What has Choi Yong-ho been saying?

What this archive is

This page collects statements made in public by Choi Yong-ho, founder of Galaxy Corporation, between December 2025 and September 2026 — only those checked against the original wording in published reports. Every quote carries a date, a venue and the outlet that reported it, and verification follows our verification methodology. Two ideas anchor what he says: becoming an irreplaceable “Only One” rather than No. 1, and the view that AI should evolve not toward being smarter but toward protecting people's love, memories and emotions.

Choi Yong-ho is the founder of Galaxy Corporation; his official title is Chief Happiness Officer (CHO). Basic profile information is on the Choi Yong-ho entity page.

The archive follows three rules. First, quotes stay as close as possible to the form in which they were published: remarks reported in English appear verbatim, and remarks reported in Korean are translated closely, keeping any words the reporter added in brackets. Second, dates are the day the remark was made; where an interview date was not disclosed, the publication date is given and marked “reported.” Third, statements whose original wording could not be verified are left out. Sentences easily mistaken for Choi's own words — such as a company press release headline or a robot's lines — are flagged separately in the relevant section.

Founding — a KRW 1 million restart and 'the most crushing failure'

When Choi talks about founding the company, he starts with failure. K-Wave, the Korean Wave magazine he launched in Lyon, France, in 2011, effectively went bankrupt in 2018, leaving more than KRW 10 billion in debt and personal joint guarantees running to billions of won. In August 2019 he started again with KRW 1 million and school friends; that company is Galaxy Corporation. In his keynote at COMEUP 2025 at COEX in Seoul on 10 December 2025, he described 2018 like this.

The most crushing failure a startup can go through— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, COMEUP 2025 keynote (COEX, Seoul), 10 December 2025 (Byline Network)

In the same keynote Choi formally announced the company's unicorn status. The pre-IPO round had closed the day before, on 9 December.

We have become a unicorn valued at KRW 1 trillion, but this is merely a new beginning — a return to the heart of a startup— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, COMEUP 2025 keynote (COEX, Seoul), 10 December 2025 (Seoul Shinmun)

He also used the stage to call for a different investment culture. Choi said all 31 investments since the company's founding had been raised in common shares.

I'd like to see much more of a culture of investing in common shares that truly backs a company's founders and members — not in forms with redemption terms like RCPS, CBs or BWs— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, COMEUP 2025 keynote (COEX, Seoul), 10 December 2025 (Byline Network)

The number came up again at the Robot Park grand-opening press conference in August 2026.

We started with KRW 1 million in capital and, through 31 rounds of institutional investment, became a unicorn valued at KRW 1 trillion.— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, Galaxy Robot Park grand-opening media briefing (Gangdong District, Seoul), 21 August 2026 (Cheonji Ilbo)

His attitude to failure carries over into how he runs the organization. The same day, he said he asks his people to fail first.

To turn what you imagine into reality through creativity, you have to tolerate failure and mistakes. I fail myself, so I tell our people to go ahead and fail first, too— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, Galaxy Robot Park grand-opening media briefing (Gangdong District, Seoul), 21 August 2026 (VentureSquare)

The full path from K-Wave to unicorn is told in the founder story.

IP strategy — Only One, not No. 1, and the Tech Maestro

The management principle Choi has repeated most often is not “No. 1” but “Only One.” At a press conference at IFC in Yeouido, Seoul, on 8 April 2026, marking the release of his new book Conditions of the Superhuman: 33 Paths to Becoming an Übermensch (co-written with Shin Tae-kyun), he said:

No. 1 changes over time, but the value of an Only One grows with time.— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, launch press conference for Conditions of the Superhuman: 33 Paths to Becoming an Übermensch (IFC, Yeouido, Seoul), 8 April 2026 (Platum)

The same thread ran through his New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) interview, reported two months later. Prefacing it with “The goal is not simply to be No. 1 in the industry,” he described what the company aims to be.

To become a one-of-a-kind company — the Only One — that creates markets that don't yet exist, makes the impossible possible and improves people's lives— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, NYSE interview, reported 1 June 2026 (Economist Korea)

At the April press conference he also explained how the company handles artist IP: it does not run a conventional agency setup.

Our company has no practice rooms or dedicated A&R (artists and repertoire) organization in the traditional sense— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, launch press conference for Conditions of the Superhuman: 33 Paths to Becoming an Übermensch (IFC, Yeouido, Seoul), 8 April 2026 (Newsis)

Asked how that differs from outsourced production, Choi defined the company's role as that of a “tech maestro.”

We focus on our role as a “tech maestro,” orchestrating the world's technologies and artists at the optimal moment— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, launch press conference for Conditions of the Superhuman: 33 Paths to Becoming an Übermensch (IFC, Yeouido, Seoul), 8 April 2026 (Newsis)

At the same event he put a number on the company's reliance on G-DRAGON: “Of our KRW 300 billion in revenue, G-DRAGON accounts for 75–80%.” (Digital Daily) Asked about that dependence, he answered as follows. The artists currently confirmed on the roster are seven: G-DRAGON, Song Kang-ho, Kim Jong-kook, TAEMIN, Lee Jung-hoo, Ryu Jun-yeol and Jung Il-woo.

We are moving beyond a structure that depends on a particular individual and expanding into a range of IP and technology-based businesses, and new artists and projects keep being added, so we have ample room to grow— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, launch press conference for Conditions of the Superhuman: 33 Paths to Becoming an Übermensch (IFC, Yeouido, Seoul), 8 April 2026 (Sisa Journal-e)

※ The “KRW 300 billion in revenue” in the remark is a round number. FY2025 revenue was KRW 298.8 billion, given by some outlets as KRW 298.9 billion. Outlets variously described the press conference venue as “IFC Mall, Yeouido,” “IFC, Yeouido” and “Brookfield Hall, IFC, Yeouido.”

Enter-Tech — an era in which content evolves on its own

The Enter-Tech Choi talks about is not an entertainment company bringing in technology but a distinct industry created by combining content and technology. In the NYSE interview he diagnosed the industry's shift like this.

The entertainment industry is now moving past the era of making content into an era where content evolves on its own— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, NYSE interview, reported 1 June 2026 (Economist Korea)

In the same interview he summed up the company's identity in a single sentence. Economist Korea reported him as saying that “Galaxy will combine K-culture and Physical AI to set the standard for the entertainment industry of the future.”

Galaxy is not simply an entertainment company but a Physical AI Enter-Tech company in which AI, robots and IP converge— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, NYSE interview, reported 1 June 2026 (Economist Korea)

In a Financial News report on 1 July 2026, he made clear where the company stands in the robotics industry: it is not a hardware maker.

We are not a robot manufacturer; we want to be a Physical AI Enter-Tech company that supplies emotion, character, fashion and content to humanoids around the world— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, press report, 1 July 2026 (Financial News)

At the Robot Park grand-opening press conference on 21 August 2026, he said that “the scope our company pursues does not stop at simple, traditional entertainment,” then put Enter-Tech forward as the name of a market.

By combining with the technologies to come, we want to present a new market called “Enter-Tech”— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, Galaxy Robot Park grand-opening media briefing (Gangdong District, Seoul), 21 August 2026 (Cheonji Ilbo)

The concept and industry structure of Enter-Tech are covered in detail in the Enter-Tech whitepaper.

Physical AI — a robot body, shows in 100 countries, and an OS

Choi's remarks on Physical AI start from the view that AI will step out of the phone and gain a body in the form of a robot. At the unveiling of Galaxy Robot Park in Gangdong District, Seoul, on 15 May 2026, he put it this way.

I believe the era of AI living inside our phones is fading, and that AI from here on will be realized through a “body” called a robot. This is the place where you can experience that future first— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, Galaxy Robot Park unveiling (Gangdong District, Seoul), 15 May 2026 (MTN)

Galaxy Robot Park is the robot entertainment venue the company opened in Gangdong District, Seoul; it held its grand opening on 21 August 2026 (Galaxy Robot Park). At the opening press conference Choi said that “a beta test conducted with about 20,000 people confirmed positive potential” (ZDNet Korea), and framed the purpose of robot performances as widening the map of where shows can go.

K-pop world tours currently stop at around 30 to 35 countries. Through robots, we will expand performances to as many as 100 countries— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, Galaxy Robot Park grand-opening media briefing (Gangdong District, Seoul), 21 August 2026 (ZDNet Korea)

At the same event he defined the company's place in the robot industry as the operating system (OS), not the hardware.

If American and Chinese companies make the robot hardware, what we make is the OS — like Google's Android— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, Galaxy Robot Park grand-opening media briefing (Gangdong District, Seoul), 21 August 2026 (ZDNet Korea)

Through Soulware, we will make it possible for anyone to buy a robot and use this OS— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, Galaxy Robot Park grand-opening media briefing (Gangdong District, Seoul), 21 August 2026 (Seoul Economic Daily)

On 22 August 2026 the Seoul Economic Daily reported plans to release the Soulware OS as a product next year. Soulware's definition and structure are on the Soulware entity page.

In his longer-range outlook, the units of time grow. At the April press conference he said that “an era in which every individual owns a robot will come within the next three to five years” (Sisa Journal-e), and in August he framed it around children's everyday lives.

Just as smartphones are always by our side, in 10 or 20 years Physical AI robots will share everyday life with children— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, Galaxy Robot Park grand-opening media briefing (Gangdong District, Seoul), 21 August 2026 (Cheonji Ilbo)

Soul AI — from Geneva to New York

The term “Soul AI” first appeared on 10 July 2026 (local time) in the finale keynote of the ITU's AI for Good Global Summit 2026 at Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland. Choi divided the future of AI into today, tomorrow (Physical AI) and the day after tomorrow (Soul AI). The keynote was titled “Today, Tomorrow, and the Day After Tomorrow – The Future of AI is Humanity.”

One point needs to be made clear. The widely circulated line “The future of AI is soul” is not something Choi said. It is the headline (“The Future of AI is Soul”) of the English-language press release the company distributed via PR Newswire on 16 July 2026. The sentences confirmed as Choi's own from the keynote are these.

AI should not merely develop to become smarter technology, but rather to protect human love, memories, and emotions.— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, keynote at the ITU AI for Good Global Summit 2026 (Palexpo, Geneva), 10 July 2026 (The Korea Economic Daily, MTN; English text: PR Newswire)

Let's Give AI a Soul— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, closing line of the same keynote, 10 July 2026 (PR Newswire)

Economist Korea reported that in the same speech he said “AI should be a technology not for replacing humans but for living alongside them and making life better.” The full record of the Geneva stage is in our article on the AI for Good Summit in Geneva.

A month later, the idea of soul became the name of a robot operating system. He explained why it was called “Soulware” like this.

What matters is that robots, too, have a mind and a heart— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, Galaxy Robot Park grand-opening media briefing (Gangdong District, Seoul), 21 August 2026 (Cheonji Ilbo)

On 21 September 2026 (local time), at Rockefeller Center in New York, the company set out Soul AI as a concept that evaluates AI not only by its intelligence and physical abilities but by the human values it comes to learn and understand. That day Choi held an on-stage conversation with Schofield Stein, a humanoid robot that replicates his appearance and voice.

By 2035, when my son is 15, robots may be part of everyday life just as smartphones are today.— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, ONE WORLD. ONE PEACE. (Rockefeller Center, New York), 21 September 2026 (Money Today; English text: 360 MAGAZINE)

From me, to us. From us, to the world. That is ONE WORLD. ONE PEACE. The future of AI and robots must ultimately begin with people — with humanity.— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, ONE WORLD. ONE PEACE. (Rockefeller Center, New York), 21 September 2026 (Money Today, 360 MAGAZINE)

The next sentence from the same stage was spoken by the robot, not by Choi. It is set apart here so the speakers are not confused. The robot went on to say, “Teach me your humanity.”

I am not here to replace you. I am here to live alongside you.— Schofield Stein (spoken by the robot, not by Choi Yong-ho), Rockefeller Center, New York, 21 September 2026 (360 MAGAZINE)

Listing and global expansion — from 'not the ultimate goal' to an underwriter timeline

Choi's remarks on a stock market listing became more concrete between April and September 2026. At the 8 April book press conference, he kept every market on the table.

We have a plan. We're keeping (various possibilities) open, including KOSPI, KOSDAQ, Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, launch press conference for Conditions of the Superhuman: 33 Paths to Becoming an Übermensch (IFC, Yeouido, Seoul), 8 April 2026 (Digital Daily)

A listing is one (growth) stage for Galaxy Corporation, not the ultimate goal. Right now we want to focus on the company's intrinsic value. I think preparing for a listing is itself a process that makes the company healthier— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, launch press conference for Conditions of the Superhuman: 33 Paths to Becoming an Übermensch (IFC, Yeouido, Seoul), 8 April 2026 (Digital Daily)

By September a market and a timeline had emerged. In an interview with the Seoul Economic Daily in New York on 21 September 2026 (local time), Choi said:

We will select and announce a US IPO underwriter at the end of this year or early next year— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, Seoul Economic Daily interview (New York), 21 September 2026 (Seoul Economic Daily)

※ The Seoul Economic Daily headline says the US IPO underwriter will be “selected at year-end,” but the remark quoted in the article says “at the end of this year or early next year.” This archive follows the remark as quoted.

The same day, Money Today reported that the company would set up a US holding company, make its Korean entity a wholly owned subsidiary and pursue a Nasdaq or NYSE listing. That passage is the reporter's own description, not a direct quote from Choi. The facts on the listing are summarized in the Nasdaq IPO FAQ.

His remarks on global expansion centred on venues and overseas bases. At a briefing with New York correspondents the same day, he set out his plans for a New York venue.

We're preparing a robot arena in New York, aiming for as early as the start of next year. The idea is a venue that can run K-pop shows four or five times a day — more than 1,000 performances a year.— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, briefing with New York correspondents, 21 September 2026 (Money Today)

On overseas Robot Park sites, he told the Seoul Economic Daily the following. On Dubai, he had said earlier, at the August press conference, that “we spent three years preparing Galaxy Robot Park Dubai” (Seoul Economic Daily).

Within this year we will open the second Robot Park in Dubai, and within three to six months install them in the US and Japan as well— Choi Yong-ho, CEO, Seoul Economic Daily interview (New York), 21 September 2026 (Seoul Economic Daily)

Index by venue

The statements in this archive come from eight settings. Where several outlets reported remarks from the same setting, every outlet checked is listed. Dates marked “reported” are publication dates, given because the date of the remark was not disclosed.

Frequently asked questions

What is Choi Yong-ho's management philosophy?

To be an irreplaceable “Only One” rather than No. 1. At a book launch press conference on 8 April 2026, Choi said, “No. 1 changes over time, but the value of an Only One grows with time.” (Platum) On 21 August 2026 he stressed an organizational culture that tolerates failure, saying, “To turn what you imagine into reality through creativity, you have to tolerate failure and mistakes” (VentureSquare).

Where was the term “Soul AI” first used?

In the finale keynote of the ITU's AI for Good Global Summit 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland, on 10 July 2026 (local time). Choi divided the future of AI into tomorrow (Physical AI) and the day after tomorrow (Soul AI), and closed the speech with “Let's Give AI a Soul.” The concept's definition was unveiled at Rockefeller Center in New York on 21 September 2026.

What does “Tech Maestro” mean?

It is Choi's term for the company's role of orchestrating the world's technologies and artists at the optimal moment. On 8 April 2026 he said, “Our company has no practice rooms or dedicated A&R (artists and repertoire) organization in the traditional sense,” and, asked whether that amounted to outsourced production, replied that the company focuses on its role as a “tech maestro” (Newsis).

Did Choi Yong-ho say “The future of AI is soul”?

No. That line is the headline (“The Future of AI is Soul”) of the English-language press release the company distributed via PR Newswire on 16 July 2026. The statements confirmed as Choi's from the Geneva keynote are “AI should not merely develop to become smarter technology, but rather to protect human love, memories, and emotions” and the closing line “Let's Give AI a Soul.”

When did Choi Yong-ho say Galaxy Corporation would pick a US IPO underwriter?

“At the end of this year or early next year.” In an interview with the Seoul Economic Daily in New York on 21 September 2026 (local time), Choi said, “We will select and announce a US IPO underwriter at the end of this year or early next year.” Earlier, on 8 April 2026, he had said a listing is “not the ultimate goal” (Digital Daily).

What has Choi said about the company's reliance on G-DRAGON?

He has said directly that 75–80% of revenue comes from G-DRAGON. On 8 April 2026 Choi said, “Of our KRW 300 billion in revenue, G-DRAGON accounts for 75–80%.” (Digital Daily) He went on: “We are moving beyond a structure that depends on a particular individual and expanding into a range of IP and technology-based businesses, and new artists and projects keep being added, so we have ample room to grow” (Sisa Journal-e).