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Chang-gi Park(51), a businessman who owns a trading company is occasionally dissatisfied by poor communication in talks with buyers he meets at international trade shows. For traders who must pay great attention to specifics such as price negotiating and product selection language is the most crucial tool. But recently Park heard some fantastic news. The reason why he got fascinated is because if anyone has a ‘simple app’ or ‘NFC card’, there can be limitless negotiation with individuals from all over the world at the same time during international trade show. After an extensive period of R&D, CEO of ANYCHAT, Seung-jin Lee (50), who broke through the language barrier required in the global era, has produced a ‘real-time’ AI translation chat app, ‘ANYCHAT’, which is ready to be released to the public. The [Business Report], a worldwide economic publication, met with Lee to discuss development motivations and future objectives.

Interview = Kim Jae-hong, Editor-in-chief / Photo = Reporter Park Ga-hee

-. ANYCHAT, a recently released real-time AI translation chat app, is generating a tremendous deal of interest.

“ANYCHAT is a real-time AI based messaging platform supporting simultaneous translation and conversation in three or more languages." Particularly, it translates dialects, vernaculars, and new terms from each nation in real-time based on the local language. It is a cutting-edge new multi-language translation system that can translate numerous languages at the same time using a real-time translation interface that focuses on communication. It is also a messaging platform specialized for real-time language translation, such as service development which improves accessibility via QR codes and NFC cards.”

-. I'm interested in the motivation for development.

"In 2009, I began working on a chat app called 'Kkiri-Kkiri (amongst each other).' With commercialization on the horizon, we achieved a significant success in other businesses and recently succeeded in commercializing that I postponed for some time. The current ANYCHAT is built on the know-how and trial-and-error of building 'Kkiri-Kkiri' that began at that time. As people's usage of the Internet and social media has grown, so have the instances in which they want or need to communicate with foreigners. However, copying and pasting through translation via a translator is far from the 'communication' that we know. When you get a message from other people, you are unable to quickly transmit the message that you want to write because you must first translate it using a translator. And the silence that happens between two people during translation lessens the sense of immersion in conversation, which makes talking with foreigners somewhat uncomfortable due to the dread of making the other person wait. To address this issue, ANYCHAT created an interface focusing on ‘real-time’ translation. We were successful in establishing a core technology that, even if the other person sends you a message in a different language if you have set the language to Korean, it will be translated into Korean for you to easily check. Additionally, in a multilingual setting, where three or more languages are utilized in addition to one language, you may verify the translation immediately in your local language, if you set settings before using."

-. What is ANYCHAT's competitive advantage that sets it apart from other chat apps?

"If you've ever used multilingual instant messengers or chat apps, you'll understand how difficult and uncomfortable the current situation is. As I said before, you should follow complicated process. But, ANYCHAT provides an interface that can alleviate these hassles by breaking away from the traditional translation messenger environment, which interferes with communication immersion. After filing a local patent, we completed the international patent (PCT) application. Partnering with ANYCHAT is the fastest way to create a simple and convenient real-time multilingual chat platform."

-. It is anticipated that when ANYCHAT becomes widespread, significant changes will occur in our lives.

"I believe it’s a significant revolution to interact with users all around the world in their native language “A web-based NFC chat service that gives access to chat by simply tagging an NFC card on a smartphone without installing the app is a must-have for travelers and will transform the travel culture. Moreover, if our real-time translation interface technology is applied to real-time streaming services used by celebrities, such as YouTube Live or V Live, it has the potential to be an entertainment platform where artists and fans with global fandoms, such as BTS and BLACKPINK, can communicate in real-time. As a result, regardless of the industry, real-time translation interface technology will be able to generate a variety of additional values and businesses.”

-. Are you intending to offer additional services like payment features or shopping similar to other prominent chat apps like Kakao?

"In terms of platform business, Kakao is ANYCHAT's benchmark model." The sole distinction is that Kakao is confined to domestic services, whereas ANYCHAT develops and operates services targeting global market. We will take advantages of any commercial opportunities that will exist in this world where launguage barrier disappeared either directly or through partnerships."

-. ANYCHAT has struck deals with various companies, including Line Korea Partners. Is there a field or company with which ANYCHAT would like to collaborate in the future?

"ANYCHAT has the potential as a sole platform operator, but it is also a base platform service that can be implemented as an interface to other current platforms. We want to grow the value of ANYCHAT through collaborations with other platform operators interested in utilizing ANYCHAT's technologies. As part of it, we intend to build an ecosystem focused on ANYCHAT by forming partnerships with platform services in a variety of industries."

-. No matter how excellent a chat app is, if users do not seek for it, it will be neglected. What plans do you have for popularization?

"If it is just a simple messaging service, challenging the established competitors like KakaoTalk, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Line, and WeChat would be like banging your head against a brick wall. The ANYCHAT platform, on the other hand, has a special interface patent and characteristics of killer app, so even existing messenger services hesitate to implement it, there will be possibility of falling behind in the market. But, ANYCHAT is currently a start-up, and large corporations may not be interested. So, ANYCHAT is preparing and implementing a variety of advertising initiatives to convert this apathy into enthusiasm. These include the NFC card supplying business, which has a multilingual communication feature that can be utilized not just by international visitors, but also by locals, thanks to the collaboration with local governments in Busan, Gwangju, and Jeju Island. Various public relations techniques that can be used as a profit model with little but significant influence are also being considered. ‘Everyone's Wellness’, a recently purchased online food stamp provider, is also a part of it."

-. According to my understanding, ANYCHAT is a co-organizer of The 31st World Miss University 2022, which will be held in Korea at the end of this year.

"At the 31st World Miss University, ANYSTORY, one of ANYCHAT's multiple platforms, will allow participants and followers from across the world to freely connect and participate in events free of language barriers, including online voting." As the event proceeds, it is expected to be a means of moving one step closer to the event's primary objective of universal oneness. Contestants from various nations and online voters from all over the world may freely connect, even in different languages. This competition will last three months, beginning with online voting on September 21st and finishing on December 21st, when the final results will be announced. It is a global event with over 80 countries taking part. The ANYCHAT Award, in particular, is substantial in prize money and has many perks, so it appears that contestants from each nation will be more actively involved, which is expected to be highly beneficial for marketing the ANYCHAT as well as exponentially expanding app users."

-. Based on its proprietary technology, ANYCHAT is known to promote new businesses of diverse content such as AnyWebtoon, AnyStardom, music appreciation, and friend searching.

"We currently have nearly 90 patents." We intend to enter a variety of businesses based on proprietary technologies. According to the Korea Creative Content Agency's statement in 2020, the worldwide potential webtoon market is vast enough to exceed 100 trillion won and is steadily expanding. Webtoon content, in particular, that grew in Korea, is becoming recognized for its content strength all over the world through translation and remake. As a result, ANYCHAT is developing a platform called ‘AnyWebtoon’ to make it easier and faster to check these materials all across the world using a real-time AI translation engine. Furthermore, as previously said, we foresee the effect of bringing the world closer by introducing diverse platforms such as AnyStardom, an entertainment platform where artists and fans may engage without language barriers."

-. You resolved in May to develop a joint cooperation framework with EME Korea to grow internationally. Which international market interests you the most?

"Of course, we can provide services everywhere in the world, but I believe it would be excellent to conduct business primarily in nations with populations who speak more than two languages, such as Indonesia, the Philippines, and India. As more people speak multiple languages, there will be greater demand for more user-friendly and convenient messengers. If we target these countries, we will be able to go forward with more successful platform businesses and partnership."

-. The large-scale investment appears to be necessary for aggressive overseas expansion. I've heard that the NASDAQ in the United States is the target.

"As a start-up that is still in its early stage, we are doing everything we can to attract funding. We are immensely grateful to our investors who have shared and invested in ANYCHAT's vision and mission, from individual investors to drawing billions of dollars in investment. We will absolutely be able to expand into a larger firm, and we will continue to grow if we can focus on one goal and appeal to them so that they grasp our capabilities."

-. I know you've been doing a lot of business recently. Please introduce your subsidiary companies.

"First and foremost, we have BTBL as a partner with whom we collaborate by supplying NFC cards and technology. Moreover, KSS Holdings, which we recently acquired, is a company that provides 'Everyone's Wellness,' an online food stamp service for small and midsize enterprises, and it plays an important role in improving brand awareness and securing cooperative relationships with Korean local governments. As a subsidiary, we have 'AnyWebtoon,' one of the platform businesses we will support in the future. Through ANYCHAT's technology, it is a real-time content translation service firm that allows users to see the same webtoon in their local language without a separate translation procedure anywhere in the world."

-. What is the ultimate fundamental value pursued by ANYCHAT?

“As our company motto, anywhere, anyone, ANYCHAT, suggests, our objective is to create a world in which anybody, regardless of age or gender, can communicate with each other effortlessly and fluently, especially in their native language, using ANYCHAT's platform and services. We would like to thank you for your continuous interest and support for us as we lead global communication and cultural exchange with the greatest services and solutions. If I had one particular personal dream, it would be to construct a venture capital (VC) firm to assist future entrepreneurs in freely researching and developing their ideas, as well as to establish an educational institution to assist young people in pursuing their aspirations."