Did you know that a sprinkler no larger than the palm of your hand can save lives at the scene of a fire? Conventional sprinklers are effective at suppressing flames by spraying water in the early stages of a fire, but they have clear limitations when it comes to removing smoke and toxic gases.

This issue’s People Focus introduces Jung-gyu Kim (Class of 1987, Department of Confucian Studies and Eastern Philosophy), CEO of SP&E, who developed the world’s first smoke-control sprinkler capable of removing smoke and toxic gases—overcoming the limitations of conventional systems.

After enrolling in the Department of Confucian Studies and Eastern Philosophy at Sungkyunkwan University in 1987, he began his career in the medical device industry, later founding his own company and eventually establishing the firefighting technology firm SP&E. After five years of research and development, he successfully created an entirely new type of sprinkler. To further enhance his expertise, he returned to academia and earned his Ph.D. in the Crisis, Disaster and Risk Management (Interdisciplinary) at SKKU this February.

How did someone who began his career in medical device sales come to pioneer a new direction in firefighting technology? Here is his story of creating positive impact across multiple fields—from healthcare to fire safety.

| We heard your company developed the first smoke-control sprinkler. Could you explain the product in detail?

Most fatalities in fires are caused by smoke and toxic gases. However, conventional sprinklers focus primarily on suppressing flames by spraying water and are not effective at removing these hazardous elements. Our smoke-control sprinkler was developed to address this critical issue.

Our technology is based on a self-powered, self-priming structure that applies principles found in nature. As fluid velocity increases, pressure decreases, and fluids tend to flow from areas of higher pressure to lower pressure. We applied this simple scientific principle to our product.

Inside the sprinkler head is a cylinder. When water flows rapidly through the center, it lowers the pressure inside the cylinder. As a result, smoke and toxic gases from outside—where pressure is relatively higher—are drawn into the cylinder. These gases are then mixed with water, diluted, dissolved, and adsorbed, significantly reducing their concentration.

Unlike conventional sprinklers that simply discharge water, our system simultaneously sprays water and removes smoke and toxic gases without any additional power source or equipment. This enables dramatically faster removal of hazardous fumes. The moment water is discharged, smoke removal begins.

Although the principle itself is simple, it took five years to bring this idea to life as an actual product.

▲ Smoke-Control Sprinkler Head

| You originally worked in the medical device industry. What led you to challenge yourself in a different field—sprinkler development?

I believe medical devices and sprinklers share a fundamental purpose: saving lives. As mentioned earlier, I began my career in the medical device field, working at an American company that manufactured stents used to treat narrowed blood vessels. I later founded my own medical device company, and then COVID-19 hit. During a two-week period of mandatory isolation at home, I knew I had to do something — so I decided to explore selling COVID-related products. I visited mask factories and diagnostic kit manufacturers without a clear plan and eventually exported 300,000 masks to the United States.

Around that time, a senior acquaintance told me that someone who had developed an indoor air sterilization device was looking for a distributor and asked if I was interested. I thought supplying such devices to hospitals would be meaningful, so I agreed to meet the developer.

During our conversation, I unexpectedly learned that the core technology of the air sterilization device was the same as that of sprinkler technology. Although I had spent my entire career in medical devices and initially intended to speak for just five minutes out of courtesy, the technology was so fascinating that our discussion lasted more than three hours. It was an incredibly compelling and intuitive idea.

Although I felt it might be inappropriate, I asked whether it would be possible to transfer the patent—and that is how I came to acquire the technology. This was around July 2020. At the time, I was often asked why a medical device company was entering the firefighting business. As a result, I established SP&E in March 2021 to operate the sprinkler business independently.

| We heard that your work has gained recognition to the extent that you signed an agreement with Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), one of the world’s leading fire protection universities. What do you think is the key to this achievement?

After successfully completing our first experiment at the Dongtan research lab in September 2020, I spent the Chuseok holiday developing mid-to-long-term business plans for five and ten years ahead. My ultimate goal was to establish a global fire protection cluster.

This would not simply be a collection of products, but a comprehensive ecosystem encompassing R&D, convergence technologies such as AI, large-scale product manufacturing, international research institutes, global certification centers, educational institutions, and government support.

When I shared this plan with my vice president, I asked him to identify the best universities in the field of fire protection. He recommended several institutions, including Worcester Polytechnic Institute. However, he suggested that WPI might be too prestigious and unlikely to respond, and that we should consider contacting other universities instead.

Nevertheless, I was confident in our technology. I sent an email directly to WPI proposing a visit during a business trip to New York to discuss our smoke-control sprinkler technology. Surprisingly, I received a reply from the dean within two days, inviting us to meet.

Although we could not visit immediately due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) via email. A few months later, we were able to visit Worcester in person.

I believe the key to this achievement lies in our technological competitiveness. The dean described our technology as highly innovative and capable of leading the global fire protection market. He also provided a recommendation letter highlighting the excellence of our technology, which proved helpful when engaging with domestic government agencies and construction companies.

Later, I had the opportunity to present at the main stage of the MoneyToday K.E.Y. Platform conference, where the dean was invited to deliver a congratulatory speech.

▲ (From left) Postdoctoral Researcher, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Dean of Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Jung-gyu Kim

▲ Jung-gyu Kim delivering a presentation at the MoneyToday Global Conference “2023 K.E.Y. Platform”

| You enrolled in the Crisis, Disaster and Risk Management (Interdisciplinary) at SKKU and earned your Ph.D. this February. Could you share any course that helped your product development?

The program is not limited to specific firefighting technologies but provides a comprehensive engineering framework for understanding disasters, including fire. Rather than directly teaching how to design a single product, it equipped me with the language and methodology to scientifically validate the technology I developed.

In particular, while conducting computational fluid dynamics (CFD) research, the infrastructure and support from researchers served as a critical foundation for carrying out national-level projects. This allowed us to quantitatively analyze smoke behavior and flow dynamics, elevating our technology from a conceptual idea to an engineering-proven system.

In addition, through collaborative research with the Fire Insurers laboratories of Korea (FILK) —introduced by my advisor, Professor Hong Sik Yun—we were able to establish an empirical research framework. This played a crucial role in securing both the reliability and commercial viability of the technology.

Most importantly, my advisor provided opportunities to directly engage with experts from construction companies and design firms, enabling us to expand the technology to a level suitable for real-world design and application.

Ultimately, the program was not merely about obtaining a degree but became a turning point that allowed our technology to move toward practical application in the fire protection industry through engineering validation.

Although I began my doctoral studies to build references for the firefighting business, balancing work and study was both physically and mentally challenging. Through this process, I learned a valuable lesson—not to speak lightly about things I have not experienced firsthand.

▲ Ph.D. Graduation Ceremony in this February

| Given that your work is dedicated to saving lives, you must have devoted tremendous effort to product development. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

Our company’s technology is a global original technology, meaning it has no competitors worldwide. While this is a source of great pride, it also meant that there were no existing standards or benchmarks anywhere in the world.

As a result, it was extremely difficult to develop and commercialize the product based on this patented technology. The biggest challenge was that, as a completely new product, we had to establish all standards and processes ourselves.

We faced difficulties in every aspect—funding, manpower, networking, and scientific validation. As CEO, I had to manage and take responsibility for all of these, which was a significant burden.

However, I made a conscious effort not to express how difficult things were. Once you overcome it, the hardship simply fades away. Overcoming countless obstacles and continuing to achieve results has been deeply rewarding.

▲ Awards and Honors from Various Competitions

| How did you feel when your sprinklers were installed in places such as Seongdong Market in Gyeongju and Yangyang Passenger Terminal?

To be honest, I cried a lot driving back then. The first installation site was Seongdong Market in Gyeongju. When a staff member on-site sent me a photo of the first sprinkler head being installed, I was overwhelmed with emotion as it brought back the entire development journey.

I often describe the process of creating a new product as “a moment of joy and a marathon of hardship.” Like a marathon runner who takes a brief sip of water at a hydration station before continuing the race, those fleeting moments of joy become the driving force that sustains you through the journey.

Likewise, I overcame numerous challenges with those brief moments of happiness as my motivation, which ultimately allowed me to reach where I am today.

▲ First Installation of the Sprinkler

| You seem to have tremendous passion, even pursuing a Ph.D. to enhance your product’s technical completeness. What drives you to keep challenging yourself?

I believe that driving force is willpower. There have been many moments when I felt I could go no further, but each time, new opportunities somehow emerged—such as receiving investment, gaining recognition through presentations, or increasing awareness of our product. At those moments, it felt as if I was being told, “This is something you must do.”

Whenever a problem arises, I focus on finding solutions first. Even situations that appear negative can become opportunities for growth if approached differently. I believe this mindset is one of the reasons I have been able to continue challenging myself.

I once heard that less than 1% of new employees rise to executive positions. While most people work hard at the beginning, many tend to compromise or give up over time. I believe it is important to climb every step in life to the very end. Only then can you reach where you truly want to be.

| What is your dream? Are there any new business ideas or fields you are preparing for?

About ten years ago, I read around six books on sales. However, I felt that their content lacked vividness because they were based on indirect experience. To address this, I decided to write a book based on real-world experience in the field, and I have been working on it whenever I have time. I expect that one day, it will become a book that includes both practical insights and business achievements.

Another dream is to achieve business success and use the profits for meaningful purposes. In particular, I hope to establish a foundation to support grandparent-headed families, young adults preparing for independence, and bereaved families of firefighters. Inspired by a drama that deeply moved me, I decided to name the foundation My Mister.

However, if you ask about my personal dream rather than business-related goals, nothing immediately comes to mind. I have always focused on work, and while I have many dreams related to my career, I have not spent much time thinking about personal aspirations. Moving forward, I would like to take time to discover those as well.

| Finally, could you share a message for fellow SKKU members who are standing at the crossroads of new challenges?

Live without regret. If you have given your honest best in every moment, there is no reason to regret the outcome. Strive to do your best in a way that you will remember.

Seneca once said, “It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste much of it.” I have learned this through 31 years in the business field. Overcoming uncomfortable, tedious, and uninteresting tasks ultimately leads to achievement.

What people regret most later in life is not failed attempts, but the things they never even tried. Today will never come again. Even if you make mistakes or take a detour, that is okay—but do not delay taking the first step.

Failure is not falling down; it is giving up on getting back up. Devote yourself sincerely to your talent and potential. Before others recognize you, you must first believe in yourself.

When that belief wavers, remember the words from The Doctrine of the Mean:

莫見乎隱, 莫顯乎微, 故君子愼其獨也—

“What is hidden is most visible, and what is subtle is most evident. Therefore, a noble person is watchful over himself even when alone.

The moments when no one is watching reveal most clearly who you are. Those who remain steadfast in those moments are the ones who go far. Even now, time is passing. Whether it is love, study, or exercise—start today.

Interview: Kim Eunseo