What companies will Kakao create in its business split, and what will each one do?

Kakao will split into KakaoAI and KakaoX. KakaoAI will oversee KakaoTalk and pursue new AI-driven revenue through advertising and commerce, while KakaoX will hold the remaining businesses and function as the investment arm for future growth engines.

When will Kakao complete the spinoff and relist KakaoAI?

Kakao plans to complete the spinoff by Jan. 1 next year. KakaoAI is scheduled to relist on Jan. 27.

How much sales does KakaoAI aim to generate by 2030, and what assets will stay with KakaoX?

Kakao said it aims for more than 6 trillion won in sales at KakaoAI by 2030. KakaoX will retain the mobile payment service, mobility platform and entertainment affiliates.

Kakao to spinoff core biz to strengthen AI capabilities

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Summary

Kakao Corp. plans to split its core businesses into KakaoAI and KakaoX to bolster its AI capabilities. The board approved the spinoff, with completion set for Jan. 1 next year and a relisting of KakaoAI on Jan. 27. KakaoAI will run KakaoTalk and aim to become an AI core company linked to advertising and commerce, while KakaoX will hold other businesses. The company said KakaoAI aims for more than 6 trillion won in sales by 2030.

Key Facts

The split ratio for shares in the new entities will be 36:64 for KakaoAI and KakaoX, respectively.
Kakao said shareholders will receive shares in the new entities in proportion to their current stakes in Kakao.
KakaoX will serve as the investment arm for future growth engines.
Mobile payment service, mobility platform and entertainment affiliates will remain under KakaoX.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 21, 2026 10:59 am KST
Updated Aug 21, 2026 11:20 am KST

Employees at Kakao Corp.'s headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, June 29 / Yonhap

Korea's Kakao Corp. said Friday it plans to split its major businesses, including its popular messenger service KakaoTalk, into two entities as part of efforts to strengthen its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.

The plan to split the company into KakaoAI and KakaoX was approved at a board meeting, the company said in a regulatory filing.

Kakao plans to complete the spinoff by Jan. 1 next year, and relist KakaoAI on Jan. 27.

The newly created entity, KakaoAI, will oversee the company's popular messenger app KakaoTalk, with the goal of growing into an "AI core company" by connecting AI with advertising and commerce, the company said in a release.

The company said it plans to create new revenue models and aims to generate more than 6 trillion won ($4.3 billion) in sales at KakaoAI by 2030.

Kakao's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Chung Shin-a will lead the new company.

The existing Kakao Corp. will be rebranded as KakaoX and serve as the investment arm for future growth engines. Kakao's mobile payment service, mobility platform and entertainment affiliates will remain under KakaoX, the company said.

Shareholders will receive shares in the new entities in proportion to their current stakes in Kakao, with a split ratio of 36:64 for KakaoAI and KakaoX, respectively.

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