"It is a space where foreigners coming to Korea can communicate freely and find opportunities."
Kim Soo-hyun, CEO of Suan Carrots, introduced the community application (app) "Soo House" for foreigners in Korea. He gained considerable popularity as a creator during his university years in Japan. His experiences communicating with fans while traveling between Korea and Japan shaped the direction of his business.
"It was when K-pop and other genres were gaining global popularity. At that time, I was running a guest house and also engaged in a K-pop goods business. While exploring online business during the COVID-19 pandemic, I established a corporation and began a Korean language education-related business."
Having accumulated expertise through multiple ventures, CEO Kim attracted foreigners to "Soo House." Aimed at addressing the challenges of information sharing and communication faced by foreigners unfamiliar with Korean portals, Soo House allows them to engage with various entities.
"In Soo House, foreigners can easily obtain information necessary for living in Korea and participate in events. University students throw parties, and we also undertake projects in collaboration with foreign-friendly corporations."
Soo House has shown rapid growth since its launch in October last year. This year's projected revenue is 1.5 billion won, with 550 million won generated in the first half alone. It is receiving advertisements from franchise clinics, cosmetics companies, and entertainment sectors. Notably, many entertainment companies seek out Soo House to recruit foreigners for auditions. With about 60,000 members, the majority, 90%, are women in their 20s and 30s, and various corporations are seeking opportunities within Soo House.
"We are also developing a system for small enterprises, not just well-known brands, that allows for poster creation and recruitment post writing, and can be displayed on social media (SNS). Small enterprises often struggle with advertising settings or recruitment for trial groups, making projects difficult to undertake. We aim to solve this issue using artificial intelligence (AI) agents."
In Soo House, one can observe foreigners living in Korea communicating freely and helping each other. A person who lost a cat requests help, while a foreigner raising children alone after a divorce seeks friends. This kind of communication aligns with the values and goals pursued by Suan Carrots.
"Existing apps for foreigners residing in Korea are often designed with a Korean-centric focus, making it difficult to meet the needs of foreigners. We are creating an ecosystem where foreigners can rely on and grow while living in Korea, going beyond simple consolidation."
CEO Kim, who speaks six languages including Korean, Japanese, and English, aims to expand Soo House into areas with substantial foreign populations, including Japan and Dubai. While focusing on development and marketing, he notes that there is a global shortage of platforms for foreigners residing in those areas.
"During my time in France, I witnessed many social conflicts. I saw not only racism but also immigrants committing crimes due to inability to adapt to local conditions. Korea is also not free from the challenge of helping foreigners settle well in society. I believe that Soo House can contribute to reducing social conflicts."