[Company Spotlight]<1>EcoPeace: Managing Water Quality with AI Technology

Development of Water Management Robots Using AI Technology for the First Time
Unmanned Operation of "Ecobot": Automatic Charging and Management
"Healing Bot" Water Leisure Mobility Receives Strong Overseas Interest
Sweeping Awards at CES 2024, 2025 and the Edison Awards
"Aiming to Become Korea's Leading Water Management Company"

Editor's NoteThere is a widespread perception that running a business is best done in the capital region, where resources and infrastructure are concentrated. Consequently, the flow of talent, capital, and information naturally gravitates towards the capital area. Within this structure, regional companies are often discussed with the qualifier "challenging environment." However, despite this perception, there are quite a few companies in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do that are expanding their presence in the market based on technological prowess and expertise. These companies are not merely overcoming the limitations of their regions; rather, they are generating new possibilities with their unique competitive advantages. To this end, The Asia Business Daily Honam Bureau highlights companies in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do that are quietly growing through distinctive technologies, aiming to move beyond the capital-centric perspective and provide insight into the current state and future of local industries.

At the headquarters of EcoPeace Co., Ltd. in Buk-gu, Gwangju, CEO Chainwon is explaining about the EcoBot. Photo by Mingi Min

"The water and marine economy, including water and ocean management, is expected to grow even further worldwide in the future. With our proprietary AI marine management technology, EcoPeace will strive to become South Korea's leading global water economy company."

This is the ambition of Cha Inwon (age 43), CEO of EcoPeace Co., Ltd., a company specializing in developing global water problem-solving technologies by utilizing AI technology for the first time in Korea.

EcoPeace was established as a corporation in the Gwangju region in 2012. Initially, EcoPeace operated as a water and environmental management service provider for seven years. However, after being selected for an R&D project related to water quality in 2019, the company transformed into a full-fledged tech company and began developing water quality management robots using AI technology.

During his previous job, CEO Cha experienced firsthand the potential and necessity of commercializing eco-friendly water treatment solutions. Witnessing the severity of water pollution and the importance of water resources, he foresaw that water quality issues would become more complex due to climate change and urbanization and set out to develop new technologies accordingly.

Automatic Charging and Pollution Source Management: Ecobot

EcoPeace's main products are Ecobot, Ecotwin, and Ecostation. Ecobot is a water-surface autonomous robot that can detect pollution early based on real-time water quality data and respond quickly even to sudden water quality deterioration.

Ecobot navigates freely on the water's surface in a manner similar to drones. It features real-time water quality monitoring, algae removal, pollution source prediction and analysis, and can perform environmentally friendly water treatment operations.

The greatest strength of Ecobot is its autonomous navigation on water and its stable power management system. Ecobot operates as a hybrid using both batteries and solar energy, allowing up to 12 hours of operation per day. Thanks to its use of solar energy, it requires virtually no manual charging, needing only about one on-site maintenance check per month. EcoPeace is currently developing technology to enable Ecobot to operate unmanned 24 hours a day.

Additionally, the robot is equipped with technology to physically remove pollutants without needing to replace filters. It is designed to maximize operational efficiency even in situations with large quantities of suspended contaminants, such as algae blooms or sediment.

Model of the water leisure robot Healing Bot. The Healing Bot is equipped with an Ecobot on the bottom, enabling simultaneous water purification and water leisure activities. Photo by Min Chanki

EcoPeace is also developing water leisure mobility technologies, such as the "Healing Bot," which utilizes the Ecobot platform. By combining the Ecobot’s low-power autonomous navigation and water purification technology with eco-friendly design concepts for water-based spaces, the company plans to expand its business into the water leisure mobility sector. They are currently preparing for mass production based on interest from a wide range of domestic and international clients.

CEO Cha explained, "The initial concept for Ecobot was a data-driven solution for early pollution response, but we faced many difficulties entering the market at first due to technical limitations in pollutant removal. Through years of field validation and commercialization of various robots, we have improved our ability to solve practical problems. Now, we are further advancing our technology so that robots can handle a diverse range of water resource management work."

Efficiency Enhanced by Proprietary AI Technology... High Interest from Private and Public Markets

Similarly, Ecotwin is an advanced technology that utilizes AI based on the Ecobot platform. Ecotwin comprehensively analyzes three-dimensional underwater topography, water quality data, and various environmental datasets collected by Ecobot to create a digital twin. In other words, Ecotwin spatially recognizes and manages water quality according to the depth of the area it oversees.

As a result of these AI-powered technological developments, the efficiency of managing marine areas has significantly increased. CEO Cha commented, "When managing large water areas, robots that simply follow pre-programmed automated processes are inherently inefficient. Robots need to perceive and analyze their environment independently and take action to remove pollutants in order for Ecobot to be truly meaningful. This is why we have focused so much on developing AI technology."

EcoPeace, which developed the innovative technology of AI-based environmental protection robots, received Innovation Awards at CES 2024 and 2025, as well as the Gold Award at the 2024 Edison Awards.

As the only company in Korea with proprietary AI water resource management technology, EcoPeace has garnered strong market interest. In fact, there is high demand from both public and private markets to directly verify the technology, resulting in numerous ongoing demonstrations.

Although validation processes such as field trials require time, the company is currently at the stage where these lead to sales, and it has recorded sales growth and profitability for five consecutive years, fueling expectations for continued growth.

CEO Cha stated, "The most essential capability is being able to supply marketable products at reasonable prices. Based on extensive demonstrations and a wide range of on-site operation cases, EcoPeace aims to become a global leader, successfully mass-producing aquatic robots and supplying them not only domestically but also to international markets."

He further pledged, "With outstanding technology and stable revenue, we will strive for a successful domestic IPO and to become the global No. 1 smart water quality management company by expanding into international markets."

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