Qualson

About Qualson

Qualson is a South Korean educational technology firm established in 2012, specializing in the English as a Second Language (ESL) market. The company operates as a direct-to-consumer business, providing English language learning services through a mobile platform. Its primary service, 'Real Class', distinguishes itself by utilizing content from major Hollywood studios such as WarnerMedia and NBC Universal to teach conversational English. This approach is designed to provide users with practical, real-world language skills.

The company was founded by Sooyoung Park, who serves as the CEO. Qualson's revenue is generated from users who subscribe to its learning platforms. The platform's offerings are delivered through both video-on-demand and live class formats, often featuring collaborations with well-known South Korean personalities to enhance the learning experience. In addition to its consumer-facing services, Qualson holds a controlling interest in Meganext, a company that provides corporate human resource development services focused on English learning for employees.

In a significant milestone, Qualson was acquired by Riiid, a SoftBank Vision Fund-backed AI education company, in a deal announced in December 2023 and expected to close in the first quarter of 2024. The acquisition was structured as a share swap. Following the acquisition, Sooyoung Park is slated to take on a larger role within the combined entity. This strategic merger aims to integrate Riiid's artificial intelligence technology, such as its "knowledge tracing" and "content recommendation" engines, with Qualson's content and established user base to accelerate the development of future ESL products.