What YBM does

YBM (와이비엠) is a privately held Korean education company headquartered in Seoul that operates a vertically integrated language education ecosystem across physical academies, online platforms, publishing, and standardized test administration. Founded in 1961 as Sisa English Company, YBM introduced TOEIC to Korea in 1982 and has maintained the role of Korea's exclusive TOEIC administrator through its long-standing partnership with ETS, with cumulative ETS-authorized TOEIC preparation book sales exceeding 5 million copies. The company employs 251-500 people across subsidiaries including YBM Net (online operations), YBM Edu (academy operations), and YBM Books (publishing).

The product portfolio centers on YBM CLASS (online self-paced video courses for TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS, English, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean), YBM Academy (8 in-person centers across Seoul, Incheon, Daegu, and Busan), phone/video tutoring with native speakers, and YBM Books publishing. AI-powered features are layered across the stack: AI Speaka (speaking practice with speech recognition), AI Level Test (proficiency assessment), AI Ybot (chatbot), AI Speech Diary, and AI Smartbook (digital textbook integrated with Goodnotes and Livedata's GPT-based diagnostic engine). The YBM Family SSO platform and YBM Money loyalty program unify all services under a single membership.

YBM monetizes through monthly subscriptions for academy classes and online courses, one-time book and e-book sales, test registration fees for TOEIC/TOEFL/JPT/TSC/KPE, corporate B2B training programs, refund-guaranteed score-improvement courses (up to 500% refund tied to score targets), and ancillary services such as YBM the Biz meeting spaces and study abroad counseling. Customer segments span individual adult learners (primary), K-12 students via YBM ECC and Ingloo, enterprise clients, and educational institutions. Internationally, YBM has expanded into Vietnam (formal entry February 2026) and previously operated in China, Canada, the USA, and Japan. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

YBM

Legal name

(주)와이비엠

Website

https://ybm.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

YBM is a privately held Korean education company operating an integrated language education ecosystem including YBM CLASS online courses, 8 physical academies, ETS-authorized TOEIC test administration, YBM Books publishing, and AI-powered learning tools, serving individual learners, K-12 students, and enterprise clients primarily in Korea with select Southeast Asia expansion.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language Education Services

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

General Language Tutoring (Conversation & Fluency) (EDANACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Teacher Training & Professional Development for Adult ESL (TESOL/TEFL/CELTA for Adult Ed) (EDAAACAM), Corporate/L&D Course Licensing from Creators (B2B Upskilling) (MPACALAH)

Keywords

• Language education services
• TOEIC test preparation
• Online language learning
• Corporate language training
• English language academy

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Physical Language Academy Courses: In-person language instruction at YBM Academy locations across Korea, offering structured courses in TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS, English conversation, Japanese, and Chinese with various class formats (regular, intensive, weekend).
2. Online Self-Paced Courses (YBM Class): Digital video-based language courses delivered through YBM Class platform with various subscription tiers including unlimited pass options, subject-specific courses, and refund-guaranteed programs.
3. Phone and Video Language Tutoring: Real-time one-on-one language instruction via phone and video calls with native speakers, offering personalized speaking practice and feedback.
4. Educational Books and Materials: Publishing and sale of language learning textbooks, practice tests (including ETS-authorized TOEIC materials), vocabulary books, and related educational content through YBM Books and online bookstore.
5. Test Administration: Official TOEIC and other language test administration services in Korea, generating revenue through test registration fees.
6. Corporate Training Services: Customized language training programs for enterprise clients and government institutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

YBM is a comprehensive language education company that delivers English and other foreign language instruction across physical academies, online self-study platforms, live phone/video tutoring with native speakers, and standardized test administration (TOEIC). Its product portfolio spans adult and children's language courses, AI-powered learning tools, ETS-authorized TOEIC preparation materials and books, corporate and institutional training programs, and integrated career certifications such as MOS and COS Pro.

Product overview

YBM operates as a comprehensive language education company offering a multi-platform portfolio of products organized around its core strength in English language education. The main product lines include YBM CLASS (online self-study courses), YBM Language Academy (physical classroom instruction), Phone/Video English lessons (live one-on-one instruction with native speakers), YBM Books publishing (textbooks and study materials), and standardized test administration (TOEIC, TOEFL, and other language certifications). Supporting platforms include YBM Family (integrated membership with YBM Money loyalty points), YBM Kids & Junior (children's education), YBM Career Campus (professional certifications including MOS, COS Pro, and AI qualifications), and international education services (Korean International School/Jeju, study abroad counseling). AI-powered features are integrated across the portfolio including AI Level Testing, AI Speaka speaking practice, YBM Speech Diary, and YBM Smartbook (digital textbooks with AI chatbot via Goodnote integration). The company holds 19 consecutive years as Korea's top online foreign language academy brand (2008-2026) and 13 consecutive Korea Education Awards (2014-2026).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YBM Family: Integrated membership platform and loyalty program allowing single sign-on across all YBM services, with YBM Money point system.
• YBM CLASS
• YBM Books
• YBM Academy (YBM어학원)
• YBM ECC
• YBM Ingloo (YBM잉글루)
• YBM the Biz
• YBM Academy (YBM연수원)
• YBM Career Campus (YBM커리어캠퍼스)
• YBM Kids & Junior
• YBM B2B
• 불라방 (YBM Live)
• YBM 원투원
• 스토리브룩
• YBM 리딩팜

Products and services

• YBM CLASS Online self-study foreign language learning platform offering video courses for TOEIC, TOEIC Speaking, TOEFL, English, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean languages delivered through streaming for individual learners.
• YBM Academy (YBM 어학원) In-person classroom language education at 8 physical centers across Korea, offering courses in TOEIC, TOEIC Speaking, TOEFL, English conversation, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean for both children and adult learners.
• Phone/Video English (전화화상 영어) One-on-one speaking lessons with native English speakers via telephone or video call, providing personalized conversation practice for individual learners.
• YBM Books
• TOEIC Test Administration Official TOEIC and TOEIC Speaking test administration services in Korea under exclusive ETS partnership, generating revenue through test registration fees.
• YBM Career Campus (YBM 커리어캠퍼스)
• YBM Study Abroad Center (YBM 유학센터)
• Korean International School Jeju (한국국제학교/제주) International school in Jeju offering K-12 education programs with WASC accreditation, preparing students for university admission including SAT/ACT testing.
• COS Pro Certification

Quantifiable outcome

• 19 consecutive years as #1 online foreign language academy in Korea (Brand Power survey)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

AI capability7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Playconomy (Korea)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 April 2026YBM Net signed a business agreement with Playconomy in April 2026 to provide English education content and services domestically, focusing on gamified learning solutions.
• Sotatek Edu (Vietnam)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025YBM signed a COS Pro software licensing agreement with Vietnamese IT company Sotatek Edu in January 2025, expanding YBM's coding certification program into the Vietnamese market.
• Enuma KoreaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023MOU signed for joint development of English and Math AI digital textbooks.
• Team MonolithminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023MOU for joint development of AI digital textbooks, expanding YBM's digital education content capabilities.
• BluGa (Korea)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Business agreement with education solution company BluGa for collaborative research on interactive digital content to support school classroom instruction.
• TriPass VietnamcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019YBM Net signed MOU with TriPass Vietnam in 2019 to enter the Vietnamese English education market, distributing YBM's English education solutions and TOEIC preparation content.
• ETS (Educational Testing Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive partnership for TOEIC test administration in Korea and authorized publishing of official ETS TOEIC preparation materials. YBM is the official TOEIC test administrator in Korea.
• ETScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for TOEIC and TOEFL test administration in Korea. YBM holds exclusive rights to publish official ETS test preparation materials.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Neungyule Education (능률교육): Neungyule is a long-established Korean education and publishing company producing textbooks, workbooks, and language learning materials. It competes with YBM Books in publishing and overlaps in test-prep content distribution.
• MegaStudy (메가스터디): MegaStudy is one of Korea's largest online education platforms, offering K-12 and adult test-prep courses including TOEIC. It directly competes with YBM Class in the online foreign language and TOEIC preparation market in Korea, sharing similar digital-first, video-lecture, and subscription business model.
• Chungdahm Learning (청담러닝): Chungdahm Learning operates premium English education academies (April, i-Garten) in Korea targeting children and adults. It directly competes with YBM's physical academy network and online English programs for the same Korean learner segments.
• Daekyo (대교) / Eye Level: Daekyo is a major Korean education conglomerate best known for the Eye Level children's English/math franchise and Wow TV publication, competing head-to-head with YBM ECC and YBM Ingloo in children's English education and with YBM Books in educational publishing.
• Pagoda Language Institute (파고다어학원): Pagoda is one of Korea's largest English-language academy chains, competing directly with YBM Academy's physical centers across Korea for adult learners preparing for TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS, and English conversation courses.

Broad incumbents

• Duolingo: Duolingo is the global leader in free/freemium mobile language learning, recognized alongside YBM in Korean language software market analysis. While not a direct competitor in Korea's test-prep market, it commoditizes entry-level language learning and competes for the same learner attention and wallet share.
• EF Education First: EF is a global language education company operating language schools, online courses (EF Hello/Smart), and study abroad programs. It is comparable to YBM's international school (Korea International School/Jeju), corporate training, and language academy models on a global scale.
• Rosetta Stone: Rosetta Stone is a long-established consumer and enterprise language learning software provider, recognized alongside YBM in Korean market analysis. It overlaps with YBM Class in self-paced online language learning for adults and with YBM B2B in corporate language training offerings.

Emerging players

• Visang Education (비상교육): Visang Education is a Korean educational publisher and digital learning content provider serving K-12 and adult learners. It overlaps with YBM in textbook publishing and increasingly in AI-powered digital textbook initiatives (Visang's AI textbook initiatives versus YBM Smartbook).

Regional players

• Wall Street English: Wall Street English is a global English-language school franchise emphasizing blended in-person and digital learning with native-speaker instruction. It operates primarily outside Korea but offers a comparable adult English-academy business model that competes with YBM in select Asian markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/YBM인강
• Instagraminstagram.com/ybmclass_official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ybmnet

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments4 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about YBM