Kakao is a leading South Korean IT company specializing in developing portals and various internet services. It provides content distribution services, messaging platforms, and communication services, including a comprehensive range of offerings in communication, media, content, games, lifestyle, fintech, and search. Notable services include the mobile messaging app ‘Kakao Talk’, the comprehensive mobility platform ‘Kakao T,’ and the digital bank ‘Kakao Bank’. Founded on February 16, 1995, Kakao is headquartered in Jeju-si, South Korea.
Company history:
▲Feb. 1995 = Daum Communications founded
▲May. 1997 = Launched Hanmail service
▲Nov. 1999 = Daum Communications listed on KOSDAQ
▲Jul. 1999 = Daum renewed as a leading portal site
▲Jul. 2004 = Acquired Lycos
▲Dec. 2006 = Established IWILAB
▲Mar. 2008 = Introduced Buru service(buru.com)
▲Jun. 2008 = Launched Wisia service
▲Sep. 2010 = IWILAB renamed as Kakao
▲Dec. 2010 = Launched KakaoTalk Gift
▲Jun. 2012 = Launched Voice Talk
▲Sep. 2012 = Opened the Pangyo era
▲Nov. 2012 = Launched Kakao Friends
▲Jun. 2012 = Officially released KakaoTalk PC
▲Sep. 2013 = Released Kakao Music
▲Nov. 2014 = Introduced Bank Wallet Kakao
▲Oct. 2014 = Completed the merger of Daum and Kakao
▲Sep. 2014 = Launched Kakao Pay
▲Mar. 2015 = Launched the official service of Kakao Taxi
▲Jun. 2015 = Added the FaceTalk function to KakaoTalk, Launched Kakao TV
▲Sep. 2015 = Changed the company name from Daum Kakao to Kakao
▲Jan. 2016 = Acquired Loen Entertainment
▲Feb. 2016 = Launched Kakao Navi
▲Feb. 2017 = Established Kakao Brain
▲Jul. 2017 = Started the Kakao Bank service
▲Dec. 2020 = Launched the KakaoTalk wallet
▲Dec. 2021 = Established Digital Healthcare CIC and recruited Professor Hwang Hee
▲Dec. 2023 = Appointment of Chung Shin-a, CEO of Kakao Ventures, as new sole CEO
▲Jan. 2024 = Kakao reorganises CA Council under new co-chairs Kim Beom-soo and Jung Shin-a
