You’ve probably seen the name Ihwan Kim floating around recently, especially if you’ve been deep in the trenches of Cookie Run: Kingdom or following the chaotic shifts in the South Korean creative industry. Honestly, it’s kinda rare for a "Project Director" to become a household name among fans, but Ihwan Kim isn't your typical suit-and-tie executive. He’s basically the bridge between high-concept visual storytelling and the gritty, numbers-driven world of game development.
Most people see a "Project Director" title and think of spreadsheets and quarterly earnings. That’s a mistake. With Kim, it’s always been about the vibe—a word that’s overused, sure, but he actually lives it. Whether he's navigating the massive updates for the Cookie Run universe or drawing from his roots in high-octane video production, he’s managed to maintain a weirdly specific creative thumbprint.
The Man Behind the Kingdom
Ihwan Kim is currently the Project Director (PD) for Cookie Run: Kingdom, a role that puts him at the helm of one of the most successful mobile RPGs globally. If you’ve played through the recent Beast-Yeon updates or spent way too much time pulling for Silent Salt Cookie, you’ve seen his influence. He doesn't just manage the game; he’s often the face of it during livestreams and interviews.
Back in early 2025, during the lead-up to the 3.5 Anniversary and the Silent Salt Cookie reveal, Kim became a bit of a legend in the community. Why? Because he actually listens. In an industry where developers often hide behind corporate PR statements, Kim’s presence in "Dev Now" sessions felt different. He’s the guy who confirmed Silent Salt Cookie was male—ending months of fan theories—and he’s the one who pushed for the collaboration with Shinhan Card to bring those Beast Cookie designs into the real world.
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He treats the Cookies like characters in a cinematic universe, not just digital sprites. This likely comes from his background. Before he was steering a massive gaming franchise, he was a director at GDW, a legendary Seoul-based studio.
From Snowboarding to Music Videos
This is the part that usually surprises people. Ihwan Kim didn't start in a cubicle. He was a professional snowboarder on the Korean national team. He actually dropped out of his physical education major because he was more interested in filming his friends doing tricks than studying theory.
That raw, kinetic energy from sports filming translated directly into his work with GDW. He’s the visionary behind some of the most iconic K-pop music videos of the last decade. Think about the high-speed, rhythmic editing in BTS’s "Dope" or the gritty, industrial aesthetic of "MIC Drop." That was him. He also worked on:
- Red Velvet’s "Happiness" (The vibrant, jungle-inspired debut)
- Taeyang’s "Darling" (Where he focused on emotional performance over flashy sets)
- SHINee Taemin’s "Danger" (Defining that sharp, edgy solo persona)
Kim’s philosophy has always been about movement. He famously hates still shots. He thinks they’re boring. He once said that K-pop videos rely too much on "pretty faces" sitting still, whereas he wants to see the energy of the dance and the rhythm of the edit. It’s that same "rhythm and balance" from his snowboarding days that he now applies to game design.
Why It Matters for Gaming
When you look at Cookie Run: Kingdom’s cinematic trailers, they feel more like high-budget music videos than game ads. That’s the "GDW touch." Kim brought that multi-layered storytelling to Devsisters. He understands that for a game to survive in 2026, it needs a soul. It needs layers that fans can peel back over multiple viewings—or play sessions.
The "Project Director" Controversy and the Industry Shift
Look, it hasn't all been smooth sailing. Being a Project Director in the current climate is basically like being a lightning rod for criticism. When the Cookie Run community gets upset about "power creep" or gacha rates, Kim is the one who has to stand in the line of fire.
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There’s also been a lot of confusion lately. Because "Ihwan Kim" is a relatively common name in the Korean creative scene, he’s often misidentified in news reports. Some people have confused his leadership at Devsisters with the ongoing turmoil at ADOR and HYBE involving NewJeans. Let’s be clear: while he has a background in music videos, he isn't the one caught in the legal crossfire between Min Hee-jin and Bang Si-hyuk.
However, his career does represent the larger trend we're seeing: the "Great Crossover." We’re seeing more and more film and music veterans moving into gaming. Why? Because gaming is where the money and the creative freedom are right now. Kim realized early on that you can tell a much bigger story over a three-year game update cycle than you can in a three-minute music video.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think he’s just a "creative" who got lucky with a management role. Honestly, that’s underselling it. To run a game like Cookie Run: Kingdom, you have to understand the technical limitations of mobile hardware, the psychology of gacha mechanics, and the demands of a global fanbase that speaks twenty different languages.
He’s a hybrid. He’s a guy who can talk about the "frame rate of a jump animation" in one breath and "the emotional resonance of a color palette" in the next.
Specific things he’s pushed for recently:
- Transparency: More frequent developer blogs that actually explain why certain Cookies are being nerfed or buffed.
- Cross-Media Branding: Using his GDW connections to make sure the visual quality of the game’s animation is top-tier.
- Global Sensitivity: Ensuring that the "Beast" storyline resonated with Western audiences just as much as the domestic Korean market.
How to Follow His Work
If you want to understand where the gaming industry is headed, you have to watch what people like Ihwan Kim are doing. He isn't just making games; he’s building IP.
If you're a fan or a creator, start by looking at his older GDW reels. See how he uses "rhythm, speed, and balance." Then, look at the UI/UX and the cinematic transitions in the latest Cookie Run updates. You'll see the DNA. It’s not just a game; it’s a choreographed experience.
The best way to stay updated is through the official Devsisters "Dev Now" streams. He usually appears when there's a major shift in the game's direction. Don't just listen to what he says about the new Cookies; look at how he talks about the "story world." That’s where the real insight is.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
- Study GDW’s Portfolio: Research the "GDW Studio" vimeo or website to see the cinematography that paved the way for Kim's current role.
- Analyze the Beast-Yeon Updates: Look for the specific visual cues Kim mentioned in his 2025 interviews—specifically regarding the "balance" of the Beast Cookies' designs.
- Watch the "Dev Now" Archives: Pay attention to how he handles community feedback; it’s a masterclass in modern project management.