Our Story Began with Real Problems

We started NeuroPonder because we saw too many people struggling with budgets that just didn't work in real life. Six years later, we're still here because practical financial education actually makes a difference.

Why We Do What We Do

Back in 2019, our founder was working with families who had tried every budgeting app and system out there. The problem wasn't the tools — it was that nobody had taught them how money actually flows through daily life.

That's when we realized something important: budgeting isn't about perfect spreadsheets. It's about understanding your own patterns and building systems that actually fit your life.

So we started small. Just a few workshops in Ulsan, teaching people how to track spending without losing their minds and set up budgets they could actually stick to. Word spread because it worked.

Financial planning workshop session with participants learning budgeting techniques

What Guides Our Work

These aren't just nice words on our website. They're the principles that shape every program we create and every conversation we have with students.

Real-World Focus

We teach budgeting that works with irregular income, unexpected expenses, and the messiness of actual life. No perfect scenarios here.

Practical First

Every technique we teach has been tested with real families. If it sounds good in theory but fails in practice, we don't teach it.

Sustainable Habits

We'd rather you learn three budgeting habits you'll use for years than thirty tricks you'll forget next month.

How We Actually Help People

After working with over 2,400 families since 2019, we've learned what really moves the needle when it comes to financial control.

1

Income Tracking That Makes Sense

We teach you how to work with variable income, side hustles, and irregular pay schedules. Most budgeting advice assumes steady paychecks — we work with reality.
2

Expense Categories That Actually Work

Forget the standard budget categories. We help you create spending buckets that match how you actually live and spend money.
3

Emergency Fund Strategy

Building emergency savings when you're already stretched thin requires a different approach. We show you methods that work even on tight budgets.
4

Family Money Conversations

Money fights destroy relationships. We teach couples and families how to have productive conversations about spending and savings goals.

Student reviewing personal budget worksheet during hands-on learning session

Interactive budgeting exercise with practical spending scenarios and calculations

Meet Our Lead Instructor

Our programs are designed and taught by someone who's been where you are — struggling with budgets that looked perfect on paper but fell apart in real life.

Soo-jin Park

Founder & Lead Financial Educator

Soo-jin started NeuroPonder after spending five years as a financial counselor and realizing that most people didn't need complex investment advice — they needed to master the basics first. She holds a degree in economics from Pusan National University and has spent the last six years focused entirely on practical financial education.

What makes her different? She teaches from experience. Soo-jin built her own budgeting system while paying off student loans and supporting her parents, so she knows what it's like to make every won count.

2,400+ Students Taught

6 Years Teaching

NeuroPonder classroom setting with students engaged in collaborative budgeting workshop