Choi Hyeong-bin
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Choi Hyeong-bin | |
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최형빈 | |
| Born | 2005 (age 19–20) |
| Occupation(s) | Developer, product owner, entrepreneur |
| Years active | 2020–present |
| Known for | Developer of CoronaNOW app, youngest PO at Toss |
| Notable work | CoronaNOW, Teens Silo (Toss), Power Nap Alarm App |
Choi Hyeong-bin (Korean: 최형빈; born 2005) is a South Korean software developer and entrepreneur. While still a middle school student, he gained national attention for developing the mobile application CoronaNOW, which provided real-time information about the COVID-19 pandemic. During high school, he joined the fintech company Toss as the youngest-ever product owner (PO), where he led service planning and growth strategies targeting teenagers. After leaving the company, he returned to university and began developing wellness-based mobile applications aimed at the global market.[1]
Life
[edit]Choi Hyeong-bin was born in South Korea in 2005 and is a software developer and entrepreneur. In 2020, while still in middle school, he developed the mobile application CoronaNOW, which provided real-time information related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The app aggregated public data to deliver updates on confirmed case numbers, mask inventories, and regional statistics. It reportedly reached over 30 million cumulative visits at its peak. Afterward, Choi continued to develop various application prototypes, gaining technical experience and deepening his interest in startups and B2C technology services.[1]
In 2022, during his second year of high school, Choi officially joined the fintech company Toss through its "Next Product Owner" (Next PO) program. At Toss, he worked as a planner in the "Teens Silo" team, focusing on services for teenage users. He contributed to the development of youth-oriented financial products such as the "Neon Green Card" and was involved in planning donation challenges and social campaigns. Within the company, he was known for designing user experiences (UX) optimized for teenage behavioral patterns and proposing and implementing viral marketing strategies. After receiving advice from Toss CEO Lee Seung-gun on both academic and entrepreneurial pursuits, Choi decided to pursue higher education and was admitted to KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology).[2]
After entering university, Choi began working as a founder while continuing his studies. He developed a mobile utility application called Kkokkio, which functions as an alarm for short naps (power naps) using earphones. The app gained traction organically among users of “Gongstagram” (a social media platform for study logging) and introduced a paid subscription model. It maintained a top ranking in the health category of major app stores and recorded over 5,000 daily active users (DAU) on average. Choi was selected for the 8th cohort of the Google Startup Campus program and won third place in a KAIST entrepreneurship competition. He later coined the term "Nap-tech" to describe a new wellness industry focused on short-duration sleep and is preparing to expand the service globally.
Beyond product development, Choi has pursued a strategy focused on content distribution. He acquired a YouTube channel that had gained high viewership with 10-minute nap content and used it as a funnel for user acquisition. By integrating the app with this content channel, he established an independent distribution network and a dedicated user base. This strategy is part of his broader goal to develop the app into a global wellness technology brand.
As an entrepreneur, Choi emphasizes retention in utility services and cost-effective marketing execution. He has adopted a phased customer acquisition strategy, initially targeting teenage and young adult women (ages 10–29), with plans to expand into the middle-aged demographic. Believing that international markets offer greater demand and enterprise value, he has shifted his focus to overseas marketing. He has expressed an ambition to establish new “key features” in the wellness sector through app design and experience innovation.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Han, Sang-heon (1 April 2025). "A middle schooler who created an app used by 30 million people…"Here's my next challenge"". Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean). Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ Jung, Ji-hye (7 July 2025). "The youngest PO at Toss, born in 2005, is now targeting the global power-nap market". Outstanding (in Korean). Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ "Where is the global nap-tech market heading in 2025?". Outstanding.kr. 30 June 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.