Many people love folding bicycles. They can be ridden like regular bicycles but can be folded to reduce bulk for carrying or storage. Numerous folding bicycles, each with their own advantages and characteristics, are active in the market. Among them, Mocous is gaining attention by highlighting its unique sliding folding structure, personalized manufacturing, and domestic production.

Hong Bok-yong, the CEO leading Mocous, is an enthusiast who loves bicycles. He devised a structure that folds more easily and conveniently than existing folding bicycles and presented it at a startup competition. As this structure received various awards and was recognized for its marketability, CEO Hong established Mocous and introduced the new concept folding bicycle, the 'Pop Cycle.'


Conventional folding bicycles fold the body sideways at the center hinge, with the front and rear wheels facing each other. In contrast, the Mocous Pop Cycle folds front and back using a folding storage structure in the middle of the body. This prevents the bicycle from falling over while folding, allowing anyone to fold it easily with minimal effort. Not only the body but also the pedals and handlebars are foldable, reducing the volume by up to 78%. The body weight is 12kg, and it is made of high-end materials, including carbon, allowing consumers over 190cm tall and weighing more than 120kg to ride.

Previously, Japanese and Taiwanese companies also introduced front-and-back folding bicycles. However, due to low completeness, stability, durability, and heavy weight, they did not gain much attention. CEO Hong gathered members to realize his vision. Key executives and employees of Mocous have researched materials and mechanical technology for decades at institutions like the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. Based on this experience, they enhanced the durability and stability of the Mocous Pop Cycle. They also received assistance from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials.


With this technology, Mocous is the only one in the bicycle sector to obtain the NET (New Excellent Technology) certification. It also received the Global Lifestyle Masterpiece certification from the Korea Institute of Design Promotion, emphasizing its design appeal. Subsequently, Mocous invested in mold facilities. The aim is to enhance durability by creating the Pop Cycle's frame using mold techniques instead of welding.

Mocous produces, assembles, and ships all Pop Cycle parts domestically. As a result, it has built trust with consumers both domestically and internationally. Custom design and color specification are also attractions of the Mocous Pop Cycle. Consumers can specify the type of saddle or tires, body color (14 options), and accessories like baskets, resulting in theoretically tens of billions of combinations. Consumers can create and purchase their own unique Pop Cycle.


The Mocous Pop Cycle, combining performance and individuality, gained significant popularity from consumers immediately after its release. It exceeded its funding goals multiple times in domestic and international crowdfunding and successfully opened pop-up stores in major department stores nationwide. Encouraged by this, CEO Hong devised the E Pop Cycle, an electric folding bicycle. It features a detachable battery designed with Samsung SDI for structural stability and limits the maximum speed to 25km/h for driving safety. The E Pop Cycle, an electric folding bicycle that the whole family can easily ride, became more popular than the Pop Cycle. As a result, Mocous achieved more than double its previous year's sales this year.

Despite Mocous's steady achievements, there were numerous challenges behind the scenes. None of the processes, including product conception, design, and investment in production facilities such as molds, were easy. The biggest challenge was the prolonged litigation that lasted several years. A company copied Mocous's technology and sold folding bicycles, leading CEO Hong to immediately file a lawsuit, striving for years to prevent technology theft.


Ultimately, Mocous won all civil, criminal, and patent lawsuits. It succeeded in securing intellectual property rights and the originality and technical strength of its products, gaining recognition from investors for the company's capabilities. Using government support funds, Mocous initially proved its concept and created prototypes, then smoothly increased sales and expanded its sales regions nationwide. CEO Hong proudly states that he used the challenges of this period as a turning point to strengthen Mocous's fundamentals.

Following crowdfunding and online shopping malls, Mocous opened offline pop-up stores in major department stores nationwide this year to introduce the Pop Cycle. Consumers positively evaluated the Pop Cycle's individuality, features, and consumer-customized design, also suggesting areas for improvement. CEO Hong emphasized that consumer feedback is Mocous's asset and expressed his determination to further solidify the foundation for development based on this feedback.


To realize this determination, Mocous plans to attract full-scale series investment in 2026. They have already secured approximately KRW 2 billion in cumulative investment from various VCs in Korea by 2025. The investment will be used for domestic and international marketing and production facility expansion. CEO Hong intends to clearly define and promote the Mocous brand. He aims to convey the feeling of a luxurious masterpiece in terms of price, performance, and value, and a friendly essential item in terms of utility, accessibility, and charm. To achieve this, they are preparing photos and videos and creating offline spaces to connect with consumers. In addition to department store pop-up stores, Mocous Pop Cycles will be available in areas like Seongsu in Seoul, Gwanggyo, and Suwon in Gyeonggi Province.

The expansion of production facilities is aimed at targeting the overseas bicycle market, which is worth KRW 40 trillion. Mocous is focusing on Japan, a stronghold of bicycle culture. They plan to establish offline exhibition halls in a shop-in-shop format in collaboration with major trading companies and tour throughout Japan. They have also established a branch in the United States. Mocous is already supplying patrol bicycles to the U.S. police department, runway bicycles to airports, and transport bicycles to truck drivers. From next year, they will approach U.S. consumers by emphasizing design advantages in addition to practicality.


CEO Hong Bok-yong stated, “We will distribute the Pop Cycle, a premium bicycle made in Korea with excellent quality and durability that anyone can easily handle and enjoy riding, not only in Korea but worldwide. We aim to become a bicycle brand that changes the very lifestyle of consumers.”

IT Donga Reporter Cha Joo-kyung (racingcar@itdonga.com)

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