Galaxy Corp eyes 'unlimited development potential'

China's vast market potential, deep talent pool and leadership in cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics make it a core pillar of Galaxy Corp's global strategy, as the South Korean entertainment technology company plans to steadily expand its presence in China through deeper local partnerships and investments.

"China's market holds virtually unlimited development potential. It is creative, innovative and dynamic, and it is already at the global forefront in multiple industries," said Choi Yong-ho, CEO and chief happiness officer of Galaxy Corp.

"China's strong capabilities in robotics and AI are leading industrial development, and its younger generation represents a highly capable and promising talent base. With these advantages, I believe the Chinese market will continue to grow, with a very optimistic outlook," said Choi, who was also the youngest CEO in the economic delegation brought by South Korean President Lee Jae-myung during his state visit to China earlier this month.

Choi told China Daily during a recent interview that China occupies an "extremely important position" in Galaxy Corp's global strategic layout.

According to Choi, the resilience of China's market is rooted in three key factors: technological innovation; a culture of continuous challenge; and an entrepreneurial environment in which companies can recover from failure with policy support. "Together, these elements create a powerful momentum."

The company plans to establish Galaxy China jointly with local partners and increase strategic investment in the market, advancing business lines across what it calls the dimensions of "today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow".

Under this framework, Galaxy Corp's "today" businesses focus on entertainment intellectual property, media, commerce and technology, with plans to co-develop new content and IP tailored to Chinese consumer preferences. The "tomorrow" pillar centers on AI and robotics, where Choi sees strong synergy between China's hardware manufacturing strengths and South Korea's software capabilities.

"By combining China's hardware technology with South Korea's software expertise, we see opportunities to jointly access international markets," Choi said.

Meanwhile, the "day after tomorrow" strategy targets space and aerospace-related businesses, reflecting Galaxy's longer-term technological ambitions.

To support a localized approach, Galaxy China will serve as a platform to roll out all three strategic pillars in close collaboration with local partners. Drawing on the company's capacity to produce more than 400 episodes of variety shows annually and its experience in global music releases and world tours for top-tier artists, the company aims to co-create original content "that no other has attempted before," Choi said.

Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Seoul, Galaxy Corp is an entertainment technology company that integrates IP, media and advanced technologies such as AI and the metaverse. Its artist roster includes K-pop icon G-DRAGON, internationally acclaimed actor Song Kang-ho, and singer and variety show star Kim Jong-kook.

A key pillar of Galaxy's China strategy is its partnership with Hong Kong-listed Star Plus Legend Holdings Ltd, often referred to as a "Jay Chou concept stock" due to its ownership of the Chinese pop superstar's IP. Star Plus Legend said in November that it has become a strategic shareholder in Galaxy Corp after acquiring, through an industry fund, up to 7 percent of Galaxy's issued share capital.

Choi said the partnership would "significantly lower the barriers to entering the Chinese market" and support Galaxy's systematic expansion. In the future, the two companies and the aforementioned joint venture plan to engage in deep cooperation across multiple fields, including IP development, AI and robotics.

Galaxy Corp has already expanded its presence through strategic cooperation with Tencent Music Entertainment Group to support concert tours in China and Southeast Asia.

Choi said Galaxy would also broaden external cooperation, leveraging localized content production, technology collaboration and joint IP development to compete effectively in an increasingly globalized entertainment and technology landscape.

"In the next five to 10 years, we will enter an era where everyone has a robot capable of providing personalized services," he said, adding that China–South Korea collaboration could open the door to global markets beyond Asia.

"China has remained South Korea's largest trading partner for years, while it is China's second-largest trading partner," He Yadong, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, told a news conference held in Beijing earlier this month.

He said that the country is willing to work with South Korea to support mutual investment by enterprises from both sides, further tap cooperation potential in emerging areas such as high-end manufacturing and AI, and encourage multilevel and diversified economic and trade exchanges.