Sung Joo Hyun

Sung Joo Hyun was born on May 21, 1990, in Seoul, South Korea. He attended Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, where he graduated, and later completed the compulsory two-year military service required of South Korean males. His first encounter with poker came during a high school festival, where he discovered the game at a gambling booth set up by an English tutoring class. That initial spark grew into a serious passion, and he began playing more seriously in recent years, traveling to major tournaments around the world.

Hyun's first recorded tournament cash came at the 2015 World Series of Poker (WSOP). Over the next few years, he built a reputation as a skilled and aggressive player, though his early results were modest. By 2020, he had established himself as a force in both live and online poker, particularly on the international stage.

In 2020, during the live poker shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Hyun achieved a major milestone. He triumphed in a field of 2,307 entries in the WSOP Online $500 buy-in no-limit hold'em event, winning $161,898 and earning his first WSOP gold bracelet. This victory made him only the third South Korean player ever to capture a bracelet, joining Sejin Park (2019 Colossus winner) and Jiyoung Kim (2019 Ladies Event champion). The win was a dream come true for Hyun, who had long aspired to hold a bracelet.

Hyun had a spectacular start to 2021, running red hot in Las Vegas. He shipped two live events and accumulated well over half a million dollars in winnings within the first few months. In February 2021, he won the WPTDeepStacks Venetian $1,600 no-limit hold'em event, taking home $208,335. Just weeks later, he added another victory, pushing his 2021 earnings past $500,000. His impressive run put him at the forefront of the 2021 Player of the Year race, and he was later named the Global Poker Index (GPI) Asia Pacific Player of the Year.

Hyun's career is marked by several significant live tournament scores. In 2021, he also won the WPT DeepStacks Event #18 and the Wynn Spring Classic NLH Championship. In 2022, he captured titles at the WPT Bellaccio Event #5 and the PGT High Roller Series Event #36. His high roller results include an 8th-place finish in the 2023 WSOP Event #23: $50,000 High Roller, earning $182,662, and a 28th-place finish in the 2023 WSOP Event #16: $25,000 High Roller 8-Handed for $50,000. He also cashed in the 2023 WSOP Event #35: $10,000 Secret Bounty (68th, $11,876) and the 2022 WSOP Event #16: $3,000 NLH (46th, $11,180). In the 2021 WSOP Event #88: 8-Handed NLH, he finished 68th for $8,061.

Beyond live tournaments, Hyun has been active on online poker platforms. He won a WSOPC (World Series of Poker Circuit) online event during the Natural8 WSOP Super Circuit Online Series in 2021, adding to his list of accomplishments. His online alias, "Arte" or "ArtePoker," became well known in the online poker community.

Hyun is known for his aggressive and fearless style, often putting pressure on opponents with well-timed bluffs and large bets. He has a deep understanding of tournament strategy, particularly in high-pressure situations, which has allowed him to succeed in both online and live formats. His ability to adapt to different field sizes and structures has been a key factor in his consistent results.

In November 2025, Hyun joined the South Korean poker team CHEEZEE as a Team Pro, further solidifying his status as a leading figure in the Korean poker scene. He continues to compete in major events worldwide, with his latest recorded cash coming on July 11, 2026, for $5,147. As of that date, his total live earnings stand at $2,662,371 from 122 recorded cashes.

Hyun is known by the nickname "Komong" (Korean: 코몽), which originated from his online gaming ID. He also used "ArtePoker" as his YouTube channel name before changing it to "Komong." His personality is often described as humorous and straightforward, with an MBTI of ENFP. He enjoys football and StarCraft, and is a fan of the legendary esports player Lim Yo-hwan (Boxer). Hyun has appeared on Korean poker-themed variety shows such as "War of the Gods" (Season 2 and 3) and survival programs like "Bloody Game" (Season 2) and "Project Genius." In 2019, he experienced a financial low point, but he managed to bounce back and reach new heights in his career. He actively shares his poker journey through YouTube, uploading vlogs and heads-up challenge videos featuring matches against other well-known Korean poker players.