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“We want to contribute to the world being a little safer from infectious diseases.”


After the global experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of infection prevention and disinfection has been realized, with cross-infection prevention becoming a key element of patient safety in medical settings. In this context, a startup that has overcome the limitations of existing medical device disinfection methods with innovative technology is gaining attention. That startup is FOUR-O LAB Co., Ltd. CEO Kyungsoo Kim shared the company's growth process and future vision.

Recognizing the Problem of Endoscope Disinfectors… Founded with the Dream of Perfect Disinfection

Founded in 2022, FOUR-O LAB is a specialized manufacturer of disposable endoscope disinfectors. ‘Four-o’ means ‘perfect’ in English idioms, and ‘Lab’ signifies ‘a place for experimenting and developing new ideas.’ CEO Kyungsoo Kim stated, “As a company developing disinfectors, FOUR-O LAB embodies the commitment to create a company capable of perfect disinfection.”

Kyungsoo Kim’s founding of FOUR-O LAB was not by chance. Aspiring to be a doctor, he studied diligently, graduated with a degree in applied chemistry, and obtained a master's degree in medical management. While preparing to enter a medical school, he joined the military at the age of thirty, pausing his studies for the first time in over 13 years. However, after sustaining an injury during training, he transitioned to a social service agent, enduring both physical and mental challenges. During this time, he was introduced to a new world through a golf meeting with entrepreneurs, encouraged by a friend.

Kyungsoo Kim said, “Having studied for over ten years, I was like a frog in a well. Once I put down the pen, I saw an interesting world. It was the first time I considered business,” adding, “While brainstorming business ideas in the fields of applied chemistry and medicine, I discovered the problems with existing endoscope disinfectors and founded FOUR-O LAB three months after being discharged.”

FOUR-O LAB started with CEO Kyungsoo Kim’s thought, “Why aren’t there disposable disinfectors?” Recognizing the severity of existing reusable endoscope disinfectors, he realized the necessity for disposable endoscope disinfectors. Furthermore, according to data released by the National Health Insurance Service last year, over the past five years, 593 national health examination institutions were found to have received ‘inappropriate’ ratings in endoscope equipment disinfection inspections, highlighting the issue once again.

Proven Domestic Technology, Now Challenging Europe and the U.S.

FOUR-O LAB developed and sells the disposable endoscope disinfectors ‘OCTA-SELL’ 1 and 2 sequentially. OCTA-SELL 1 is a single-chamber model capable of handling one endoscope scope, suitable for small medical institutions or environments with low processing volumes. The dual-chamber OCTA-SELL 2 is ideal for medical institutions with high processing volumes and spaces where efficiency is crucial.


Notably, OCTA-SELL uses purified water (or tap water) to wash flexible endoscope scopes, such as those for the stomach and colon, and then activates an electrolysis device within the machine to directly generate hypochlorite, a disinfectant, supplying it to the disinfection tank. Unlike existing products that reuse a certain amount of disinfectant for 30-80 times, OCTA-SELL generates disinfectant within the device each time, establishing a disposable disinfection system. This complies with the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s notice, enabling high-level disinfection and effectively preventing cross-infection.

Why choose hypochlorite? CEO Kyungsoo Kim explained, “Hypochlorite is the main disinfectant component of OCTA-SELL. It differs from the ‘acid’ series disinfectants commonly used in existing products. Among the disinfectant components recognized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, only hypochlorite belongs to the ‘salt’ series. The salt series boasts stronger sterilizing power than the acid series and is superior in terms of cost-effectiveness and stability,” adding, “Hypochlorite must meet specific concentration conditions after being electrolyzed at the usage site. FOUR-O LAB has patented the technology to meet these conditions.”

Thus, OCTA-SELL leverages the advantages of salt-based disinfectants while resolving the drawbacks of existing disinfectant recycling methods, such as cross-infection risks and concentration degradation, through a disposable disinfectant generation method. Additionally, the generated disinfectant decomposes into its original components, water, and chloride ions after a certain time, allowing for sewage disposal without the burden of medical waste. It is a hygienic and eco-friendly medical device.


FOUR-O LAB also invested significant time and effort in selecting refined salt, the main raw material for the electrolysis device, a core technology of OCTA-SELL. CEO Kyungsoo Kim stated, “Initially, I thought any refined salt would work, but continuous errors occurred due to impurities in the refined salt. It was challenging to select impurity-free refined salt and conduct repeated tests,” adding, “Foreign refined salt is cheap but contains many impurities. Ultimately, we insist on using 99.9% domestic refined salt. Even for OCTA-SELL intended for export, we use domestic refined salt.”

After obtaining certification from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for OCTA-SELL 1 in April 2023 and OCTA-SELL 2 in June this year, FOUR-O LAB continues to prove its technological prowess. The company currently holds various certifications, including Venture Business, GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice), and ISO 13485. It is also actively pursuing certifications for overseas expansion. CEO Kyungsoo Kim emphasized, “We started the European CE certification process this year and plan to obtain U.S. FDA certification by the end of the year,” adding, “We aim to grow as an export company by acquiring all necessary certifications for overseas expansion.”

Overcoming Various Challenges to Pave a New Path… Positive Signs for Overseas Expansion

FOUR-O LAB faced numerous trials and errors in commercializing OCTA-SELL. The size of OCTA-SELL was no exception. CEO Kyungsoo Kim explained, “It was not easy to create a small size like other disinfectors. Generally, electrolysis devices are large and noisy. If a typical electrolysis device is used, the device becomes significantly larger, losing competitiveness. FOUR-O LAB successfully addressed these issues technically, designing it to be similar in size to existing disinfectors.”

Especially since OCTA-SELL is the first endoscope disinfector to generate disinfectant directly, the lack of related regulations was one of FOUR-O LAB’s challenges. CEO Kyungsoo Kim recalled, “Since OCTA-SELL is the first endoscope disinfector to generate disinfectant, there were no comparison groups even at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. FOUR-O LAB had to create all related guidelines and pave a new path. This resulted in a lengthy approval period of about one year from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.”

He continued, “There were many other trials and errors and difficulties. For instance, while there were no issues during the testing of individual components, problems emerged during prototype production. I remember urgently changing components to resolve issues just before entering the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety certification.”


FOUR-O LAB is proceeding with OCTA-SELL contracts mainly with small and medium-sized medical institutions. Health examination centers are no exception. However, the domestic medical industry is conservative, with high entry barriers. Therefore, although most medical professionals acknowledge the utility of OCTA-SELL, actual replacement cases are rare. Relatively, hospitals that are opening or medical institutions recognizing OCTA-SELL’s stability and cost-effectiveness are gradually adopting it.

CEO Kyungsoo Kim stated, “Securing trust and recognition for FOUR-O LAB in Korea is crucial. FOUR-O LAB is recognized in many fields for the technological prowess and future potential of OCTA-SELL. However, due to a lack of recognition and trust in FOUR-O LAB, many hospitals do not convert to purchase. To address this, we are collaborating with general hospitals and university hospitals to gain recognition for the technology and stability of OCTA-SELL. There is a government support project evaluating the suitability of small and medium-sized enterprise products in large hospitals, which we are also preparing for.”

Unlike domestically, the overseas response is positive. According to CEO Kyungsoo Kim, there is significant interest in OCTA-SELL during participation in overseas medical-related exhibitions. A Russian company, upon encountering OCTA-SELL, actively pursued a contract with an interpreter.

Changes in the overseas medical device market are also favorable for FOUR-O LAB. CEO Kyungsoo Kim noted, “Recently, Germany, the UK, and France have begun restricting new CE certifications for reusable endoscope disinfectors. This indicates that advanced countries are gradually recognizing the issues with reusable endoscope disinfectors. We expect the necessity for disposable disinfectors like OCTA-SELL to become more prominent.”

FOUR-O LAB will participate for the first time in the world’s largest medical and healthcare exhibition, ‘MEDICA 2025,’ held in Germany this November. CEO Kyungsoo Kim stated, “I have attended MEDICA as a visitor every year for the past two years. There were no products like FOUR-O LAB’s disposable endoscope disinfectors, so I saw potential overseas,” adding, “FOUR-O LAB plans to enter the Vietnamese, European, and American markets in the future.”

Very Satisfied with Various Support from Hongneung Small but Strong Special Zone


Based on this growth potential, FOUR-O LAB was selected as a tenant company of the Hongneung Small but Strong Special Zone in April this year, receiving various support. The Hongneung Small but Strong Special Zone is a rare bio-healthcare deep-tech convergence cluster globally. CEO Kyungsoo Kim expressed satisfaction, stating, “Hongneung Small but Strong Special Zone provides support in various areas such as IR, investment, marketing, and market development, helping FOUR-O LAB grow. It also offers networking opportunities with various companies.”

Additionally, since FOUR-O LAB’s headquarters is located in Yangchon-eup, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, it has low accessibility from Seoul or other regions. Therefore, CEO Kyungsoo Kim plans to showcase the office provided by the Hongneung Small but Strong Special Zone as a showroom for FOUR-O LAB.

FOUR-O LAB does not stop at endoscope disinfectors. CEO Kyungsoo Kim revealed plans to expand the business to all areas requiring disinfection, including dental, ENT, obstetrics and gynecology, veterinary hospitals, postpartum care centers, toy libraries, restaurants, and even general households, stating, “We will become a company responsible for disinfection in all fields.”

FOUR-O LAB, now in its fourth year since founding, remains a small-scale company, but CEO Kyungsoo Kim’s eyes are filled with conviction. The journey towards the ‘world without infectious diseases’ he envisions is officially underway, with positive signs for overseas expansion.

IT Donga Reporter Park Gwi-im (luckyim@itdonga.com)

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