GroundK has relocated its headquarters from Magok-dong in Seoul to Haeundae-gu in Busan. The 2016-founded business mobility company is the first tourism and MICE firm to actually complete a headquarters move among those the city set out to attract from the Seoul metropolitan area. GroundK plans to hire new staff and build its own infrastructure to help Busan grow as a tourism and MICE hub.
Why GroundK Chose Busan
For several years, the city of Busan worked to attract tourism and MICE companies based in the Seoul metropolitan area. GroundK, however, was the only company in the industry to commit to an actual headquarters relocation. The Busan Tourism Organization selected GroundK as its first attracted company since opening its Seoul office, signaling clear support for businesses moving to the city.
GroundK's relationship with Busan goes back to 2019. It began when the company's system was deployed in live operations at the ASEAN-Korea Summit held in Busan, and that connection has now grown into the decision to move its headquarters there.
A Mobility Specialist Founded in Seoul in 2016
GroundK is a tourism-transport startup founded in Seoul in 2016. Unlike conventional transport providers, it built its services on IT capability, combining a global network with operational know-how to deliver tailored mobility for companies and public institutions.
In 2019, GroundK became the first in its industry to adopt T-RiseUp, a cloud-based SaaS asset-management system for transport operators, drawing wide attention from industry stakeholders. The system was deployed at the ASEAN-Korea Summit in Busan, where, as a case of IT-based fleet control, it managed and operated more than 100 vehicles reliably. GroundK went on to provide tailored mobility for domestic and international companies and government bodies across international events, motorcade service, and chauffeur service, growing into a strong mid-sized mobility specialist.
A Track Record Already Proven in Busan
GroundK has steadily expanded its presence in the southeastern region by delivering major global projects staged in Busan. Among them are the Upbit Developer Conference 2022 (UDC 2022) and the Asian Patent Attorneys Association Council 2022 (APAA 2022), both international events it operated successfully.
On the strength of this work, GroundK was selected as a regional-partnership tourism venture by the Busan Tourism Organization and secured a Pre-A investment from K-Bridge Investment, a firm rooted in Busan. Step by step, the company and the city have built a foundation of mutual trust.
What GroundK Is Preparing After the Move
With the relocation, GroundK plans to build out its own infrastructure in stages so that Busan can grow as a tourism and MICE hub. As a first step, it is preparing to hire about 10 new employees and will strengthen its IT capabilities at the same time.
In step with its push into the southeastern region, T-RiseUp, the asset-management system for transport operators, will begin full-scale marketing centered on Busan. Recruiting local talent and creating synergy through exchange with a range of startups are the next steps GroundK envisions.
The Shared Vision of Busan and GroundK
GroundK CEO Jang Dong-won pointed to Busan's blend of natural environment and its standing as a transport and logistics hub as the reasoning behind the move.
"Busan is a competitive city that brings together a pristine natural environment and a key position in transport and logistics. The relationship with Busan that began with the ASEAN-Korea Summit has now led to the decision to relocate our headquarters." — Jang Dong-won, CEO of GroundK
He added that GroundK aims to raise Busan's standing in the Asian MICE industry by recruiting local talent and creating synergy through exchange with diverse startups.
The Busan Tourism Organization, for its part, expressed its commitment to policy support so that startups and small and mid-sized enterprises can become a driving force for regional development.
"Busan is a highly attractive city for companies that combine IT capability with operational strength. For Busan to become one of the world's top 10 tourism cities, the participation of strong mid-sized companies like GroundK is very important. We will spare no support so that the many companies coming to Busan feel no shortcomings." — Lee Jeong-sil, CEO of the Busan Tourism Organization
