If you’ve ever lived in or visited South Korea, there’s a high chance your daily life was powered by Kakao. From messaging and transport to finance and entertainment, Kakao Corp is the digital backbone of South Korean society. What started as a simple messaging app has grown into an ecosystem so deeply embedded in daily life that it’s hard to imagine functioning in Korea without it.
How It All Started
Kakao was founded in 2010 by Kim Beom-Su, a former Hangame executive with a bold vision: to simplify communication in the mobile era. That vision came to life with the launch of KakaoTalk, a free, fast, and feature-rich messaging app. Koreans loved it — and within just three years, KakaoTalk had become the country’s go-to messenger. Fast forward to today, and over 47 million South Koreans use it. That’s about 90% of the population. But Kakao didn’t stop at chat.
KakaoTalk: More Than Just a Chat App
With over 47 million users in South Korea alone (that’s about 90% of the population!), KakaoTalk isn’t just for texting. It’s the place where people:
- Send and receive money with KakaoPay: KakaoPay handles over $80 billion USD in transactions annually, offering QR payments, insurance, stock investing, and more.
- Manage their savings through KakaoBank: KakaoBank became one of the fastest-growing digital banks in the world, reaching over 20 million customers by 2024. Its intuitive app and zero-branch model made it wildly popular among younger users.
- Book taxis and navigate traffic with Kakao T: As of 2023, over 30 million people have used Kakao T services. It’s the default ride-hailing app in Korea — and yes, you can even chat with your driver via KakaoTalk.
- Kakao also owns Kakao Webtoon (Leading platforms for digital comics and novels), Melon (South Korea’s largest music streaming service), and Kakao M & Kakao Entertainment (Major players in K-pop, K-dramas, and celebrity management).
- KakaoTalk is also central to digital ID verification, especially with the Korean government’s increasing reliance on mobile authentication for various services.
Interesting Facts:
- KakaoTalk was one of the first apps in the world to offer custom emoji and animated stickers, driving a whole virtual gift economy.
- Kakao Friends (its mascot characters like Ryan and Apeach) have become cultural icons, with merchandise shops, cafes, and even Kakao-themed trains. Kakao Friends merchandise generates millions annually and has become a cultural phenomenon.
- Despite its dominance, Kakao has faced scrutiny from the government for monopolistic behavior, prompting efforts to diversify its services and decentralize operations.
Kakao isn’t just a tech company — it’s the infrastructure of modern Korean life. What makes Kakao especially interesting is how it combines convenience, culture, and creativity into one seamless digital experience. Whether you’re catching a taxi, transferring money, listening to BTS, or reading a webtoon, chances are Kakao’s behind it.
So next time someone mentions “the Korean app everyone uses,” you’ll know: it’s not just an app — it’s Kakao.
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