The Elec转述Kakao已在8月21日公告的人拆为Kakao AI与Kakao X方案

Kakao will split into two companies, dividing its operations into an artificial intelligence (AI)-focused company and an investment- and business-oriented company.
The business combining KakaoTalk with AI will be handled by a newly established company, Kakao AI, while affiliates including KakaoBank, KakaoPay, Kakao Entertainment and Kakao Mobility will be placed under the surviving company, Kakao X.
Kakao said on Aug. 21 that its board of directors resolved to spin off the company into Kakao AI and Kakao X through a horizontal split. The split ratio, based on net asset book value, is 0.36 for Kakao AI and 0.64 for Kakao X.
Because it is a horizontal split, existing Kakao shareholders will receive shares in both Kakao AI and Kakao X according to their holdings. Unlike a vertical split, in which the existing company holds the shares of the new company, shareholders will become shareholders of both companies.
Kakao explained the rationale for the split as a measure to separate decision-making systems for its platform and AI businesses, which differ in nature, from those of its major subsidiaries and investment operations. As the company has grown larger and its business structure more complex, it judged that executing business-specific strategies quickly under a single management system had become difficult.
According to the company, the newly established Kakao AI aims to become an “AI core company” that combines AI, advertising and commerce around KakaoTalk. Chung Shin-a, the current Kakao chief executive officer, has been named to lead it. Operating subsidiaries including DKTechin and K&Works will also be included in Kakao AI.
The core is the AI transformation of KakaoTalk. Based on the relationships, conversations and service-use context of about 50 million users, the company plans to develop KakaoTalk into an “agentic AI interface” that understands individual users’ intent.
Kakao also set a goal of securing more than 20 million AI daily active users (DAU) by 2030 and increasing platform dwell time by more than 50% from current levels.
Kakao plans to grow Kakao AI’s revenue by about 20% annually on average to more than 6 trillion won by 2030.
The surviving entity, Kakao X, will manage major subsidiaries and investment assets. Kim Do-young, chief executive officer of Kakao Investment and head of the group investment strategy office at Kakao’s CA Council, has been named to lead it.
Placed under Kakao X will be KakaoBank, KakaoPay and KakaoPay Securities in techfin; Kakao Entertainment, SM Entertainment and Kakao Piccoma in content; and Kakao Mobility in mobility. Kakao Investment and Kakao Ventures also belong to Kakao X.
Kakao X set a goal of expanding its main business revenue by 13.3% annually on average to more than 10 trillion won by 2030.
Kakao plans to hold an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders on Dec. 17 to handle the horizontal split agenda. The split date is Jan. 1, 2027. The relisting of Kakao AI and the changed listing of Kakao X are set for Jan. 27.
The company said it will maintain employment, working conditions and welfare benefits after the split. It also plans to ensure continuity of existing operations for the services, personnel, assets, technology and AI models transferred to Kakao AI.
Kakao is scheduled to hold a briefing on the split on Aug. 21.