Pearl Abyss Chairman Dae-il Kim Nominated for Korea Content Awards Over Crimson Desert and Black Desert’s ₩3 Trillion Revenue Impact

Pearl Abyss Chairman Dae-il Kim, the founder and leading figure behind Black Desert and Crimson Desert, has been nominated for a government award at the 2026 Korea Content Awards. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) announced a list of 30 candidates and organizations as part of its public verification process for this year’s government honors. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

The nomination comes during an important period for Pearl Abyss. Crimson Desert launched worldwide in March 2026, establishing the studio’s latest open-world action-adventure as a major part of its global portfolio. The company is also preparing its first major DLC, Charting the Unknown, which is scheduled for October 16.

Dae-il Kim Recognized for Pearl Abyss’ Global Game Development

According to the studio’s announcement, the achievements cited for Kim include Pearl Abyss’ development of Black Desert and Crimson Desert using the company’s proprietary game engine technology. The announcement also highlights approximately 3 trillion won in revenue generated through these games and their contribution to strengthening the export competitiveness of Korean games.

The recognition is particularly relevant to Crimson Desert, which launched globally on March 19, 2026. Pearl Abyss says the game was built using its proprietary BlackSpace Engine and released across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Apple Mac and Epic Games Store.

The nomination does not represent a confirmed award yet. Public feedback on the candidates is scheduled to run from September 11 through September 28, after which the government will determine the recipients and award levels.

Pearl Abyss is meanwhile continuing to expand Crimson Desert. The first DLC, Charting the Unknown, will take players beyond Pywel’s mainland and into new maritime areas, adding islands, underwater exploration, new enemies, expanded housing and management features. Pearl Abyss has confirmed that the expansion launches worldwide on October 16, giving the studio another major release milestone shortly after Kim’s nomination. 

Kim is one of several figures nominated under the Game Industry Development Merit category. Other nominees include 111% CEO Kang-an Kim and Netmarble Neo Director Sung-keon Jin, reflecting the Korean government’s broader recognition of developers and executives contributing to the country’s game industry.