"✔️ Declares a shift away from state-led initiatives to establish a private-led, real-time update system

✔️ Unveils its own CI, strategically positioning K-spatial information to strengthen global competitiveness

▲ The Korea Spatial Information Industry Cooperative held its 33rd Annual General Meeting on the 24th at the Four Points by Sheraton Seoul Guro hotel. © Connect Daily

(Connect Daily = Reporter Kim Young-do) As the spatial information industry combines with artificial intelligence (AI) technology to emerge as a core infrastructure of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it is facing a new turning point. In the midst of this, the Korea Spatial Information Industry Cooperative announced a leap forward into the global market at its annual general meeting through innovation in the private-led distribution structure and the declaration of its independent CI (KOGIIC).

The Korea Spatial Information Industry Cooperative (Chairman Kim Hak-sung, hereinafter referred to as the Cooperative) held its 33rd Annual General Meeting on the 24th at the Four Points by Sheraton Seoul Guro hotel. The Cooperative presented a vision to innovate the industrial ecosystem, which previously relied on state-led orders, into a private-centered data distribution structure and to pursue stable industrial growth through aggressive expansion into the global market.

The general meeting successfully adopted an electronic voting system implemented for efficient exercise of voting rights, enhancing the reliability of the quorum report. Out of 109 members with voting rights, a total of 64 members participated—40 through electronic voting and 24 attending in person—forming a quorum, and all five submitted agenda items were approved as originally proposed.

In particular, the revenue and expenditure budget for fiscal year 2026 was substantially formulated based on the previous year's performance and confirmed at a total scale of 303 million won, considering the increase in business profits through the promotion of R&D research projects. The Cooperative plans to improve efficiency through austerity operations, such as reducing administrative expenses within the expenditure budget by approximately 30 million won compared to the previous year. It will intensively invest the secured budget into supporting member companies' businesses and expanding joint projects.

Furthermore, the Cooperative passed measures including an annual limit guideline to participate in small-scale contracts up to a limit of 200 million won and joint projects up to a limit of 1 billion won, as well as an amendment to the articles of incorporation. This established an institutional foundation for expanding order opportunities for small and medium-sized spatial information companies and stabilizing organizational management.

The highlight of the general meeting on this day was that it served as a venue to present concrete strategies for a new leap forward as a core infrastructure in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, overcoming the structural limitations and economic difficulties previously faced by domestic small and medium-sized spatial information companies. In particular, instead of conventionally using the logo of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business (K-BIZ), the Cooperative unveiled its own CI, 'KOGIIC', projecting its strong will to firmly establish the professionalism and independence of the industry both internally and externally.

Breaking Away from Reliance on State Orders, Focusing on Private-Led Data Distribution Innovation

In his opening address, Chairman Kim Hak-sung stated, ""We will prioritize institutional improvements to generate substantial profits and stabilize management for our members,"" adding, ""We will lead the change toward an industrial structure driven by the private sector, moving away from the existing state-centered order business.""

▲ Chairman Kim Hak-sung of the Korea Spatial Information Industry Cooperative delivers his opening address. © Connect Daily

Chairman Kim emphasized, ""We will focus on shifting the entity responsible for updating spatial information data to a private-centered, real-time update system. We will innovatively restructure the data distribution system by creating swift and accurate high-precision data and selling it to the government, local municipalities, and private corporations.""

This is interpreted as a powerful intent for the spatial information industry to move beyond its traditional role of executing services commissioned by the government or public institutions, and to reborn as a core entity that produces and distributes high-quality data. Currently, small and medium-sized spatial information companies are suffering from deteriorating profitability due to inadequate compensation estimation in state-ordered projects and ambiguous business scopes. Thus, transitioning to a private-centered data economy was presented as an essential solution for improving the industry's constitution and achieving sustainable growth.

'6 Years of Dedication' Association President Kim Seok-jong Delivers Farewell Congratulatory Speech

Following Chairman Kim Hak-sung's opening address, President Kim Seok-jong of the Korea Spatial Information Industry Association attended the general meeting and left a meaningful congratulatory speech. In his speech, President Kim expressed his thoughts on the past, saying, ""Looking back on the past six years, our spatial information industry was able to endure despite difficult economic conditions because seniors and juniors joined forces.""

▲ President Kim Seok-jong of the Korea Spatial Information Industry Association attends the Cooperative's annual general meeting as a congratulatory speaker, looking back on his six-year tenure and leaving a farewell speech to the members. © Connect Daily

President Kim stepped up as a relief pitcher during a difficult time for the Association and served two consecutive three-year terms, comprehensively representing the voice of the spatial information industry over the past six years. He will step down from the presidency following the Association's annual general meeting to be held tomorrow on the 25th. He urged, ""This year will be a period of great transformation, including AI,"" adding, ""In order to claim our rights and develop the industry, the Cooperative and the Association must always move forward together with united strength just as we do now."" The retirement of President Kim Seok-jong is expected to mark the end of an era in the industry and serve as an important turning point for welcoming the AI Transformation (AX) era with new leadership.

Industrial Advanced Through AI Convergence and Expanding Global Market Entry

To overcome the saturation of the domestic market, the Cooperative decided to materialize aggressive overseas expansion moves for the global standardization of K-spatial information, alongside creating added value through industrial advancement combined with AI technology. Chairman Kim Hak-sung added, ""The spatial information industry is combining with generative AI to become a core infrastructure that determines national competitiveness. We will expand technology education and joint participation in national research and development (R&D) projects so that our members can adapt to the rapidly changing technological environment.""

In particular, he presented a plan to identify the strengths of member companies to form complementary task forces (TF) when entering new markets, and to cooperate closely with the government to secure stable profit models. In fact, throughout 2025, the Cooperative focused its business operations on laying the foundation for entering overseas markets, such as conducting international technical exchanges on 11 projects through the Korea-Japan Spatial Information Forum and providing training education to 28 public officials from ODA (Official Development Assistance) recipient countries. It is continuously increasing its external scalability as part of a strategy to move beyond the limitations of the domestic market and pioneer a blue ocean in the global spatial information market.

The Cooperative's major business plan for this year also explicitly includes 'Supporting Member Companies' Entry into Overseas Spatial Information Markets and Conducting Education' and 'Promoting Overseas Expansion Research and Development for Outcome-disseminating Spatial Information Businesses.' Thus, overseas expansion is highly expected to establish itself as a core growth engine for the Cooperative.

Enhancing Brand Value Through the Declaration of 'KOGIIC' CI

▲ The Korea Spatial Information Industry Cooperative designed and announced a CI that symbolically represents the institution's status. © Connect Daily

One of the most eye-catching changes at this annual general meeting was the declaration of the Cooperative's new CI (Corporate Identity), 'KOGIIC'. While the K-BIZ logo had been used conventionally, the independent CI was introduced to establish the unique identity and professionalism of the Cooperative. Chairman Kim Hak-sung explained, ""There were already many cooperatives that created and used new CIs representing their own characteristics,"" adding, ""After verifying that there is no mandatory clause to use K-BIZ under the regulations of the central federation, we introduced the CI to make a fresh determination for a new start from 2026.""

▲ In addition to the signature symbol, the Cooperative showcased six types of CI applications. © Connect Daily

The new CI 'KOGIIC' is a combination of the first letters of the 'Korea Geo-spatial Information Industry Cooperative', signifying that the Cooperative is the central entity of the spatial information industry. The curves applied to the CI design symbolize the continuous cycle and expanding flow of spatial information as connected, rather than disconnected, data. The five pixels at the top represent the minimum digital data units that constitute spatial information.

Kim Young-wook, Executive Director of the Cooperative, stated, ""There were difficulties in using the K-BIZ logo, particularly when expanding overseas,"" adding, ""We will support our members so they can utilize this CI in their overseas operations, clearly demonstrating the Cooperative's identity to foreign partners."" This contains the Cooperative's long-term vision to elevate the global brand value of K-spatial information and secure independent competitiveness in the global market.

Driving Shared Growth by Strengthening Member Capabilities and Expanding Communication

Chairman Kim Hak-sung also expressed his commitment to strengthening networks for sharing technology and collaborating, stating, ""We will broaden the venue for communication and harmony among members, and reinforce network building for technological sharing and collaboration to increase synergy effects."" He repeatedly emphasized, ""We will listen closely to even the smallest voices of our members and concentrate our capabilities on improving their rights and interests,"" adding, ""The reason the Cooperative exists is for the development of its members.""

Last year, the Cooperative provided training for 60 employees of member companies to acquire the national technical qualification of photogrammetry technician, and strived to strengthen executive and employee capabilities through the operation of a university support system program. The 2026 business plan includes measures to strengthen educational capabilities, such as conducting training for three types of national qualifications and operating industry-university cooperation contract departments, demonstrating continuous investment in nurturing professional human resources capable of responding to technological changes.

Furthermore, the strategy is to activate five subcommittees—Ethics, Policy, Future Business, Overseas Business, and External Cooperation—to actively utilize the expertise and human networks of member company CEOs, and to expand participation in projects ordered by the central government and local municipalities, as well as national R&D projects, through joint project promotion.

Meanwhile, prior to the annual general meeting, an awards ceremony was held for meritorious individuals who contributed to the development of the spatial information industry, offering a time to encourage their hard work. The Commendation from the Minister of SMEs and Startups was honorably awarded to ▲ CEO Son Hyun of iWAY, ▲ Director Oh Young-min of LT Metric, and ▲ Director Yeo Hae-dong of Gistech Korea.

The Commendation from the Chairman of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business was awarded to ▲ Executive Director Park Jun-seok of IT Korea, ▲ Manager Kang Shin-jae of ENG Information Technology, ▲ Team Leader Kang Seon-young of Korea Spatial Information, ▲ Section Manager Hyun Ji-soo of Dongkwang GNT, ▲ Section Manager Shin Sae-mi of Shinhan Aerial Survey, and ▲ Section Manager Moon Young-chul of GNS, continuing the encouragement for core personnel at small and medium-sized enterprise fields.

▲ Recipients of the Commendation from the Minister of SMEs and Startups © Connect Daily

▲ Recipients of the Commendation from the Chairman of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business © Connect Daily

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