Kwon Jeong-hyeok, CEO of Spoit, transformed from the first Korean goalkeeper to play on the European stage to an AI-based sports data platform entrepreneur. He used AI technology to address the challenges of highlight video production, a challenge he experienced during his playing days, and developed "Scoutbox," an automated editing system with 99% accuracy.
Recently, he gained public recognition through his appearance as "Kyung-soo of the 28th generation" on the popular dating reality show "I'm Solo." The sincerity he displayed on the show wasn't just his character, but his business philosophy. He founded a social enterprise that democratized player data and provided new opportunities to retired players and vulnerable groups. He, who once guarded the goal, is now attempting to bring structural change to the sports ecosystem.
A market gap discovered during a 30-year career as a player
CEO Kwon Jeong-hyeok played professional soccer for 16 years. He had a stellar career, including playing in Europe and scoring the longest goal, but he confesses that what he truly wanted to do as a player was "think freely."
"After 16 years as a professional player, I spent my final year as a playing coach in the K3 League. The moment I returned home after my last game, the 30 years, from the first day I started playing soccer to that day, flashed before my eyes. Those 30 years passed like a dream, and I felt the next 30 years would continue like that. That's why I wasn't afraid of new challenges."
The idea for the business stemmed from the discomfort I felt during my playing days. When I transferred to a European club, there was no company in Korea that specialized in producing player highlight videos. Analysts and video teams took on the role, but the quality and price of the results varied widely.
"What we do is 'resolving inconveniences,' something I experienced during my time as a professional athlete. I understand how things work in the field. However, growing a company, recruiting members, and learning about finance, accounting, labor, and human resources wasn't easy. However, as a professional athlete, I learned how to persevere under intense pressure, and that experience helps me navigate the uncertainties of a startup."
Spoit has chosen steady growth over explosive growth. With increasing sales and selection for government-funded projects, the organization has grown. CEO Kwon Jeong-hyeok explained, "The most important skill we value in team members is their ability to effectively utilize autonomy. We don't evaluate people based on short-term performance, and we work with individuals who focus on their work and achieve results within a 40-hour workweek." The company has a culture where employees focus on their work during the day, avoiding company dinners, and creating results within their own autonomy.
99% AI + 1% Expert: Choosing a Hybrid Model
Spoit's core service, "Scoutbox," automatically analyzes 90 minutes of match footage using AI to extract 30 key scenes, which are then curated by experts. When asked why they chose a hybrid model rather than a fully automated one, CEO Kwon Jeong-hyeok provided a clear explanation.
"Our algorithm extracts key moments from soccer matches with over 99% accuracy. We're focusing on AI-editing sports videos and automatically extracting player data. The key is to use vision AI technology to replace human recognition, judgment, and recording. We plan to begin converting videos into content once we have sufficient funding and developers."
Spoit is aggressively accumulating data through initiatives such as building a smart polling system, acquiring a directly-operated football center, and selecting TIPS. While this was a risky decision, CEO Kwon Jeong-hyeok's judgment was firm.
"Going forward, all sports footage will be viewed, judged, categorized, and recorded by AI. Every decision we make at our company is aligned with this trend. As demand for on-site footage grows, our sales are increasing, and with support programs like TIPS, our options are expanding. I believe we're headed in the right direction. While we want to accelerate, we're still focused on solidifying our foundation and growing."
Spotit targets both B2B (player agencies and professional teams) and B2C (youth and amateur) markets. Going forward, it plans to expand into a Netflix-style curation model, including personalized AI coaching and data-driven scouting and matching.
"We want to make it possible for young people and amateurs to view and verify AI-derived videos and data on our platform. We envision a platform where they can exercise, view their videos and data on our app, and interact with other users."
The sincerity I learned from "I'm Solo, 28th Class, Gyeongsu" becomes my management philosophy.
CEO Kwon Jung-hyuk recently gained public recognition through his appearance as "Kyung-soo" on "I'm Solo Season 28." It was a rare choice for a corporate CEO to appear on a dating reality show. He explained, "I appeared as myself, a normal person," and "I filmed it separately from my role as a company CEO."
"While filming and broadcasting, I learned a lot about myself and others. My understanding of people has deepened, and I believe this has been a great help in running the company."
The "sincerity" displayed on the show became a hot topic. CEO Kwon Jeong-hyeok integrated this into his business philosophy.
"Treating people with sincerity can sometimes be upsetting and painful, but it's an attitude that can solve the real problems in my life. It's a way to quickly discover who's right for me and what kind of people I should surround myself with. I believe people gather where there's sincerity and respect. I run my company based on these values."
Now in its fifth year, Spotit is at a crossroads, with opportunities to attract investment, collaborate globally, and expand its technology.
When asked, “What is the direction that Spoit must adhere to?” CEO Kwon Jeong-hyeok gave a clear answer.
"Spoit is tackling a challenging problem. However, there are significant challenges in the sports field that need to be solved. We are clearly aware of this problem and are taking on the challenge. While focusing on what AI can do for sports video, we are also making a significant effort to survive."
CEO Kwon Jeong-hyeok emphasized that Spoit is not simply a technology company, but a social enterprise. "While we provide services using AI technology, we are also a social enterprise," he said. "We also provide new opportunities to young retired athletes and underprivileged children. Providing value to people through sports and contributing to society is why Spoit exists."
16 years as a professional goalkeeper, 5 years as an entrepreneur. The sincerity he displayed on "I'm Solo, 28th Class" was not simply a character for television, but confirmed his business philosophy. With the hands that once guarded the goal, he is now democratizing player data and restructuring the sports ecosystem. While starting with AI technology, he maintains his identity as a social enterprise, providing new opportunities for young retired athletes and vulnerable groups. Having lived his 30 years like a dream, this is the sincere challenge he sets for the next 30.
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