Kakao Holds First Joint IR With Affiliate CEOs Ahead of Spin-Off

Kakao X CEO Nominee Kim Doyoung: "Enhancing Corporate Value"

Kakao Group holds its first joint analyst briefing on the 13th. Photo courtesy of Kakao.

Kakao said on October 14 that, ahead of a spin-off, it had held its first group-wide joint investor relations (IR) session for securities analysts and others, featuring the CEOs of its major affiliates.

CEOs from major affiliates, including Kakao, Kakao Pay, KakaoBank, Kakao Entertainment, SM Entertainment and Kakao Piccoma, attended and gave presentations. The heads of each company shared their vision and plans for synergies between Kakao AI and Kakao X after the spin-off, as well as their respective affiliates' growth strategies and implementation plans.

Shina Chung, Kakao AI's nominee for CEO, said, "We will develop KakaoTalk into an integrated agentic AI interface that goes beyond connecting users in their daily lives to understand their individual requests and context and carry out tasks on their behalf."

Presentations followed from the CEOs of major affiliates that will become part of Kakao X. As an "investment company focused on future value," Kakao X will encompass three core business groups: techfin, including KakaoBank and Kakao Pay; content, including Kakao Entertainment, SM Entertainment and Kakao Piccoma; and mobility, including Kakao Mobility.

Shin Won-geun, CEO of Kakao Pay, which operates in the techfin sector, outlined a strategy to build an ecosystem for digital assets, including stablecoins, and highly personalized financial services powered by AI agents. Yoon Ho-young, CEO of KakaoBank, introduced the company's shift to an "AI-native bank" and its strategy as a future financial platform. He also outlined plans to build AI capabilities based on its proprietary large language model (LLM) and drive financial innovation through global business expansion.

Ko Jung-hee, co-CEO of Kakao Entertainment, which operates in the content business group, identified supporting the global growth of intellectual property (IP) through partnerships, connecting fan experiences by upgrading its platform, and expanding live entertainment globally as key growth drivers. She also presented a vision to drive the next phase of growth for Korean IP. Jang Cheol-hyuk, co-CEO of SM Entertainment, emphasized diversifying its portfolio through the continuous creation of new IP, expanding its global fandom and accelerating growth in its concert business. Kim Jae-yong, CEO of Kakao Piccoma, said the company aims to grow beyond its position as a leading platform and make itself Japan's No. 1 multimedia content platform, with AI-generated video and merchandise among its growth drivers.

Kim Do-young, Kakao X's nominee for CEO, said, "The mobility business group also has growth potential for the future through the expansion of autonomous driving and physical AI. By connecting the strong platforms, foundational technologies and customer touchpoints of our core business groups, including techfin, content and mobility, we will create new growth opportunities and translate those results into long-term growth in Kakao X's corporate value."

Meanwhile, Kakao has begun communicating with shareholders about the spin-off. Following its first meeting with minority shareholders in September, it will hold a second meeting on October 20 at the Financial Investment Center in Yeouido, Seoul.

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