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ePopSoft

Category: AI in Education

An AI-powered language learning platform that optimizes vocabulary acquisition through gamified design and a proprietary 'human deep-learning' review system based on individual memory patterns. ePopSoft was founded in 2018. The company is led by Woo-jun Kim. Based in Seoul, South Korea. Team size: 70-100. Total funding raised: ₩10.0B (~$8.5-9M). Latest round: Series A (₩10B, Jun 2021). Key investors include Atinum Investment, BonAngels Venture Partners, Aloys Ventures, NVC Partners.

Founded
2018
Headquarters
Seoul, South Korea
Team size
70-100
Total funding
₩10.0B (~$8.5-9M)

Value proposition

Maximizes learning retention by combining veteran game development expertise with adaptive AI that diagnoses user levels and manages review cycles via a personalized Spaced Repetition System (SRS).

Products and solutions

SayVocab (말해보카): Flagship AI vocabulary learning application., SayVocab Dictionary: An AI-driven dictionary that uses 'Word Sense Disambiguation' (WSD) to identify specific word meanings in context., SayVocab Class: A B2B management platform for teachers and schools to monitor student progress., SayVocab Global (ePop): Specialized versions for the Japanese, Spanish, and Chinese markets.

Unique value

Founded by the 'legendary' Nexon development team behind KartRider and Crazy Arcade, the company uniquely applies core game retention mechanics (gamification) to educational content to solve the 'boredom' hurdle in language learning.

Target customer

Individual English learners (self-improvement), K-12 students, and educational institutions (schools and private academies).

Industries served

EdTech (Education Technology), Artificial Intelligence, Mobile Software

Technology advantage

Developed 'ePop WSD,' a proprietary AI model for sentence-level word sense disambiguation, and maintains a massive proprietary database of Korean learners' vocabulary diagnostic data to refine its adaptive difficulty algorithms.

How they differentiate

ePopSoft differentiates through a 'vocabulary-first' approach using a proprietary 'AI Level Diagnosis' and a high-precision Spaced Repetition System (SRS). Unlike video-heavy competitors like Cake or casual gamification apps like Duolingo, SayVocab focuses on maximizing memory retention via 'Gamified Review Cycles' developed by legendary Nexon game developers (the team behind KartRider and Crazy Arcade).

Main competitors

Cake (Cake Corp), Duolingo, Speak (Speakeasy Labs), Santa (Riiid)

Key partnerships

FuriosaAI: Collaboration for high-speed AI inference using WarBoy NPU chips in the 'SayVocab Dictionary' service., Kakao Enterprise: Strategic use of Kakao i Cloud infrastructure for stable AI model deployment and OCR processing., Educational Institutions: Partners with public schools and private language academies for the 'SayVocab Class' B2B ecosystem.

Notable customers

SayVocab Class (B2B for schools and private academies), Partnered with FuriosaAI for NPU-based AI dictionary inference, Kakao Enterprise

Major milestones

Founded by former Nexon development leaders in Oct 2018, Selected for TIPS (Tech Incubator Program for Startup) in June 2020, Won Google Play's 'App of the Year' (Self-improvement) in 2020, Reached #1 in Education App sales on Google Play and Apple App Store (2021), Launched Japan-specific global version 'Epop' in Sep 2023, Achieved ₩22.0B annual revenue milestone in Jan 2026

Growth metrics

Reached ₩22.0B ($16.5M) in annual revenue as of early 2026; Surpassed 7 million cumulative downloads with a 1.8x year-over-year growth rate; Achieved first annual profit in 2025.

Market positioning

Leading AI-driven personalized language learning platform in South Korea; currently transitioning into a global EdTech player.

Geographic focus

South Korea (Primary), Japan (SayVocab Global/Epop), Taiwan, and Spanish-speaking markets.

Patents and IP

Registered multiple patents related to 'vocabulary learning systems based on user difficulty' and 'automated personalized testing methods.'

About Woo-jun Kim

Woo-jun Kim is a veteran product leader and developer with over 20 years of experience in the gaming and EdTech industries. He was appointed CEO of ePopSoft in April 2025, having previously served as the company's CPO (Chief Product Officer) and CTO (Chief Technology Officer) since joining in early 2019. Before his tenure at ePopSoft, he held significant leadership roles in the gaming sector, including Director of Development at Party Games, where he oversaw the hit mobile title 'I Love Coffee'. His career began at Nexon, where he became a development team lead within just two years, contributing to major titles like 'KartRider'. He is widely recognized for his expertise in applying game mechanics (gamification) to educational services.

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