As digital transformation accelerates across industries, the question of “technology for whom” is becoming more important than technology itself. Rather than chasing commercial success alone, this is a moment to reconsider who truly benefits from technology—and how IT companies can create meaningful social impact.
DevFive, an IT solutions company, continues to invest in efforts that improve the lives of underserved communities. From braille technology for people with visual impairments to tailored systems for startups, DevFive is working toward a future where the benefits of technology are shared more fairly. We spoke with CEO Oh Jeongmin about his journey and vision.
Q. Introduction and motivation for starting the company
I currently run DevFive, working to ensure more people can benefit from technology through new innovations. During college, I noticed something striking: nameplates outside professors’ offices had braille, but instead of the professor’s name, they all simply said “Professor’s Office.” That made me realize the everyday inconvenience faced by people with visual impairments—and also how little attention technologists were paying to these issues.
That experience became the foundation for my decision to start a company with a sense of mission: to become a developer who creates real convenience for more people. Before launching the business, I worked as a developer to build the financial stability needed to start a company. I also wrote development-related books and delivered lectures—both online and in-person at large enterprises—to strengthen communication skills essential for leadership. To build technology that genuinely helps, I meet and interview people with visual impairments to understand their needs and incorporate real feedback into development.
Q. Core business areas
DevFive is a specialized IT solutions company that provides tailored software for business clients. We deliver web and software development services not only to startups and SMEs without in-house developers, but also to public institutions and large enterprises. We build systems optimized for each client’s business structure and needs, with particular strength in web-based platform development.
We also have experience delivering end-to-end IT solutions including mobile apps and server infrastructure, enabling us to support a wide range of industries. Instead of standardized products, we design and develop custom software aligned with each client’s workflows, achieving high operational efficiency and strong usability. We also provide technology consulting and development outsourcing to support organizations facing developer resource constraints. From early planning to architecture, development, QA, and maintenance, we provide full lifecycle support.
Most importantly, DevFive goes beyond commercial projects to focus on technology for social impact. We invest continuously in R&D aimed at improving accessibility—such as information access solutions, non-face-to-face welfare platforms, and user-friendly systems for underserved groups. Based on both technical expertise and social responsibility, DevFive pursues sustainable growth together with clients.
Q. DevFive’s key differentiators
DevFive’s strongest advantage is combining technical excellence with social value. We don’t stop at building web or mobile apps—we also research accessibility technology, including braille solutions for people with visual impairments. Our team includes highly capable experts such as a Software Maestro Expert recognized by the Ministry of Science and ICT and a Samsung Electronics Tizen Specialist. With extensive field experience, we execute the entire process in-house—from planning and design to development, testing, and operations—without subcontracting. This ensures strong quality, security, and maintainability.
Our capability goes beyond performance optimization. DevFive operates an in-house research lab and continuously invests in R&D, pursuing both technology internalization and optimization. This enables us to deliver highly customized solutions across industries.
We also prioritize enabling clients to fully understand and utilize what we build. To support this, on the 1st of every month we automatically analyze each client’s product usage and deliver a report, creating a system where we can verify and improve the real-world business value of our technology.
Finally, we practice a culture of knowledge sharing. We open-source parts of our technology and share know-how through talks and seminars. This is our way of contributing to the shared growth of Korea’s broader technology ecosystem.
Q. New initiatives in progress
We are focusing on building solutions that B2B clients truly need—such as operational management systems and festival operations platforms. Our goal is to create services that are not only functional, but also easy for anyone to use and scalable, grounded in modern technology.
We plan to release an open-source braille translation library and Devup-UI. Devup-UI is designed to help developers overcome technical constraints in real-world projects. It provides among the fastest build speeds and the smallest bundle sizes in the CSS-in-JS space, and it integrates a Figma plugin to enable safer and faster development. By making it freely available, we expect more developers to participate in maintenance and improvement—resulting in even stronger technology over time.
Q. Target users and customer management
Our core targets are organizations that need digital transformation and institutions seeking stronger accessibility. For business clients, we primarily deliver productivity tools and tailored platforms.
Our customer management keyword is “always-on communication.” For each project, we assign a dedicated project lead and development/design owners to enable real-time feedback. After launch, we provide maintenance and regular reports to detect issues proactively and continuously improve. As a result, many early clients remain long-term partners due to strong satisfaction with both product and service quality.
Q. Plans and goals
Our most important value is enabling more people to use services without inconvenience through technology. This means we focus not only on efficiency, but also on building technology that has a positive impact on society.
Going forward, DevFive plans to expand SaaS-based solutions centered on accessibility and universality. We will continue developing services for those who can be easily excluded in technology-driven environments, contributing to a society where the benefits of technology are shared more equitably.
We also believe technology should not remain confined as a private asset. Through open-source releases, external talks, and collaboration with diverse organizations, we aim to build a culture of sharing. Creating a positive impact across the broader ecosystem through openness and cooperation is a core part of our mission.
Q. Advice to future founders in the industry
Never forget that technology exists for people. Trends and personal credentials matter, but the strongest competitive edge comes from sincerely observing someone’s inconvenience and committing to solving it. Also, rather than trying to do everything alone, I hope founders enjoy the process of building a company with good teammates. In both technology and entrepreneurship, real momentum comes from teamwork.
Q. Management philosophy and ideal talent
My philosophy is people-centered technology and trust-based management. Technology is only a tool—the most important question is what value it creates for both the people who build it and the people who use it. Trust with team members, customers, and partners is what sustains a business over time. That is why we focus on consistency and sincerity rather than short-term gains.
We look for people who execute their responsibilities reliably while questioning how work can be improved. For example, instead of manually writing reports, they might build an automated system—challenging the process to find better ways. We also work to create an environment where such talent can thrive. We invest generously in office equipment—computers, mice, desks, and chairs—and we installed motorized standing desks at every seat so team members can work in the posture that suits them best. We also do our best to accommodate employee requests whenever possible.
Q. Final message
DevFive goes beyond development outsourcing—we also support companies through IT advisory and technical consultations. We often see cases where companies choose low-cost vendors based only on price, only to face failures due to missing features or lack of maintenance. Each time, we think: “If they had received proper guidance early, things could have been different.”
We value software that can operate reliably over the long term, not just short-term delivery. With robust architecture, maintainable code, and features optimized for real workflows, we aim to deliver solutions that clients can continue using even after they grow. Technology is not a one-time output—it is the foundation for a sustainable IT environment. Based on trust and experience, DevFive strives to be a partner that helps clients make better decisions.
