SOOP ESG2024

We have been constantly expanding our R&D investment to achieve sustainable growth driven by technology. In 2024, SOOP invested KRW 20.1 billion in R&D, the largest amount since its founding, and achieved meaningful results in several areas, including in advanced streaming technology, VOD systems maintenance, mobile and web-based viewing experiences and introduction of AI technology. To systematically manage R&D activities, we operate dedicated developer units for media, web and mobile under the CTO, and continue to upgrade our service stability and data-driven operation capabilities through our infrastructure team and data team. Each development division plays a key role in advancing SOOP's technological capabilities by improving stream quality, responding to global platforms, optimizing user-centric UI/UX and integrating AI technologies. Looking ahead, we plan to focus on improving user experience on our platform by merging technology and content, and aim to further build a pioneering media ecosystem of the future.

R&D Performance (Cumulative)

Number of Intellectual Properties Held

Adopting Generative AI

In 2024, SOOP began rolling out generative AI technology across its platform, introducing new content experience for both streamers and users. For this purpose, we formed an internal task force dedicated to AI technology to ensure user-friendliness and technical excellence.

The first of these efforts made public was the launch of the generative AI video production tool SAVYG (SOOP AI Video Yielding Generative), which runs in conjunction with “video balloons”, a feature of SOOP's donation-based economy. SAVYG allows viewers to generate videos that seamlessly embed a streamer's face and body into a preset sequence of actions. Viewers can send these videos to streamers as personalized content gifts. This feature gives streamers a chance to expand and monetize their content and broadens the diversity of gift experiences on the platform.

SOOPi (SOOP Personalized Intelligence) is a personalized AI video assistant that uses the streamer’s face and voice to engage in everyday conversations and recommend content based on its conversations with users. SOOPi is trained to learn the streamer’s accent, facial expressions and flow of content using our self-developed video learning model, LVM (Large Video Model). The standout feature of SOOPi is its ability to initiate the conversation and actively lead and engage users into interaction.

SARSA (SOOP AI Realtime Streaming Assistant) is another AI tool that helps streamers create content by acting as an AI manager that summarizes broadcast content and assists in managing broadcast settings and other functions. SARSA completed its initial beta release (version 0.5) in April 2025, with initial features focused on broadcast summarization. Looking ahead, we plan to further strengthen the platform ecosystem by not only upgrading SAVYG, SOOPi and SARSA, all currently in beta, but also continuing development of other proprietary AI technologies such as SHASHA (SOOP Highlighted AI Shorts Alive) and SUMMA (SOOP Ultimate Multimedia Motion Actioner), an AI streamer.

Scaling the Global Platform

The official launch of SOOP's global platform in 2024 marked the full onset of our expansion into international markets. Building on our early success in Thailand, we rapidly expanded our reach across Southeast Asia and English-speaking countries.

As Thailand is a vibrant market where popular eSports content is actively consumed, we launched a dedicated eSports page centered around global titles such as Valorant and introduced a variety of features to draw user participation, such as drops, challenge missions, broadcast clip sharing, streamer widgets and subscription vouchers, to enhance the interaction between local users and streamers.

The core part of our global expansion strategy is localization and partnership-driven content delivery. Through the acquisition of local eSports content company FPS Thailand, SOOP has gained extensive experience in the official operation and broadcasting of global eSports events, including the Valorant Challengers Thailand Series. Building on this foundation, beginning in 2025, SOOP will participate as the exclusive streaming partner for the VCT SEA (Southeast Asia Challengers) season in collaboration with Riot Games. We plan to grow a regional fanbase and solidify our position in the global eSports market through high-quality broadcasts, as well as joint broadcasts with local streamers.

SOOP envisions a "forest"-like ecosystem, where all the platform’s technology and community elements naturally blend in together. Guided by the same philosophy in the global market, we will shape an inclusive streaming culture where streamers, users and partners can freely communicate and grow together, and realize a sustainable global business model through technological innovation and localized strategies.