[AI Revolution](212) Reading the Context of Space... Maesa Masters Both Drones and Satellites

[Interview] Seokwon Choi, CEO of Maesa

'Proprietary 3D Engine' as a Core Differentiator

Expanding Image Analysis into Robotics

Aiming for Technology-Special IPO Next Year

"We are engaged in all businesses that understand and utilize the context of offline spaces. We are currently expanding the scope to robotics (Physical AI)."

Seokwon Choi, CEO of Maesa, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily. Photo by Dongju Yoon

Maesa is mastering terrestrial, aerial, and space data using its own proprietary 3D engine. With annual growth rates of up to 70%, Maesa is now the leading company in Korea's spatial artificial intelligence (AI) industry and is preparing for a technology-special listing next year.

During a recent interview at the company's Gangnam office in Seoul, Seokwon Choi, CEO of Maesa (pictured), stated, "Maesa is the only company that has developed its own image analysis engine capable of generating measurable 3D data." He added, "Because the engine can be customized, we are expanding to public projects such as defense and military as well as private construction sites and golf courses." Revenue is driven both by business-to-business (B2B) transactions using closed-circuit (CC) TV and drone data, and by business-to-government (B2G) transactions utilizing satellite data.

Maesa is currently the only company in Korea that works with both drones and satellites. Choi explained, "Drones are currently used for civilian purposes, and satellites for defense. As technology advances, the resolution of satellites is improving to match that of drones, which will blur the boundaries between these two. The core source technology for image analysis is already the same, and we have established a unique position as a company capable of handling both simultaneously."

Notably, Maesa dominates the domestic market with a solution that perfectly identifies design errors during construction processes at job sites. The company has contracts with 8 out of the top 10 Korean construction companies, participating in approximately 250 sites. In contrast, a leading global competitor from the United States, which operated here as a branch office, withdrew from Korea after failing to adapt to the local construction industry environment. Furthermore, Maesa has formed a consortium with Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Pusan National University to secure a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport AI transformation (AX) sprint project. The company has expanded its scope to include cutting-edge research and development (R&D), deploying robotic dogs equipped with drones and LiDAR sensors to acquire, analyze, and remotely control data.

Choi Wonseok, CEO of MEISA, is giving an interview to The Asia Business Daily. Photo by Dongju Yoon

The path from its beginnings as a student startup in 2017 to its current dominant position has not always been smooth. Choi remarked, "I encountered drones in 2016 and began thinking about industries where they could be applied through software. Among construction, agriculture, and facilities safety management, we decided to target the construction management market, where image analysis tech is central, rather than entering the smaller-scale agricultural industry or safety inspection, which places greater emphasis on control technologies."

However, none of the founding members majored in construction-related fields, and many doubted whether a group of students could break into the large-scale infrastructure sector. Choi said, "We faced many challenging moments, and to overcome them, we enhanced our recruitment of C-level talent." He continued, "We strengthened our manpower by bringing in experts with doctorates in AI and those with experience at companies such as Samsung, recruiting them as co-CEO, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Chief Business Officer (CBO), Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), and Chief Product Officer (CPO)." Nearly half the team is assigned to R&D.

Maesa is accelerating its global expansion. The first target market is Japan, whose construction sector is structurally similar to Korea's. The company is building references with its technical and product capabilities, outperforming local firms that promise "on-site visits within 30 minutes." Choi added, "We've successfully landed clients such as Obayashi Corporation and Takenaka Corporation, two of Japan’s top five construction companies, and we plan to expand further into Southeast Asia."

Preparation for the initial public offering (IPO) is also progressing smoothly. Choi stated, "So far, more than 15 institutional investors have participated in our capital raising rounds, showing strong market trust. Rather than overstretching to maximize revenue for the sake of valuation, our goal is steady and sustainable growth." Maesa is currently undergoing a technology evaluation, and the listing is expected in the second half of next year after a review by the exchange.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.