Interview with Song Jae-jun, CEO of Com2uS
"The world of Com2Verse is a blend of virtual and real. In the virtual office, you can even hear the team leader coughing."
This is the vision of the metaverse dreamed of by Song Jae-jun, CEO of Com2uS. Com2uS is launching the metaverse platform ‘Com2Verse,’ which combines work, life, and play. Starting with a virtual office next year, they plan to implement real-world activities such as economy, society, culture, and community in the virtual world by 2023.
Work, Shopping, and Banking in the Metaverse
In an interview with Asia Economy on the 23rd, CEO Song emphasized, "The metaverse must comprehensively encompass activities that can be done in the real world, such as economy, society, and culture." Song is the younger brother of Song Byung-jun, chairman of Gamevil and Com2uS. He joined Gamevil in 2001 and participated in management. After Gamevil acquired Com2uS’s management rights in 2013, he served as vice president and was appointed CEO this March.
CEO Song likened the metaverse to the ancient story ‘Butterfly Dream’ by Zhuangzi, where he dreamed he was a butterfly. Living in the virtual world, it would be hard to distinguish what is virtual and what is real, as economy, society, and culture are integrated into one platform. He sees 3D characters acting realistically in the metaverse as similar to game companies’ character implementation technology. Song said, "I judged that if game companies create a metaverse expanded into real life, they could dominate the market."
Com2uS will first introduce a virtual office. Then, they plan to attract corporate clients and gather many people in Com2Verse’s ‘Office World.’ The virtual office incorporates game company technology, blending online and offline elements. It looks like a real office where you can hear voices and noises in real time beyond just video conferencing spaces. A pilot version will be released next month, and 2,500 Com2uS employees will move in first next year. They plan to gradually expand to other companies and commercialize it.
Beyond the virtual office, CEO Song envisions implementing shopping, finance, healthcare, entertainment, and community spaces. Com2uS is discussing collaborations with companies in various fields. There is also a plan to create metaverse-exclusive seats in banks. Song explained, "Although it is still a draft, in Com2Verse, characters can enter a bank, take a number ticket, wait, and work during that time. When it’s their turn, they can conduct banking via video call." Further development could lead to the establishment of a ‘virtual bank.’ The same applies to department stores. Avatars can virtually access a department store identical to the real one, queue up, make payments, and have goods delivered.
Continuing Aggressive Investment
CEO Song emphasized that a blockchain-based ‘token economy’ is essential for a vast virtual world. Gamevil (Com2uS Holdings), the holding company of Com2uS, is the second-largest shareholder of the cryptocurrency exchange ‘Coinone.’ Song said, "We have a very advantageous position in the leadership battle within the blockchain ecosystem," and added, "Applying a token economy to Com2Verse will provide a strong foundation for ecosystem formation." Com2uS is also targeting the play-to-earn game market by applying cryptocurrency to its new title ‘Summoners War: Chronicles.’
Com2uS and its holding company Gamevil have invested nearly 500 billion KRW this year in content, metaverse, and cryptocurrency-related fields. They acquired the metaverse company WYSIWYG Studios this year and invested in the NFT specialist company ‘Candy Digital’ as well as ‘The Sandbox.’ He stated, "We will continue investing in blockchain and content fields next year." Currently, Com2uS holds about 600 billion KRW in available funds. Com2uS will also build a new headquarters by 2026 to expand its gaming and Com2Verse businesses. CEO Song added, "There will come a time when life in the virtual world becomes more important than reality, and that is the metaverse. Com2uS will not just be a game company but will transform into a comprehensive content company based on the metaverse."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
