Backpacker, Operator of 'Idus', Recruits Former Coupang CEO Jeong Ram

Plans to Specify Growth Strategies Including 10th Anniversary Backpacker Next Year, Organizational and Idus Platform Improvements

Joram Jeong, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Product Officer (CPO) of Backpacker

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheolhyun] Backpacker, operator of the online handmade market 'Idus,' announced on the 14th that it has recruited Jeong Saram, former CEO of Coupang, as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Product Officer (CPO).

Jeong Saram, the newly appointed COO at Backpacker, previously worked at global companies Mercer and NCSoft, and served as co-CEO of the fintech division at Coupang, leading its fintech business. During his six years at Coupang, he built and grew Coupang Pay, the company's proprietary payment service, and also led the launch of new services such as Rocket Wow and Coupang Eats.

Backpacker, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary next year, plans to further improve the Idus platform and concretize its future growth strategy through the recruitment of COO Jeong Saram. Currently, Backpacker operates with a workforce of about 110 employees and runs its core business Idus, as well as online and offline handmade craft classes called Geumsong Class, offline stores named Idus Store, dining pubs called Idus Table, and shared workshops known as Craft Lab.

COO Jeong Saram said, "Idus is a platform that delivers differentiated value to both consumers and creators," adding, "I will contribute to helping Idus, which has pioneered new markets, grow into a global service."

Meanwhile, Backpacker expanded its business into the video content field last year by acquiring the mobile content production company 'Fave.' Recently, it also acquired 'Tumblbug,' Korea's leading crowdfunding platform. Tumblbug operates independently as a subsidiary of Backpacker and plans to introduce new business models linked with Idus in the future.