Beomgyu of TXT voices frustration over KakaoTalk update

Beomgyu of boy group Tomorrow X Together (TXT) and other celebrities are expressing frustration over KakaoTalk’s latest update, which has significantly altered the instant messaging platform’s interface.

Beomgyu wrote on fan platform Weverse on Sunday, “Why does KakaoTalk update on its own? I really hate sudden changes, and I can’t stand this update.”

He added, “I don’t know if I should be saying this, but it’s really not good. If you’re going to update like this, at least give us the option to go back to the previous version. I’m someone who likes analog things, so such drastic changes at once are really hard for me.”

Beomgyu went on to say, “I understand the need to add something innovative. But now it’s harder to use. They’ve only added unnecessary features. I don’t care about other people’s profiles, but now they’re displayed like a gallery.”

Still, he tempered his criticism with appreciation for the developers. “Developers might see this,” he wrote, “but I still think it’s amazing that you keep working to create new things and update for users.”

The update, rolled out on Sept. 23, introduced a feed-style user interface in the friends tab, allowing users to view friends’ profile changes in a timeline format. The update marked the first major overhaul of the app in 15 years, but has it received negative reviews from many users.

Celebrities have joined the chorus of complaints. On Thursday, rapper Lee Young-ji posted on Bubble, “I resisted updating KakaoTalk, but how can it be updated without the user’s consent?” She also shared a screenshot showing an old profile picture of herself, adding comments like, “No, please,” “I look ugly,” and “No! I hate this!”

Actress Nam Bo-ra also posted a screenshot of the new interface with the caption, “Does anyone know how to cancel the KakaoTalk update?”

This article from the Xportsnews is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.