles, breaking out of loss-making structures, and securing the sustainability of performance outcomes. As full-scale bargaining begins, a key question will be how the parties narrow the gap between management’s stated determination to overcome business crises and the union’s demands for performance sharing and wage increases that reflect inflation.

This article was translated from the original that appeared on INVEN.