KaKao

- Kakao activates the “Barrier Free Initiative” in celebration of the “Day of Persons with Disabilities” on April 20
- Appoints a new Digital Accessibility Officer (DAO)
- Will continuously find ways to reduce the gap and eliminate inaccessibility to the use of digital services

[April 20, 2022] Kakao (CEO Namkoong Whon) became the first IT company in Korea to appoint a Digital Accessibility Officer (DAO) who will be responsible for systematically executing the Barrier Free Initiative which will strengthen digital accessibility with the Kakao Community.

Digital accessibility is the ability for everyone to have equal access to services on the web and mobile environment. COVID-19 has led to the rapid increase in the digitally marginalized, including the disabled and the elderly, and has consistently presented the need for an environment where people can use services without being marginalized or discriminated.


In response to this need, Kakao decided to implement the “Barrier Free Initiative”, which goal was to create an environment where more people can easily access various services, platforms, and technology. Kakao also appointed a Digital Accessibility Officer who will report to the ESG Director in the Community Alignment Center (CAC) as part of the Barrier Free Initiative. 

Kakao selected Kim Haeil, Head of the Accessibility Team at Kakao’s subsidiary Linkage Lab, as the Digital Accessibility Officer. As a person with severe visual impairment, Kim has overseen accessibility at Daum and Kakao since 2014 and, last year, was awarded the Industrial Service Medal from the Ministry of Employment and Labor for his contribution to improving information accessibility for the disabled.

Kakao has operated an organization dedicated to service accessibility since 2013. Since 2018, the Accessibility Team at Linkage Lab, Kakao’s subsidiary and a standardized workplace for the disabled, has conducted a variety of accessibility tasks related to major services, platforms, and technologies. The Accessibility Team consists of the disabled and non-disabled accessibility testers and web accessibility consultants. 

In order to improve accessibility, Kakao ▲produced high-contrast KakaoTalk themes for people with low vision, ▲ applied alternative text to KakaoTalk’s default emoticons, and ▲improved accessibility to QR code check-in and reservations for remaining vaccines. The accessibility of KakaoTalk, which is used by over 47 million people, is verified every time a new feature, such as the Drive or verification feature, is added to make sure visually impaired users do not experience any difficulties while using the service.  

The new Digital Accessibility Officer will take the lead as the Kakao Community actively improves and strengthens accessibility. An accessibility report on the Kakao Community’s services will be issued and an organic communication channel will be created between organizations that are responsible for accessibility. 

Kakao plans to provide more convenience to wheelchair users by adding information about gaps in subways and platforms in Kakao Map, Kakao’s map service, within the year. Kakao Games will also establish accessibility guidelines for game developers and planners. Kakao Entertainment plans to improve the accessibility of Kakao Page’s web novel by the second half of this year. Kakao Mobility and Kakao Pay will also improve accessibility in their Kakao T and Kakao Pay mobile app. Kakao Mobility will not only improve digital accessibility of their Kakao T service but will improve the mobility rights of the mobility impaired with a sense of responsibility. 

Hong Euntaek, ESG Director of Kakao, said “by strengthening digital accessibility, the Kakao Community is fulfilling our digital responsibility to sustainably grow with society” and added that “Kakao will continue to find ways for improvement to ensure that no one is marginalized when using digital services.”

Meanwhile, a special donation campaign will be held on Kakao’s social contribution platform “Kakao Together” to commemorate the Day of Persons with Disabilities. In collaboration with the Work Together Foundation, Kakao will install six collection boxes for socio-economic organizations that support the disabled and provide support worth one million KRW to each collection box. Users can directly donate through the campaign webpage. Kakao will also donate 100 KRW for every comment, support message or when the campaign is shared. 

Kakao Makers collaborated with THISABLED, a social enterprise that supports the creative activities and independence of artists with developmental disabilities, and has been selling five original paintings from five affiliated artists, as well as art merchandise that were inspired by their art. All proceeds from this project will go to artists with developmental disabilities. (The End)

[Reference 1] Kakao Together “Day of the Disabled Persons” collection box
https://together.kakao.com/tags/Disabled Person’s Day x Kind company 


[Reference 2] Kakao Makers’ “Day of the Disabled Persons” project product sales
https://makers.kakao.com/brand/40740?tab=item 


[Kim Haeil, Digital Accessibility Officer’s Profile]

ㅇCareer

February 2018 - Present           Linkage Lab
August 2015 – January 2018    DK Techin
February 2014 – July 2015       Daum Service
February 2009 – May 2010       XVision Technology

ㅇAwards

April 2021  Awarded the 2021 Industrial Service Medal for Disabled Employment Promotion from the Ministry of Employment and Labor