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Everyone has experienced at least once stumbling over their words during an important presentation or interview. Although the thoughts were clearly organized in the mind, the moment one opens their mouth, sentences become tangled, pronunciation blurs, and confidence wavers. No Shin-hoe, CEO of Ttobak-ttobak, states that such speech failures, colloquially referred to as 'Ebul-kick,' stem not from innate personality or ability, but from a lack of systematic training.
Ttobak-ttobak is an AI (artificial intelligence)-based mobile app for speech training developed to resolve 'speech anxiety.' The background of its founding lies in Noh (CEO)'s personal sense of urgency. While working as a voice actor for Seoul's Climate Companion Campaign and as a speech instructor for employees of major corporations, he realized that while everyone struggles with speaking, there is a lack of environments in daily life to practice.
Speaking is not a skill required only for specific professions. It is a fundamental competency demanded in almost all social activities, including company meetings, sales and customer service, networking with investors, and meetings or blind dates. However, there are actually few digital-based services available for systematic training of this skill. Noh (CEO) stated, "Most existing speech education is centered around academies, resulting in high costs and concentration in the Seoul metropolitan area, making it difficult for those living outside the region to access." He added, "Repetition is key, yet there are almost no systematic tools that allow individuals to practice consistently on their own."
What Ttobak-ttobak focused on was 'self-awareness.' Upon opening the app, users can listen to their own voices directly anytime and anywhere and practice pronunciation and breathing repeatedly. Noh (CEO) explained, "Most people rarely have the opportunity to hear their own voices objectively," adding, "Only when one recognizes their own pronunciation, intonation, and speaking speed can improvement become possible."
The learning method is not difficult. It follows a structure where users practice by referring to a pronunciation dictionary or naturally learn by reading along with news and speech videos. The app also supports over 250 dubbing training contents, shadowing training where users read along sentence by sentence for dubbing, and instructor education (VOD type). Users can learn not only how to correct their pronunciation but also the manner in which they should speak.
Especially, the training function for answering questions is Ttobak-ttobak's greatest strength. For example, if a user thinks of and speaks an answer to the question "How do you manage your daily stress?" and records it, the screen displays the sequence: "My Answer → AI Feedback → Correct this part." The AI analyzes the flow of speech, expressions, and repeated parts to inform users where and how to improve. This goes beyond mere speaking practice, helping users develop the ability to organize their thoughts and speak logically.
Recently, the pronunciation analysis function has also become more intuitive. It displays one's pronunciation in a graph, allowing users to see at a glance how it differs from model pronunciation. Noh (CEO) said, "While past speech education relied on intuition, Ttobak-ttobak clearly points out which parts need correction through data."
He continued, "Many users wish to improve their pronunciation to create a more trustworthy image," adding, "It was an unexpected trend that the number of users in their 40s and 50s checking their speech using the news reading function is increasing."
In the past, accurate pronunciation was a core element of speech; however, recently, the ability to change one's speaking style according to the situation is evaluated as more important. Noh (CEO) stated, "Daily conversation, presentations, interviews, and investor explanations all require different approaches," noting that "Ttobak-ttobak has gained popularity among corporate IR officers and sales professionals as a tool for practicing speech suitable for various such situations."
Market response is also appearing quickly. Since its launch last February, the number of subscribers has increased from around 500 to over 10,000, approximately a 20-fold increase. Ttobak-ttobak aims to enter the global market this year as well. In particular, it plans to introduce a pronunciation correction service for foreigners learning Korean. Noh (CEO) remarked, "Language learning is shifting from simple grammar and vocabulary memorization to a focus on actual speaking," and added, "The demand for speech training will continue to grow even further."
[MoneyToday Startup Media Platform Unicorn Factory]
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