Kakao将举办1万人Kakao Friends跑步节并联动旗下服务

A total of 10,000 runners will run through the Tancheon area in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, alongside Kakao Friends characters.
Kakao (035720.KS) announced on the 5th that it will host the running festival "Kakao Friends Run 2026" on October 10. The event's slogan is "Run Together, Be Friends," and it will feature two courses of 5 kilometers and 10 kilometers. Rather than competing for records, Kakao has emphasized a "Fun Run" concept that people of all ages and genders can enjoy.
Registration will run for eight days, from the 10th to the 17th of this month, on the official website and the Kakao Talk Gift special exhibition page. Participants will be selected through a lottery, and the final results will be announced on the 20th. The participation fee is 80,000 won, and all participants will receive an ARC collaboration Kakao Friends running apparel set, a commemorative finisher's medal, and a sponsor package.
Various pre-events have also been arranged. Users who add the "Kakao Friends Run" Kakao Talk channel by the 10th will receive a free running-concept emoticon, "Run Together, Be Friends."
This event is characterized by organically linking the entire running process—from registration to on-site experiences and post-race activities—with Kakao's key services. Users can enjoy running together using Kakao Map's event information and friend location features, and they will receive a digital participant card through the Kakao Talk wallet.
In addition, various customized services have been applied, including a donation campaign linked to Kakao Together, a "Kanana" photo-verification service based on artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and AI running coaching based on "ChatGPT for Kakao." A "Virtual Run" event linked with Kakao Map and Kakao Together will also be operated in parallel for runners who cannot participate on-site.
Kakao's major group affiliates are also providing all-around support. Kakao Entertainment is in charge of supporting the after-party performance, while Kakao Pay and Kakao Pay Securities are participating as sponsors.
On the day of the event, about 30 experience booths will be set up on-site. These will include experiential character booths utilizing the Kakao Friends intellectual property (IP), as well as booths from major partner brands showcasing various events and benefits.
"This 'Kakao Friends Run' is a festival where Kakao's diverse services come together as one, allowing participants to directly experience the brand ecosystem," a Kakao official said. "It will offer a unique experience of running together with the Kakao Friends IP."