[Joint Special Project by Our Editorial Team and the Korean Venture Business Association: Exploring Promising Venture Companies, Issue No. 31] SmartDongSchool
▲ SmartDongSchool has received content quality certification and was recognized as an Excellent Seoul Company based on its development of over 3,000 online courses across 12 categories. In March last year, it was selected as a “Hi Seoul Brand Company 2018”, a designation sponsored by the City of Seoul and the Seoul Business Agency (SBA), affirming the company’s excellence.
— Hwang Jeong-il, Korea University Press
In an era of lifelong learning, the SmartDongSchool online platform—offering diverse online courses for office workers and students in their 20s and 30s on topics such as foreign languages, certifications, employment, and general knowledge—is gaining growing attention.
Over 3,000 Courses and Big Data-Based Recommendation System
Unlike other platforms that provide only video lectures, SmartDongSchool develops learning apps designed to enhance users’ concentration. These apps include features for vocabulary memorization, study planning, time management, and other tools that help users learn more effectively.
Currently, 12 dedicated sites operate under the SmartDongSchool brand:
IT Dong School
Certificate Dong School
Employment Dong School
Civil Service Dong School
Culture Dong School
Air Dong School
English Dong School
Chinese Dong School
Japanese Dong School
Foreign Language Dong School
Korean Dong School (for foreigners)
Sharing Dong School
The platform offers not only language courses in English, Chinese, Japanese, and more, but also unique content such as visual arts, magic, astrology (e.g., fate by birth date), public service exam prep, speech training, business phone English, and Korean for foreigners. Around 3,000 courses have been created in collaboration with educational institutions, publishers, and instructors.
Though the current main user base is people in their 20s and 30s, SmartDongSchool targets a wide age range—from 20 to 100. The company also plans to expand into B2B services and forge partnerships with large corporations.
Na Jun-gyu, CEO of SmartDongSchool, commented:
“Using big data, we provide personalized course recommendations—just like video streaming and online shopping services do. We possess a powerful online education database and will continue to lead the market by offering unique and innovative services.”
▲ SmartDongSchool operates under the motto, “First and foremost — people, and secondly — also people,” placing special emphasis on employee growth and internal communication. The company believes that quality content is created by people and therefore strives to gather as many “good people” as possible.
■ A company culture focused on employee development: awards, a gym, and other support measures
Founded in 2010, SmartDongSchool has concentrated exclusively on education and introduced a new educational approach by integrating IT. The company’s primary goal is to promote the growth of individuals and society. In this context, employee development is considered more important than the company’s own growth.
CEO Na Jun-gyu stated:
“We strive to provide various benefits for our employees. There is no overtime work, and all staff have free access to 3,000 training courses available on our platform. We also offer support for books, group training sessions, a gym, and everything necessary for work.”
The company offers meal vouchers for the cafeteria, snacks, an internal library, support for self-development, and activities to strengthen team spirit. Within the team, a horizontal communication culture is maintained, and through its own MOOC system, employees can both teach and learn simultaneously.
Notably, every morning employees participate in a “book study” — group discussions of books unrelated to work. This fosters better mutual understanding, appreciation of differences, and builds trust within the team.
■ Sincere, communicative, creative, and professional personnel are valued
Since the company’s main goal is the growth of its employees, Na Jun-gyu considers “interpersonal communication and communication skills” the most important qualities when hiring. He also emphasizes responsibility, punctuality, and curiosity.
The company favors candidates who demonstrate honesty, a sense of justice, and team spirit, can adapt flexibly to rapidly changing market demands, and think creatively. Applicants are expected to show genuine interest, describe their personal experiences in the cover letter, and study SmartDongSchool’s platforms in advance.
The CEO added:
“Even interns can play leading roles in projects. Through intensive collaboration, they have the opportunity to rapidly develop their skills. Early in one’s career, salary differences may seem important, but in an era where the concept of ‘lifetime employment’ is outdated, gaining real project experience and cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset are far more valuable.”
▲ SmartDongSchool prioritizes employee comfort and the work environment. The company provides meal vouchers for the cafeteria, a variety of snacks, and a fully equipped gym that employees can use for free with a pass.
