[비즈한국] Wise Kids, a company owned by the NXC founding family, has added real estate-related businesses to its corporate objectives while simultaneously absorbing its subsidiary, NX Properties. Wise Kids is owned 50% each by Kim Jung-min (24) and Kim Jung-yoon (22), the eldest and second daughters of the late Nexon founder Kim Jung-ju. In effect, the growth of Wise Kids translates directly into financial benefits for the NXC founding family.
In the past, Wise Kids sold 3D-printed figures, smartphone cradles, and other items through a platform called "Syncy." However, the Syncy website is no longer accessible. A representative from Wise Kids stated, "We no longer sell products using 3D printing," adding, "Our current core business is investment and management consulting."
Wise Kids added investment and consulting to its business objectives in July 2024. Subsequently, in January 2025, it established a subsidiary, NXVP. NXVP is an investment firm that primarily invests in startups. In the first half of this year, it recorded 600 million won in operating revenue and a net loss of 400 million won, contributing little to Wise Kids' bottom line.
Against this backdrop, it has been confirmed that in July, Wise Kids added the following to its business objectives: real estate management and operation, real estate leasing, subleasing and sales, real estate investment and asset management, real estate planning, consulting and advisory, building and facility management, and non-residential building development, supply, and construction.
Following this, in September, it absorbed its subsidiary, NX Properties. Although NX Properties is a real estate company, it was known primarily for managing the 313 Building in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The owner of the 313 Building is NX Properties, and Wise Kids' headquarters is also located in this building.
Some speculate that Wise Kids may further expand into the real estate business. Kim Jung-min and Kim Jung-yoon invested a total of 31.9 billion won into Wise Kids this September. As of the end of last year, Wise Kids had total assets of 557 billion won and liabilities of only about 700 million won, maintaining a very stable financial structure. It is not in a position that requires external financial assistance. The absorbed company, NX Properties, also had a debt ratio of only 4.89% as of the end of last year. This is why analysts suggest that the 31.9 billion won capital injection by the Kim sisters is linked to new business ventures.
As Kim Jung-min and Kim Jung-yoon hold full ownership, the growth of Wise Kids benefits the founding family directly. As of the end of June this year, the major shareholders of NXC are Yoo Jung-hyun, Chair of the NXC Board (wife of the late founder Kim Jung-ju) at 35.74%, the Ministry of Economy and Finance at 25.68%, and Kim Jung-min and Kim Jung-yoon at 18.39% each. Should the sisters receive shares from Chair Yoo Jung-hyun in the future, Wise Kids could potentially be used as a source of funds for gift taxes.
When the NXC founding family inherited shares from the late founder Kim Jung-ju, they paid a portion of the inheritance tax in kind with NXC shares. This is why the Ministry of Economy and Finance became a second-largest shareholder. If Chair Yoo Jung-hyun gifts shares to her children in the future and pays the resulting gift tax in kind, the Ministry's stake will increase further. While the Ministry of Economy and Finance does not involve itself in NXC's management, it has been seeking to sell its stake for the past few years. If an acquirer of those shares wants to participate in management, the founding family’s control could be threatened. The growth of Wise Kids is critical for the NXC family to guard against such a scenario.
However, Wise Kids stated that it has no plans to further expand its real estate business. The aforementioned Wise Kids representative explained, "The merger was intended to enhance management efficiency. Since NX Properties was already a 100% subsidiary of Wise Kids, there is no real change in the scope of our business," adding, "You can understand it as simply continuing the real estate investment and management business previously handled by NX Properties."