Shift Up CEO and Stellar Blade director Hyung-tae Kim received a Presidential Commendation – a high-level award presented by the president of South Korea – for the development of the domestic game industry. The award was given on December 10, during the 2025 Korea Content Awards held in Seoul (source: Daum). Kim was recognized for his achievements in enhancing the country’s global competitiveness in the game industry through Shift Up, particularly with the company’s latest titles, Goddess of Victory: NIKKE and Stellar Blade.
Hosted by the country’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency, the Korea Content Awards honor individuals and groups who have contributed to the development of the content industry. Goddess of Victory: NIKKE was lauded in 2023 for its achievements in overseas expansion, while 2024’s Stellar Blade showcased the potential of Korean triple-A console games.
Upon receiving the award, Kim humbly thanked his development teams at Shift Up developers and fans. He also stated the company’s vision for its future projects, including the multiplatform title Project Spirits (which is being developed in collaboration with Yongxing Interactive and published by Level Infinite) and a Stellar Blade sequel (published by Sony Interactive Entertainment).
“This Presidential Commendation is thanks to the development team and fans who believed in and supported Shift Up… We will continue to do our utmost to further showcase the competitiveness of Korean games on the global stage.”
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