“I’ve had my team members struggling because of my poor sense of direction while leading an outdoor club. I kept guiding them down the wrong paths!” Choi Ji-man, CEO of JMsys, shared this humorous anecdote as he explained the inspiration behind developing the outdoor navigation app, ‘WeGoRoad,’ which provides voice-guided directions.

Choi began hiking to treat his herniated disc, and it quickly became a regular activity. Soon, he started enjoying both hiking and mountain biking (MTB), going on hikes two to three times a week. However, when he became the leader of his outdoor club, his poor sense of direction posed a problem. “I kept getting lost, which caused my teammates a lot of trouble. Existing navigation apps weren’t accurate enough, and having to take out my phone to check at every fork in the road was really inconvenient.”

It was this frustration that led Choi to conceive the idea for ‘WeGoRoad.’ He realized the need for an app that could provide precise directions with voice guidance, even in the mountains. With over 20 years of IT experience, Choi was well-equipped to bring his idea to life. After starting his career as a smart factory engineer, he founded JMsys in 2011, a company specializing in broadcasting, video, leisure, and health technology.

Choi is optimistic about the growth potential for WeGoRoad. He believes that “the market for WeGoRoad is much larger than the existing GPS logger market,” and added, “currently, many outdoor enthusiasts don’t see the need for GPS logger apps. It’s common to ask fellow hikers or club leaders for trail information. However, with the rise in solo trekking, more people are searching for local hiking and walking routes, opening up new market opportunities.”

One of WeGoRoad’s standout features is the ability to input voice metadata and incorporate blockchain technology. Users can record voice notes about landmarks, forks, or hazards on the trail, and save these into GPX course data. Blockchain technology has also been integrated to ensure the reliability of route information, and users can even claim ownership of the courses they create.

“We’ve increased safety with a real-time course evaluation system, allowing users to assess and review routes directly. Additionally, users who create and edit routes can earn points by sharing them, which can be used to purchase event items from partnered shopping malls,” Choi explained.

The core philosophy behind WeGoRoad is that “the owner of the location data is the user,” Choi emphasized. Unlike existing platforms, which profit from user data, WeGoRoad takes a user-centric approach where users retain ownership of their data and benefit from it directly. “We aim to create a structure where the profits from location information go to the users, not the platform,” Choi stated.

JMsys is set to release an advanced version of WeGoRoad soon, which will introduce new features such as the ability to edit voice guidance for forks and hazards, share the location of companions, and utilize an emergency rescue contact system.

Choi also highlighted the importance of company culture, stating, “We encourage all employees to engage in leisure and health activities, which leads to diverse ideas that align with the needs of actual users.” JMsys is committed to innovating the outdoor experience with WeGoRoad, offering solutions tailored to real user demands.

Written by PRNewSquare
► This is a news release distributed by Hanmir PR news on behalf of JMsys
► News provided by JMsys