디오리진
6 known investors
Korean content IP startup that develops 'multi-usable' original IP and expands it across games, media and other content formats.
Also known as D'ORIGIN · The Origin · 디오리진
Investors · 6
Also in the syndicate · 5
Company profile
researched Aug 2026디오리진 (The Origin) is a South Korean content intellectual-property (IP) startup founded in May 2021 by CEO Jung Jae-sik, previously head of Netmarble's IP business team. The company develops and secures what it calls "multi-usable IP" — IP designed from the planning stage, together with its fictional world (universe) and business strategy, so that it can be deployed consistently across multiple content formats and media.
The stated goal of the company's IP projects is to build fandom through a consistent IP experience across all content areas and thereby evolve individual content pieces into durable IP. Alongside original IP creation, the company works on multi-media content expansion, acquisition of global source IP, recruitment of senior creators, and extension of the IP value chain. CEO Jung Jae-sik oversees IP production and the media-franchise business, while Chief Strategy Officer Sung Dae-kyung — formerly responsible for operating Hyundai Motor's open-innovation platform ZER01NE — leads the IP holdings business focused on securing global source IP and expanding the IP value chain. The company's stated mission is "10 Unicorn IPs rather than a unicorn company."
Founding story
The company was established in May 2021 by Jung Jae-sik, who previously led the IP business team at the Korean game publisher Netmarble.
Business model
The company develops and owns original, multi-usable IP and also performs commissioned IP and worldbuilding work for third-party clients, principally game companies and brands, with plans to extend into multi-media content expansion and an IP holdings business.
Traction
Within one year of founding, the company reported cumulative order bookings of KRW 8 billion. Disclosed project portfolio includes development of Netmarble F&C's original IP 'Project H', IP business and worldview development for Com2uS' 'Summoners War', a worldview renewal for Kong Studios' 'Guardian Tales', development of Line Games' original IP 'GOD12', and brand IP work for GFFG. In May 2023 the company was selected as a '2023 Baby Unicorn' by Korea's Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
Latest developments
In June 2023 the company announced a KRW 13.3 billion seed round led by Korea Investment Partners with nine additional investors, an unusually large seed-stage raise in Korea, and said it would use the proceeds to diversify into multi-media content expansion, global IP acquisition, senior creator recruitment and IP value-chain expansion.
▸Full profile — market position, go-to-market, geography
Market position
Positioned by its lead investor as a team that designs a single IP project commercially and creatively and then strategically expands multi-media content around it; investors cited the growing importance of source IP amid global content-market growth (worldwide content market of USD 2.5138 trillion in 2021 per the Korea Creative Content Agency, with Korea ranked seventh globally).
Go-to-market
Game publishers and developers and consumer brands seeking original IP, worldview development and IP business strategy; examples include Netmarble F&C, Com2uS, Kong Studios, Line Games and GFFG.
Geography
Based in South Korea, with stated ambitions to secure global source IP and grow into a company holding global IP.
Compiled by commissioned research from 5 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 2
launches, deals, and filingsThe company announced a KRW 13.3 billion seed round led by Korea Investment Partners with participation from ten investors in total, including Schmidt, Lotte Ventures, Hyundai Technology Investment, NH Investment & Securities, Kiwoom Investment, NAU IB Capital, IBK, Laguna Investment and Guleum Investment.
Selection under a program identifying unlisted companies with potential to become unicorns; selected companies receive support including new-market development funding of up to KRW 300 million.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 5
primary sources listed
- [THE ORIGIN] EP.07 Preview | 웰컴 투 디오리진! (Feat. 박재범♥) | THE ORIGIN - A, B, Or What? | 2022.04.30 - YouTubeyoutube.com · web
5 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does 디오리진 do?
- Korean content IP startup that develops 'multi-usable' original IP and expands it across games, media and other content formats.
- Who are 디오리진's investors?
- 디오리진's investors include Laguna Investment.