[Click e-Stock] "JLK Accelerates Entry into Japan... Global Expansion Proven by Numbers"

Medical AI company JLK has officially begun targeting the Japanese market. On July 7, JLK signed a strategic distribution agreement with CLAIRVO TECHNOLOGIES, the healthcare subsidiary of Marubeni, one of Japan's top five general trading companies. Through this agreement, JLK has secured a channel to supply its AI-based stroke analysis and quantification solutions to Japanese medical institutions.

Lee Joonseok, a researcher at Hanyang Securities, explained, "Japan is one of the fastest-aging countries in the world, and the demand for medical AI solutions is surging due to rising medical costs related to stroke. JLK has obtained a total of six AI solution approvals from Japan's PMDA (Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency), the highest number among domestic companies."

This agreement goes beyond a simple supply contract. It is expected to generate actual revenue and serve as a bridgehead for mid- to long-term growth, including entry into public hospitals and establishing a foundation for collaboration with global pharmaceutical and IT companies.

Since the beginning of this year, JLK has achieved meaningful overseas sales, marking a full-fledged transition from a domestically focused business structure to the global market. Centered on its medical AI stroke solution, the company expects total sales of approximately 6 billion KRW, including about 4.5 billion KRW from the domestic market and about 1 billion KRW from overseas. In particular, the Japanese distribution agreement is expected to generate substantial revenue.

Researcher Lee emphasized, "The symbolic significance of this overseas revenue is greater than its scale. The global sales that investors have long awaited are now becoming a reality, and the contract with CLAIRVO signifies the potential for expanding subsequent distribution channels and entering public medical institutions."

Although external factors such as medical sector strikes and delays in insurance reimbursement make it unlikely for the company to achieve a turnaround to profitability this year, business operations are progressing smoothly according to the roadmap. The U.S. market, in particular, has a medical reimbursement structure that is about 50 times higher than that of Korea. Upon completion of insurance registration next year, profitability is expected to improve, and a significant increase in sales is anticipated. The medical AI industry has a high operating leverage structure, so after turning profitable next year, there is a strong possibility of rapid performance growth.

Researcher Lee analyzed, "2026 is expected to be a pivotal year for the medical AI industry. AI-based solutions are being highlighted as key infrastructure to address structural challenges such as medical workforce shortages, aging populations, and rising medical costs."

JLK is accelerating its entry into the global market, having secured multiple regulatory approvals, including seven from the U.S. FDA and six from Japan's PMDA. Last month, the company also issued convertible bonds worth 11.9 billion KRW, securing funds necessary for R&D, regulatory approvals, and clinical trials to expand its overseas markets.

He added, "If this year was about laying the foundation for global expansion, 2026 is likely to be the inaugural year when substantial sales growth and improved profitability are realized."