[Edaily Reporter Lee So-Hyun ] SOOP(067160)reported that its operating profit plummeted by nearly 58% compared to the same period last year, as a simultaneous slump in platform and advertising revenue in the second quarter of this year was compounded by rising costs, including payment commissions and streamer subsidies. However, revenue from its core platform business increased slightly compared to the previous quarter, and the company expects earnings to gradually recover starting in the second half of the year.

SOOP announced on the 31st that its consolidated operating profit for the second quarter of 2026 was 12.6 billion won, a 57.9% decrease from the same period last year.

Revenue stood at 103.8 billion won, down 11.2% year-over-year, while net income fell 61.1% to 8.7 billion won.

The operating profit margin fell by 13.5 percentage points, from 25.7% in the second quarter of last year to 12.2% in the second quarter of this year.

By business segment, platform revenue totaled 74.1 billion won, a 12.3% decrease from the same period last year. However, it increased by 0.1% compared to the previous quarter, marking a return to positive growth.

SOOP assessed that the platform business has passed its lowest point, citing the increase in revenue from charitable gifting compared to the previous quarter. In the second half of the year, the company plans to gradually improve platform revenue by expanding support for streamers.

Advertising revenue totaled 27.2 billion won, a 11.6% decrease from the same period last year. Platform advertising revenue stood at 2.5 billion won, down 21.4% year-over-year, while content-based advertising revenue was 12.6 billion won, a 7.8% decrease. Other advertising revenue also fell by 13.1% to 12.1 billion won.

SOOP attributed the decline in advertising revenue to short-term base effects resulting from changes in the esports schedule and projected that revenue would recover as the company enters the peak advertising season in the second half of the year.

Operating expenses for the second quarter totaled 91.2 billion won, a 5.0% increase year-over-year. Commission expenses, including broadcasting rights, rose 24.4% year-over-year to 11.4 billion won, while streamer support payments increased 29.6% to 3.3 billion won. Other expenses also rose 55.4% to 10.0 billion won.

In contrast, personnel expenses decreased by 1.5% to 30 billion won, and transaction fees fell by 7.6% to 13.4 billion won. Content production costs also dropped by 29.2% to 1.7 billion won.

SOOP stated that it had completed the recognition of one-time expenses in the second quarter and expects its operating profit margin to return to a recovery trajectory in the second half of the year. The company also explained that the one-time tax expense that affected net income was fully recognized in the second quarter.