Kakao

Kakao is a South Korean internet company and platform operator best known for KakaoTalk, a mobile messaging app with broad adoption in South Korea and growing user bases abroad. The group originated in 2010 as Kakao Corp and expanded into mobile services, instant messaging, content, and fintech through the 2010s. In 2014 Kakao merged with Daum Communications to form Daum Kakao, and in 2015 the company rebranded to Kakao Corp to reflect its broader platform strategy.

Kakao operates a suite of services including KakaoTalk, KakaoStory, the Daum web portal, KakaoT (navigation and ride-hailing), KakaoPay (digital wallet and payments), KakaoBank (digital bank), KakaoPage (webtoon and content), Kakao Games, and Kakao Entertainment. The business model combines messaging monetization, digital content distribution, advertising, and financial technology offerings, with continued investments in AI, cloud, mobility, and gaming.

The company is headquartered in Pangyo, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, near Seoul, and is publicly traded on the Korea Exchange. Its founder and longtime chairman is Kim Beom-soo. Kakao has pursued regional expansion and strategic partnerships, aiming to integrate its platforms across messaging, payments, and media to form an integrated digital ecosystem. Regulatory scrutiny around data privacy, market power, and antitrust concerns has accompanied its growth.