Kona I announced its mid-to-long-term vision to become the world's No.1 metal card maker by market share, declaring a second phase of growth. The company aims to reach 100 billion won ($73 million) in operating profit by 2026 through four core growth drivers spanning AI, robotics, and cultural industries while maximizing its strengths in the existing payment market.
According to financial investment industry sources on the 27th, Kona I CEO Cho Jung-il shared this business direction and management blueprint in a letter to shareholders. Kona I posted record-high results last fiscal year with revenue of 308.9 billion won and operating profit of 88.5 billion won.
In the letter, CEO Cho identified "global dominance in the metal card market" as the top priority. Addressing market concerns that the card industry would shrink due to mobile payment expansion, he countered: "Payment is a form of culture, and all international payment infrastructure is still card-based."
"Mobile payments are merely complementary. Cards will remain the foundation of payments," Cho said. "Based on Kona I's technological capabilities, we will premiumize the card industry and enhance added value to become the undisputed No.1 player in the global metal card market."
The company plans to expand investment in new payment methods including stablecoins, viewing them as developing in conjunction with card-type "cold wallets."
Cho identified artificial intelligence and robotics as new growth engines. Kona I is investing in organizational transformation by integrating AI and robots across all operations and services. The strategy centers on solving "information control and access management" challenges—critical to AI infrastructure—through the company's proprietary Chip OS technology. The plan involves embedding the company's security and control technologies across future robotics industries, including robotaxis, to create new revenue streams.
The company will also accelerate social value creation through regional community platforms. It aims to achieve both income redistribution and protection of vulnerable populations by combining blockchain-based electronic securities and stablecoin technology with local currency platforms. The company pursues sustainable growth through a virtuous cycle that returns platform-generated profits to local communities.
Cho also explained the rationale behind the company's unconventional cultural industry investments. "As AI technology advances, humans will increasingly gravitate toward nature and culture to reclaim marginalized sensibilities," he said. "With the conviction that what is most Korean will gain international competitiveness, we are investing in spaces and culture, including The Hanok Heritage Hotel."
The company aims to build a high-scarcity business model by combining IT technology with Korean cultural assets.
"Over the past 30 years, Kona I faced skepticism whenever we pursued new challenges, but we ultimately grew by connecting every growth driver to value creation," Cho said. "All executives and employees will commit fully to achieving our challenging goal of surpassing 100 billion won in operating profit by 2026."