A controversy has recently emerged regarding the origin of CAD software. Some Chinese CAD programs were falsely presented as domestic products and registered on the Public Procurement Service's Nara Market, gaining benefits for over four and a half years. This led to the cancellation of their registration, sparking a debate over the true national origin of CAD software in the market. In fact, many of the commercial software products distributed in the domestic market are from global companies. From the operating system to the spreadsheets and presentation software frequently used for work, they are all foreign products.

The program at the center of this issue is a CAD software, commonly used for drafting. AutoDesk's products are clearly number one in the domestic CAD market. Although there are slight differences across various sectors, Autodesk's products, including AutoCAD, hold a high market share. Following AutoCAD, Chinese CAD products such as ZWCAD and GStarCAD are penetrating the market.

Domestic CAD programs include CADian and ArchiDesign. CADian is a product from IntelliCAD Korea, and ArchiDesign is from MIDAS IT, a company known for its structural analysis software. Since ArchiDesign is a program designed for architecture, CADian remains the only general-purpose domestic CAD program. Of course, this refers to the commercial CAD programs sold in the market. There may also be CAD programs that companies have developed in-house to suit their specific needs. In the market, both Chinese and Korean CAD products are often referred to as "alternative CAD" programs. The term "alternative" emphasizes compatibility with AutoCAD and competitive pricing.

CADian is domestically developed and is based on the IntelliCAD, a multinational CAD engine. ArchiDesign is also known to be based on the Japanese ICAD engine. The core engine is sourced from overseas, and features are added to tailor the product to local needs. It is widely known that many commercial CAD programs around the world use the IntelliCAD engine. By becoming a member of the IntelliCAD Technology Consortium (ITC), one can develop CAD software using the IntelliCAD engine.

Meanwhile, Hanmac Engineering, a civil engineering company, is developing an integrated program that combines CAD, BIM, and structural analysis functionality. This program is being used in real-world applications by affiliated companies, including Saman and Jangheon Engineering & Construction. However, it is not expected to be sold to the public at this time

Source: Reporter Jinjeong Jeong, Technology Daily
(translated from Korean article)