Woongjin ThinkBig Launches AX Research Institute, Completing Its Innovation Lineup

Taeho Kwak Appointed as First Director of the New Research Institute

Woongjin ThinkBig announced on August 25 that it is establishing the "Artificial Intelligence Transformation (AX) Research Institute," dedicated to AI research and implementation, and has appointed Executive Vice President Taeho Kwak as the institute's first director.

Following recent organizational restructuring in its education and new business divisions, the company is determined to take a significant leap forward by focusing on AI-driven new product research and innovation in work processes.

From the left, Taehokwak, Head of AX Research Institute; Habong Song, General Manager of Education Business Division; Ilkyung Kim, Head of DGP Business Headquarters. Woongjin

The AX Research Institute, which will be launched in early September, will go beyond simply introducing AI technology. Its roles include developing strategies for customer experience innovation using AI, advancing customer lifetime value (LTV) and journey management systems by integrating customer data, and promoting AI literacy among both headquarters and field employees. The institute aims to fundamentally reshape the company's business and organizational structure.

Taeho Kwak, the newly appointed director, is an expert in data-driven service innovation and AI strategy development, having served as Senior AI Consultant at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Head of Data & AI Center at Yanolja’s subsidiary, Yeogi Eottae. He has accumulated experience at global IT companies as well as domestic platform and retail sites.

Previously, Woongjin ThinkBig appointed Executive Vice President Habong Song, who formerly led partner operations at Microsoft Korea, as General Manager of the Education Business Division, which oversees the Education Culture, Future Education, and Online Business Headquarters. The company also renamed the DX Business Headquarters, responsible for edtech, to the DGP Business Headquarters, expanding its scope to include adult education (Udemy) and webtoon and web novel businesses. Ilkyung Kim, who previously led Naver’s Corporate Strategy Office and NHN’s Web Content Marketing Team, was recruited as Head of the DGP Business Headquarters.

A Woongjin ThinkBig representative stated, "The AX Research Institute is not just a technology research organization, but an advanced base for discovering new business paradigms by combining Woongjin ThinkBig’s data with cutting-edge technology. We will continue to invest in recruiting talent and research and development to lead the future education market."