코이랩스

코이랩스 (Koilabs) is a South Korean education technology company that operates KOKIRI (코끼리), a Korean-language learning service aimed at foreign learners. The service uses Korean cultural content — television dramas, variety programs and K-pop — as its instructional material, with curricula structured by proficiency level so learners can study grammar, expressions and vocabulary minute-by-minute alongside exposure to Korean culture. The team is described as staffed by specialists holding master's and doctoral degrees in Korean-language education.

The company began as a project in the first cohort of MBC's (Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation) internal venture program, launched in 2021, and builds its lessons around MBC's content library. Company records list a founding date of 2022-01-11, an unlisted status, an office at 186 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, and 전예지 (Jeon Ye-ji) as chief executive.

A later company-profile description characterizes the offering as personalized Korean study combining K-content with a structured curriculum, delivered through 1:1 video lessons with professional Korean tutors and sold on a membership basis that provides unlimited curriculum access, with the stated aim of building practical conversational ability.

Founding story

코이랩스 originated in the first cohort of MBC's in-house venture program, conducted in 2021, and was subsequently established as an edtech company using MBC's drama, variety and K-pop content for Korean-language instruction. Corporate records give an incorporation date of 2022-01-11.

Business model

The company provides Korean-language learning built on licensed Korean entertainment content. A company profile describes a membership model giving learners unlimited access to a structured curriculum, together with 1:1 video lessons delivered by professional Korean tutors.

Membership-based subscription providing unlimited access to the curriculum, alongside 1:1 tutoring lessons.

Traction

As of March 2022 the company had signed MOUs with multiple Vietnamese universities and was running a beta service in that market, with a full service using MBC and SM Entertainment IP planned for release later that year. The company's chief executive cited findings that over 70% of the growing global K-content fan base express an interest in learning Korean.

Latest developments

In March 2022 코이랩스 announced strategic investment from MBC and from SM Culture Partners, the wholly owned investment arm of SM Entertainment; the amount was not disclosed. Both shareholders indicated plans for business collaboration and content licensing to support the service's global expansion. A company database record notes two recorded investment events and undisclosed investment stage information.