Kakao, also known as Daum Kakao, is a privately owned company headquartered in South Korea. Founded in 2010, the company employs approximately 2,530 individuals and specializes in IT services and IT consulting, operating as a tier 1 media tech buyer. Functioning as a mobile platform company, Kakao provides services spanning messaging, mail, search, news, advertising, gaming, e-commerce, music, and maps.
On June 26, 2026, Kakao's labor union announced its intention to proceed with a "Logout Day" on the 29th, involving five affiliates, following stalled wage negotiations. Concurrently, Kakao Group established a cooperation framework with Korea's leading science and technology universities to identify and nurture youth unicorn entrepreneurs. Earlier, on June 25, Kakao participated in the 2026 Public Artificial Intelligence Industry Expo, hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety from June 23 to 24. There, it operated an interactive exhibition booth, showcasing various agentic AI services under its unified AI brand, Kanana. Also on June 25, Kakao signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with KT Cloud to develop a trusted AI ecosystem utilizing Korea-focused safety tools. This follows the prosecution's challenge on June 24 to the first-instance acquittal of Kakao founder Kim Beom-su. In his appeal trial, where he faces suspicions of market manipulation during the SM Entertainment acquisition, the prosecution is emphasizing efforts to prove guilt, pointing to a special team mobilized under his direct instructions.
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