Podo Speaking: 320,000 Unlimited 1:1 Lessons in 1 Year

Dayone Company, an innovative company in the adult education sector, is attracting market attention with its unlimited 1:1 foreign language lesson platform, 'PODO', which has achieved remarkable results within just one year of its launch. Since its service began in March 2024 until April of this year, it has accumulated a total of 320,000 lessons and secured approximately 40,000 subscribers, proving its rapid growth. The secret to PODO's success lies in its unconventional approach, which has broken the stereotypes of the existing foreign language learning market. In a market dominated by expensive session-based classes, PODO introduced a subscription model that allows unlimited lessons multiple times a day for just a monthly subscription fee. This dramatically lowered the cost per lesson to the 3,000 won range, securing price competitiveness of approximately 90% compared to existing options. This change has not only led to cost savings but also positively influenced users' learning habits. A culture of consistent daily learning without burden has taken root, and many users are maximizing learning effectiveness through active participation. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that Japanese lessons accounted for 190,000 of the total lessons, significantly surpassing English (130,000 lessons). Looking at user distribution, standalone Japanese learners made up the largest group at 47%, while standalone English learners accounted for 31%, and Double Pack users learning both languages comprised 23%. This boom in Japanese learning is analyzed as the result of complex factors, including increased exposure to Japanese content through OTT platforms like Netflix, deep interest in Japanese subculture among the MZ generation, and practical needs for renewed travel to Japan post-COVID-19. Additionally, grammatical structures similar to Korean have contributed to lowering the barrier to entry for learning. Dayone Company plans to further enhance users' learning experiences by refining personalized curricula through AI analysis. The company aims to precisely identify individual learners' strengths and weaknesses and establish a system that provides learning continuity, akin to a dedicated tutor, even when tutors change, thereby maintaining an efficient learning flow. Lee Kang-min, CEO of Dayone Company, emphasized, "PODO is paving the way for the 'normalization' of foreign language learning, making it easily accessible to everyone, going beyond mere price competitiveness. We will create an environment where everyone can continuously grow through personalized learning utilizing AI and big data technologies." PODO is leading the popularization of foreign language acquisition, a critical competence in the global era, and presenting a new learning paradigm.