John Kwag

Current

Associate Publishing (External) Producer at Webzen Inc.
Global Brand Team, Launch Group, Manager at Webzen Inc.

Past

Investor Relations Team Leader/Global Service Project Manager at Freechal Inc.
Consultant (Freelance), Global Business Development at YSK Media
Manager, Global Team/International Marketing Team at Joymax Co., Ltd.

Ibyeong (E-2) at ROK Army, 3rd Army, 103rd Infantry Brigade
Co-Founder, Program Coordinator at English Experience Ltd.
Archivst at Space Group

see less...

3 more...

Education

Sogang University
Bates College
Seoul International School

see less...

Recommended

1 person has recommended John

Connections

73 connections

Industry

Internet

Websites

John Kwag’s Summary

**Preface: Before I get to profilespeak....**

After your present an idea and I have been able to analyze it, crosscheck it with available data, and then consulting with a combination of my gut and data..I will tell you no when everyone tells you yes. I will outline alternatives and contingencies when everyone tells you how genius you are. I will not give you optimistic timetables but realistic milestones. I will plan, strategize, and try things out when everyone else just hopes it will be all right. I will be passionate and be accountable when other people try to avoid ownership and responsibility.

I will tell you yes too when everyone is doubtful, disdainful, or afraid. I will outline solutions when everyone tells you its unsolvable. I will work hard to get it right the first time but keep working at it when it isn't. I can see cognitive jumps for the wonders they are when everyone else just sees empty space.

I am a team player. But not a slave to the team.

** We return you to your regularly scheduled profile summary**

EXPERIENCED ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT & MEDIA PROFESSIONAL
Very experienced in starting up and developing globally focused services, teams, and enterprises from nothing all the way to profit.
Background includes extensive international and cross-cultural exposure in personal background, education, and career.

Responsibilities have included:

- Entreperenurial capital strategy (incubation, VC, etc.)
- Serial Localization of services
- B2C, B2B Marketing and PR
- Consumer Financial backend system setup and management
- MMORPG operations and community management
- Online Media Platform Design
- Global project management
- Online entertainment & media market research
- Military/Civil Service training and squad management

I can be contacted by e-mail at: johnnyprozac@gmail.com

John Kwag’s Specialties:

International project management, international business development, Online media development, MMORPG operations, Game Marketing, System Integration, Internet Platform design, Online Media & Communities, Entreprenurial capital strategy, Online service localization, inter-departmental project coordination, Serially Local product/service planning. Venture Capital funding strategy, Online market research

John Kwag’s Experience

Associate Publishing (External) Producer

Webzen Inc.

(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; Computer Games industry)

April 2008 — Present (4 months)

In addition to my previous responsibilites I am now also working as part of the Publishing Producer team responsible for many of Webzen's externally developed projects. We evangelize, monitor, integrate, and liason on many different aspects of the publisher-developer relationship both internally and externally.

My PPD duties are currently focused on Red 5's upcoming game.
Global Brand Team, Launch Group, Manager

Webzen Inc.

(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; Computer Games industry)

November 2007 — Present (9 months)

- Responsible for overall launch marketing campaigns for Webzen’s games with Real Time Worlds and Red 5 Studios. Also handled benchmarking, sourcing, RFPs, vendor relations, and launch event planning
- Collaborated on formulation of appropriately localized business models, necessary service infrastructure, and public relations strategies.
- Main contact point for business partners such as Massive (in-game advertising) and Nvidia (graphics hardware).
Investor Relations Team Leader/Global Service Project Manager

Freechal Inc.

(Public Company; 201-500 employees; Internet industry)

January 2007 — October 2007 (10 months)

I was responsible for strategy, implementation, and oversight in regards to Freechal Inc's current venture funding drive. I was also responsible for compliance, information dispersal and strategy if and when Freechal Inc.decided to go public.

I also pushed for and developed from the conceptual stage a global version of the online personal media platform that Freechal offers domestically. I oversaw the planning, marketing, operational backend and deployment of Freechal's global platform in addition to my IR duties.
Consultant (Freelance), Global Business Development

YSK Media

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Media Production industry)

October 2006 — May 2007 (8 months)

I was a freelance Business development point for YSK Media which is currently a Master Content Provider for Samsung Electronics mobile phones. YSK is also involved with various other media related services such as Entertainment Marketing services, media investments, embedded content producer, joint venture broker and digital media production.
Manager, Global Team/International Marketing Team

Joymax Co., Ltd.

(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Computer Games industry)

December 2005 — January 2007 (1 year 2 months)

Was responsible for all aspects of the global operations of Joymax's MMO , Silkroad Online. From operations, to B2B licenses and contacts, to backend infrastructure and support services, to marketing, and finally localization efforts.
Ibyeong (E-2)

ROK Army, 3rd Army, 103rd Infantry Brigade

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Military industry)

February 2003 — April 2005 (2 years 3 months)

I was responsible for a platoon of 10+ subordinates in regards to work/leave scheduling, disciplinary action/rewards, maintenance of facilities and supplies, and training.
Co-Founder, Program Coordinator

English Experience Ltd.

(Partnership; 1-10 employees; E-Learning industry)

August 1998 — September 1999 (1 year 2 months)

This was a startup, began in association with Arirang TV's business development arm, which I and six others began on the premise that the best way to learn the language would be through experiential methods which would place students in weekend "situation camps" offline which would utilize the material taught online.

The belief was that English would be learned faster and easier if it was not the main point of every lesson but rather a tool to achieve another goal.The target market demographic was college students and professionals.

I was responsible for the overall concept and program structure. I also sourced locations and online deployment methods in addition to these duties. I also was responsible for business plan preparation, contacting, meeting and presenting to interested sources of funding.
Archivst

Space Group

(Partnership; 1001-5000 employees; Architecture & Planning industry)

June 1998 — September 1998 (4 months)

I helped develop archival procedures, systems, and databases for which all relevant material involved with resources for the projects current and past could be stored and retrieved easily.

John Kwag’s Education

Sogang University

BA, English Literature, 1999 — 2005

Transferred from Bates College in 1999 after having done freelance work in 1998.

Was drafted into the ROK military from 2003 to 2005, and thus was on leave from Sogang University from the end of 2002 to 2005.

Activities and Societies:

President/Director: Sogang English Drama,
Sogang Univ. Student Representative: ACUCA/ASEACCU Conferences
Bates College

Transferred, International Relations, Cultural Studies, Theater, 1995 — 1998

Activities and Societies:

President, Sangai Asia (Asian Students Association),
Northeast Chairman, Korean American Information Network (KIN),
Treasurer, International Club,
DJ, WRBC Bates College Radio
Seoul International School

1989 — 1995

Additional Information

John Kwag’s Websites:

John Kwag’s Interests:

Venture Capital, International Corporate Law, custom PC builds, Information Systems and Networks, Collaborative Psychology, Media Studies (Memetic, Cross cultural), Wireless Technology, PC construction and modification, Violin, PC/Console Games, Performance Sedans