DSM CEO Kim Jongseok: "Aiming to Become a Comprehensive Physical AI Company"

'9.81 Park Incheon Airport' to Open Next Year

From Electric Vehicle Components to Energy Storage Devices

Mid- to Long-Term Growth Roadmap Unveiled

Kim Jongseok, CEO of DSM, stated on May 14, "The era of physical AI, where artificial intelligence (AI) is directly implemented in the real world, has arrived. We will combine our decades of accumulated manufacturing technology and IT capabilities to design the future of movement and become a comprehensive physical AI company that offers customers unprecedented experiences."

Kim Jongseok, CEO of DSM, is giving a presentation at a corporate briefing held on the 14th in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Im Chunhan

At the corporate briefing held in Yeouido, Seoul, Kim explained, "DSM stands for 'Design Spatial Metaforms,' which reflects our commitment to using technology to transcend the limitations of physical space and create new forms of spaces and movements." He introduced the meaning behind the new company name and described the reorganized business structure following the recent merger.

This briefing was held to share DSM’s newly established business direction, following the merger in August last year between Daesung Fine Tec, a company specializing in automotive parts and renewable energy, and Monolith, an IT-based theme park developer and operator. The company changed its name this March as part of the business realignment.

DSM operates around three main divisions: the Monolith Division, which manages intelligent entertainment; the Mobility Division, which develops and manufactures spatial control hardware; and the Energy Division, which provides sustainable power solutions. Leveraging the technology and business capabilities of each division, DSM plans to build a physical AI business structure that spans manufacturing, energy, and entertainment.

The core business led by the Monolith Division, called "Spatial Games," is a next-generation entertainment format where physical activity interacts in real time with AI, robotics, and spatial computing technologies, transforming real-world spaces into interactive game fields.

Kim stated, "Our first Spatial Game, '9.81 Park Jeju,' offers a unique racing experience that seamlessly blends reality and virtuality using advanced technology. Thanks to its reputation as an innovative travel attraction, it has become one of Jeju’s landmark tourist destinations, attracting 500,000 visitors annually."

Building on its success in Jeju, DSM is developing a second 9.81 Park near Incheon International Airport. The "9.81 Park Incheon Airport" is an urban model featuring a massive indoor gravity racing stadium approximately 50 meters high on flat ground. DSM plans to construct a three-dimensional circuit with both uphill and downhill sections, and to apply next-generation racing vehicles and control systems based on physical AI. In addition, the company will introduce game-style racing content by implementing missions, rewards, and item features using AI, augmented reality (AR), and media technologies during races.

The Incheon Airport site, which has surpassed 65% completion, is scheduled to open in the first half of 2027. Leveraging excellent transport accessibility, such as the Airport Railroad and the Maglev Train, as well as connections to Incheon Airport and Paradise City, DSM plans to target a vast potential customer base of 80 million annual airport users and 20 million residents in the greater Seoul area. Kim said, "We will establish the Incheon Airport site as a landmark for global K-content and set a new standard for physical AI entertainment."

Kim Jong-seok, CEO of DSM, is giving a presentation at a corporate briefing held on the 14th in Yeouido, Seoul. DSM

The Mobility Division is pursuing the supply of premium electric vehicle (EV) seat mechanism components. The strategy is to secure a high-value EV product lineup based on its existing fine blanking die technology.

The Energy Division is accelerating the commercialization of supercapacitors, a next-generation energy storage device. In the third quarter of last year, the company successfully demonstrated a single-cell rated voltage of 16.2V and a capacity of 1,000 farads—five times the voltage of existing commercialized products—and completed the development of the first prototype. This technology is expected to serve as a core power source in industries that require high output, such as AI data centers, energy storage systems (ESS), next-generation power grids, and electric vehicles.

Kim emphasized, "We will secure expertise across all fields, from the development of core components essential for physical AI, to next-generation power sources, and up to spatial game platforms that utilize these technologies. By expanding our business on the global stage, we aim to grow into a leading company representing the era of physical AI."

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