Kakao Pay Securities to Gift 100,000 Won in Stocks to Newborns Next Year... Announces Three Major Strategies

Press Conference Held on the 23rd at a Hotel Wedding Hall
Supporting Asset Formation with "AI Investment Agents"
Expanding Access to Korean Stocks for Overseas Retail Investors
Gift of KRW 100,000 in Stocks to Newborns Next Year

Shinho Chul, CEO of Kakao Pay Securities, held a press conference on the 23rd and unveiled three major strategies under the themes of "enabling everyone to participate in the capital market," "globalization of K-stocks," and "a warmer capitalism." Notably, following this year’s initiative of gifting stocks worth 100,000 won to newlywed couples, he announced that next year, newborn babies would also receive a gift of stocks.

At the press conference held at the Conrad Seoul Park Ballroom, CEO Shinho Chul stated, "Kakao Pay Securities does not seek to be just another financial company; our aim is to be the company that opens the first page of your assets at the very beginning of your life."

Shin Ho-cheol, CEO of Kakao Pay Securities, is entering through the virgin road at a press conference held on the 23rd at the Conrad Seoul Park Ballroom. Photo by Kim Youngwon

As part of these strategies, CEO Shinho Chul put forward "warmer capitalism," celebrating the start of life with a stock gift. Kakao Pay Securities will offer birthday gifts of stocks worth 100,000 won to every baby born in 2027. The idea is that experiencing the capital market from the moment one is born will serve as the child’s first asset and the most natural financial education for the next generation.

This year, Kakao Pay Securities is also gifting congratulatory stocks worth up to 100,000 won per household to all couples getting married. The stocks, randomly allocated, will be selected from Korea’s leading companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. In line with this initiative, the press conference was held in a wedding hall, where CEO Shinho Chul entered by walking down the aisle when called by the host.

One AI Investment Agent Per Person

For the next strategy, CEO Shinho Chul introduced the "popularization of asset formation for all citizens." Out of South Korea’s population of about 52 million, around 14 million people currently invest in stocks. Kakao Pay Securities aims to open an era where 20 million people begin investing within three years by lowering barriers to account opening and investing through collaboration with the Kakao ecosystem, including KakaoTalk. From August, the stock trading service of Kakao Pay Securities will become available on KakaoBank as well.

The key is providing a healthy investment experience. CEO Shinho Chul emphasized, "The goal is not to simply increase the number of accounts. We want to create an era in which more people invest properly and grow their assets the right way."

To realize this, Kakao Pay Securities will introduce "one AI investment agent per person." This personalized AI agent will provide each user with tailored investment information, grasping the user’s asset status, investment tendencies, and life cycle, and helping to answer questions throughout the investment process. The ultimate investment decision remains with the user, while the AI agent serves as a supporting tool. Education and proper financial guidance are prioritized before investment begins.

Additionally, the AI agent’s design will technically minimize hallucinations, a common limitation of generative AI models. To ensure data quality, the agent will utilize verified data and processing technologies based on ontology and knowledge graphs, which systematically link the meaning and relationships of information. The company is also building its own AI infrastructure, both to protect personal information and enhance service stability, while consistently increasing related investments.

Global Retail Investors to Access Korean Stocks... Collaboration with Siebert

Shin Ho-chul, CEO of Kakao Pay Securities, is answering questions at a press conference held on the 23rd at the Conrad Seoul Park Ballroom. Kakao Pay Securities

CEO Shinho Chul also introduced "globalization of K-stocks" aimed at broadening the overseas demand base for Korean stocks. The initiative started from the recognition that it is still difficult for overseas retail investors to invest in Korean stocks.

Through a strategic partnership with Siebert Financial, a US-based company listed on the Nasdaq, Kakao Pay Securities is planning to enable US retail investors to invest in Korean stocks. The vision is to create a “global gateway for K-stocks” by combining Kakao Pay Securities’ strengths in technology, content, and community with Siebert’s access and network in the US market. The service will launch first for Siebert clients to trade Korean stocks. CEO Shinho Chul stated, "We are targeting a launch in the US in the first half of next year."

To this end, Siebert is considering a tokenization approach that would enable 24-hour trading within the US regulatory framework, taking into account trading convenience across time zones between Korea and the US. However, neither the business model nor the implementation timeline has been finalized. It is understood that discussions are ongoing with regulators based on legal reviews in both Korea and abroad and ongoing communication regarding regulatory direction.

CEO Shinho Chul said, "Our vision is for everyone to participate in the capital market, for those benefits to extend beyond Korea, and for finance to become a tool that celebrates the start of life. Rather than selling complicated financial products, we want to create a system where anyone can start investing and grow their assets through the simplest of conversations."

Investment Brokerage License Acquired..."Preparing to Underwrite IPOs"

Building on the investment brokerage license acquired earlier this month, the company revealed its intention to begin by underwriting IPOs. CEO Shinho Chul said, "The first thing we thought of after obtaining the license was IPOs and public subscription offerings." He added, "Because we share networks with affiliates like Kakao Ventures and our startup network, our ratio of venture capital investment is higher than other securities companies. With this capability, we plan to increase our venture capital investment and focus on facilitating healthy listings for startups."

Regarding market opinions that listing opportunities have been closed off now that Kakao Pay Securities has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Kakao Pay under a dual-listing regulatory stance, he commented, "As far as I know, there are no plans for Kakao Pay Securities to be separately listed." CEO Shinho Chul further explained, "We do not consider ourselves a company in urgent need of capital. Our capital adequacy ratio is strong, our operating profit is stable, and we believe we can adequately cover any necessary needs."

As for raising funds in new business areas such as investment banking, he said, "If necessary, we can raise capital in any form. However, it’s not an urgent matter. We can sufficiently increase our equity with the cash flow generated internally," he added.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.