Humans of Yonsei

What would life be like without maps? Today, we rely on mobile map apps for directions, traffic updates, and finding restaurants, making maps an indispensable part of daily life. However, digital maps have limitations. Slow updates may leave us navigating outdated environments, and two-dimensional representations often fail to convey the width of a road or the height of a building. This gap has led to growing interest in the ‘digital twin’ technology—virtual replicas of the real world that offer unparalleled precision, realism, and continuous updates. At the forefront of this cutting-edge field is alumnus Kim Jae-Seung, whose innovative work with Mobiltech is garnering global attention.

Embarking on Entrepreneurship with Self-Reliance

As a graduate of the Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Kim’s childhood interest in business laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey. Despite completing both his master’s and doctoral degrees, Kim chose to become an entrepreneur rather than a professor or researcher. Reflecting on his path, he attributes this decision to his strong desire for independence from an early age.

"I really wanted to become independent. To put it positively, I had a strong sense of self-reliance, and economic independence is a crucial part of that, isn’t it? My father was also a businessman, so the idea of starting my own business wasn’t discouraged in our household. It wasn’t so much about lofty dreams or visions; I simply wanted to earn my own living. Even during my university years, I developed and sold applications for that reason."

Kim’s venture into app development coincided with the advent of the smartphone era, marked by the release of the iPhone. Despite the unfamiliarity of app development and coding at the time, this experience significantly honed his programming skills, which later became an essential asset in his career. Interestingly, the applications he developed during this period laid the groundwork for his current business ventures.

"Looking back, it’s fascinating to think about why I started learning programming back then. My research lab focused more on mathematics than coding, and not every engineering student is proficient in programming. However, through app development, I gained coding skills and, for the first time, confidence in pursuing business opportunities. In graduate school, I worked on software utilizing LiDAR technology, which eventually led to software development. The first application I created helped users find gas stations. At the time, services like this weren’t available on major portals. The app retrieved information from the Korea National Oil Corporation’s website, displaying gas station locations and fuel prices per liter. Later, I developed an app to help users locate parking lots. These experiences were not only fun and rewarding but also closely connected to my current work, which makes them even more meaningful in retrospect."

From Drone Researcher to Autonomous Driving Startup Founder

Kim developed an application during his university years, but he soon found himself questioning whether this service could be sustained over time. Instead of continuously creating new projects to expand his portfolio, he believed the future lay in developing a single competitive item capable of sustained growth. After much contemplation, he chose to prioritize academics over business and joined a research lab where he could study autonomous driving and robotics—fields he had always been interested in. It was during his doctoral studies that he was able to solidify his business idea by researching technologies that enabled drones to maintain horizontal flight. At that time, drone development was still in its infancy. While the idea of delivering packages with drones was gaining attention, achieving stable flight for drones was still a significant challenge. His research focused on enabling drones to autonomously travel from one point to another, avoiding obstacles along the way.

“For a drone to safely reach its destination, it needs to navigate without colliding with obstacles, much like how cars require navigation systems. So, I equipped drones with LiDAR to scan their surroundings in 3D, enabling them to understand their environment and fly along designated routes. This involved research into nonlinear flight and 3D mapping. People around me, impressed by the results of my research, strongly encouraged me to start a business. Having only ever been in a research lab, I didn’t know much about companies or corporate life. I wondered how I could start a business and even considered working at a company first to gain experience.”

After careful consideration, Kim founded his startup in the middle of his doctoral program, driven by his confidence in his business idea. At the time, there was only one company producing LiDAR. Kim had been purchasing LiDAR from this company for his research and, through this connection, became familiar with various companies in the automotive and mapping service industries that utilized LiDAR. These companies highly regarded his technical expertise and actively encouraged him to start his own business. Receiving formal recognition from the industry bolstered his confidence. Despite being offered a scholarship and a guaranteed position at a major corporation after graduation, he chose to pursue a bold challenge over a stable future. During his doctoral studies, Kim conducted research on nonlinear drone control and 3D mapping, ultimately using his research as the foundation for his startup.

A Digital Twin with Differentiated Precision and Rapid Updates

In 2017, Kim founded Mobiltech. Fortunately, the company secured investments from related firms early on, enabling the business to expand. Kim modestly attributes his success to good timing and luck, but it ultimately came down to his technical expertise and ability to anticipate future trends.

Though his initial research began with drones, strict regulations in the field led him to take an interest in autonomous driving 3D mapping. During the early stages of his business, Mobiltech developed and sold high-precision LiDAR scanners. Using the scanners already offered as part of its services, Mobiltech provided real-time, updated 3D precision maps to automotive companies and other businesses. Additionally, the company collected spatial data through LiDAR sensors and mobile mapping system equipment to create high-resolution, 3D precision maps. Fortunately, the timing allowed for successful investment rounds. Collaborating with Phantom AI, a U.S.-based autonomous driving startup, Mobiltech enhanced its technology and refined its 3D mapping precision. Leveraging AI cloud technology, the company ensured that environmental changes—such as road conditions and topographical features—were continually updated, delivering the most precise information. This data proved essential for the stable operation of autonomous robots and self-driving vehicles. With strategic investment acquisition and favorable market feedback, Mobiltech stabilized its autonomous driving business and achieved sustainable growth. The competitive edge of Mobiltech's service lies in its "real-time updates," ensuring that users receive the most current information. By utilizing data and AI, the company automatically detects and updates spatial changes. This process, conducted daily through vehicle operations, identifies even minute changes with high accuracy.

Not content to rest on his laurels, Kim sought new opportunities for business growth. He ventured into the "digital twin" field, recreating real-world environments in virtual spaces. In 2020, Mobiltech developed ‘Replica City’, a real-time city data subscription service. This service goes beyond autonomous driving maps, enabling users to monitor roads, facilities, and their conditions within urban spaces.

“I felt that sticking to just making autonomous driving maps would limit our future competitiveness. I wondered how we could further develop this and decided to take on the challenge of the digital twin technology. Looking back, I think I was fortunate once again. We started by hiring talent for the digital twin business. Thankfully, the Seoul Metropolitan Government recognized our capabilities, and we formed an MOU to collaborate on projects like Teheran-ro and the Blue House. These projects allowed us to showcase our digital twin technology to the market.”

Mobiltech’s foray into the field allowed the company to fully leverage the expertise and know-how it had accumulated in autonomous driving 3D map development. Even now, only a limited number of companies possess advanced digital twin technology. Mobiltech remains committed to enhancing its value-added offerings while ensuring financial stability and sustained growth.

Mobiltech’s ‘Replica City

Setting New Standards in the Market

Despite the industry’s recognition and significant growth, Kim continues to grapple with concerns, a challenge inherent to running a tech company.

“Our company is not a service startup but a tech company. I don’t believe in technology that no one else can replicate. Given enough time and money, anyone can catch up. Even if we’re ahead now, we remain conscious that we can also be caught up to. At present, there’s a perceived level of technology in autonomous driving and digital twin. Since we’re leading in these technologies, we’ve been able to secure various projects. But this also means we need to make continuous efforts to advance our technology. Domestically and internationally, we work hard to observe and pursue more advanced developments. By doing so, we can further widen the gap with competitors and once again raise the market’s standards. Continuously elevating the market’s benchmarks—that’s my goal, and it accounts for 30–40% of my concerns as a business leader.”

Kim’s belief that the market eventually recognizes those who possess leading technology has been the driving force behind his journey and Mobiltech’s success. With this conviction, he is preparing to further explore and innovate in the two pillars of his business: autonomous driving and digital twin.

The autonomous driving sector has now reached commercialization and is becoming integrated into daily life. In response, he is advancing the technologies and services that Mobiltech has provided for autonomous vehicles, adapting them to the mass production process. Instead of collaborating during the research stage, he is working on various projects to deliver solutions tailored to the production stage. Meanwhile, in the digital twin field, he aims to go beyond simple map information and provide more dimensional data.

"If traditional map services are static, a digital twin replicates these maps. Our ultimate goal is to go even further and replicate the dynamics of the real world—how people move through spaces, where vehicles are most concentrated, and so on. This would allow us to analyze, simulate, and utilize this information at any given time. It’s about revolutionizing spatial information.”

To ensure more precise information updates, Mobiltech has installed sensors on taxi advertising boards, enhancing both the ease of data collection and the efficiency of real-time updates. This is part of their continuous efforts to maintain and improve the quality of their services. Mobiltech’s technology is actively utilized across various industries and is expected to expand further in the future. From autonomous driving, robotics, and urban air mobility (UAM) logistics to urban development, management, operations, tourism, and even entertainment industries such as film and drama, the demand for Mobiltech’s technology spans numerous fields. This breadth of applications promises even greater opportunities for challenges and growth ahead for Kim and his company.

Proactive Expansion into Global Markets, Seizing Opportunities for Sustained Growth

Recently, Kim has been busier than ever, traveling frequently between domestic and international locations as Mobiltech pushes ahead with its overseas expansion. One of the key projects currently underway is a 3D mapping and urban development initiative in Saudi Arabia.

“In Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Middle East, many projects involve building new planned cities or transforming older cities into smart cities. These initiatives often require improving existing urban areas while constructing and managing new developments. To support these efforts, we provide local surveying companies with data collection devices and systems called Replica Lite. These tools are used to automatically detect issues such as road damage or urban aesthetic disruptions. They help establish a digital twin environment, allowing problems to be identified and leveraged as actionable data.”

Another country Mobiltech has entered is the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the focus is on transportation and logistics systems. By utilizing 3D information, the team is simulating traffic systems on roads and developing service solutions related to aircraft route management at airports.

To further accelerate its global market presence, Mobiltech has been showcasing its innovative technologies on the world stage. For several years, the company has consistently participated in CES, the premier venue for cutting-edge technology, where it demonstrates its capabilities and connects with potential clients. These opportunities have also provided Kim with valuable insights into global market trends and directions.

“In the field of autonomous driving, solutions for large-scale mass production are crucial. Meanwhile, in the digital twin field, there’s a surprising lack of related data. The technology to create a digital twin exists, but producing them repeatedly on demand is prohibitively expensive. Many companies want to have extensive datasets readily available for use whenever needed. If they can access a comprehensive digital twin of a large area, they want to connect and utilize that data. Moreover, they seek to create and receive even more precise replicas of real-world environments. CES has been instrumental in fostering partnerships with companies in this space. While gaming and graphics companies can easily create 3D models of small areas, large-scale 3D representations of real, lived environments are not yet widely offered as a service. Market demands have been urging us to address this gap. It’s akin to the reaction when Google Earth was first introduced—it was groundbreaking at the time, and now it’s seamlessly integrated into our lives for various uses. Similarly, I believe that demand for effectively utilizing the digital twin technology will only continue to grow in the future.”

Giving Back to Support from His Alma Mater During His Startup Journey

Despite his busy schedule, Kim actively participates in lectures and donations to assist students preparing for entrepreneurship. He deeply understands the value of such support, as he himself benefited significantly from the Yonsei Enterprise Support Foundation during the early stages of his entrepreneurial journey.

“To be honest, it’s not that I made donations because I had a lot of money. I started my business during my Ph.D. program, and I received a lot of help from the Yonsei Enterprise Support Foundation. For example, when I first needed office space, their support was invaluable. Back then, I donated stocks to the university. The amount was small at the time, but I recently bought back those stocks, which had grown significantly. (laughs) As for lectures, I try my best to participate whenever the university asks. When I started my business, I didn’t have a senior to ask for advice. That’s why I want to help juniors resolve their questions and share as much knowledge and information as possible.”

In an era where many dream of starting their own companies, what does Kim consider the ideal traits for startup talent? His perspective sheds light on the qualities necessary for success in this field.

“No one is ever fully prepared. The most important trait is the ability to persevere and overcome challenges. You need someone willing to learn and study to solve problems, even if they initially lack the knowledge. Startups are all about creating something new that hasn’t been done before. It involves developing new technologies, seizing opportunities, and turning them into viable products. So, in most cases, it’s about tackling unfamiliar tasks and stepping into the unknown. That’s why people who find fulfillment in solving problems through trial and error tend to stay with our company for a long time and are highly recognized.”

Envisioning 3D Maps Integrated into Everyone’s Daily Life

While Kim sees the technology of Mobiltech being applied to select industries today, he is cautious about limiting its scope to just the industrial sector. His ultimate goal is broader: to create a solution that can be utilized anywhere and in any field. Just as people naturally turn to online map services for spatial information in their daily lives, Kim aspires to make Mobiltech's 3D digital twin maps a seamless part of everyday routines by enhancing accessibility.

“Ultimately, I believe the online maps we currently use will evolve into 3D maps. Digital twin environments will provide everyday services, such as estimating how long it will take for your bus to arrive on your way to work. Beyond industry-specific services, I aim to develop a digital twin service capable of replacing existing maps for the general public. This way, we can expand further while maintaining our position as the leader in technology.”

Kim’s vision for 3D maps and digital twin extends beyond simply providing information about a location. It encompasses a multidimensional experience that captures the context of the space itself. His approach reflects a perspective that sees maps not merely as tools, but as solutions that can enhance convenience and bring value to everyday life.

The digital twin technology Kim envisions goes beyond the boundaries of virtual and real. It strives for a virtual world identical to the real one, where reality seamlessly unfolds within the virtual space. As he continues to challenge the limits of innovation, his pursuit of creating a new reality remains unwavering.