KaKao

- ₩19.1 trillion in production inducement effect in 2024—employment creation effect equal to 54,000 jobs

- 122 indicators from 11 companies provide an overview of KakaoGroup’s 2025 socioeconomic value

- Contributions also classified and presented according to each stakeholder group, such as users, partners, and society

 

[July 9, 2025] Kakao (CEO Shina Chung) announced the results of its analysis on the economic ripple effect of KakaoGroup in 2024 and 122 indicators explaining its socioeconomic value for 2025. This announcement marks the second consecutive year of the reporting of this kind.

 

◼︎ 2024 production inducement effect of ₩19.1 trillion, value-added inducement effect of ₩9.1 trillion

 

Kakao has been measuring its economic ripple effects since last year to objectively assess its contribution to Korea’s national economy. In 2024, the economic achievements directly and indirectly generated by KakaoGroup were recorded as ₩19.1 trillion in production inducement effects, ₩9.1 trillion in value-added inducement effects, and an employment stimulation effect leading to 54,000 new jobs.

 

Thanks to building a digital ecosystem across various sectors such as mobile messengers, cultural content, finance, and mobility, the cumulative economic ripple effect over the past three years has reached ₩51.4 trillion in production inducement, ₩24.5 trillion in value-added inducement, and about 145,000 new jobs, maintaining an upward trajectory.

 

This analysis was reviewed and advised by Professor Emeritus Kim Yong-gyu (Hanyang University Dept. of Economics), Professor Jeon Hyun-bae (Sogang University Dept. of Economics), and Professor Han Jong-hee (Yonsei University Dept. of Economics).

 

■ 11 companies and 122 indicators present socioeconomic value as concrete results

 

The indicators comprehensively presented this year provide an objective overview of KakaoGroup’s diverse socioeconomic values. In particular, the scope of analysis expanded this year from last year’s 10 companies and 60 indicators to 11 companies and 122 indicators.

 

The cumulative donation amount raised via Kakao’s social contribution platform Kakao Together Value reached ₩93.6 billion as of April 2025, with 19,000 fundraising projects, contributing significantly to promoting a donation culture easily accessible in daily life. Through sales channel support by Kakao’s ‘impact commerce’ platform Kakao Makers, agricultural, livestock, and aquatic products sold at fair prices amounted to 6,859 tons, while 9.12 million items were repurposed through a collaborative project with Nespresso. Moreover, cumulative count of emoticons sent via KakaoTalk totaled 280 billion, helping to expand the creator ecosystem along with the release of around 700,000 emoticons.

 

This year, Kakao has expanded beyond merely listing affiliate achievements—it has presented the socioeconomic values it generated by classifying them into 10 key areas, based on the criteria of the company’s contribution to each stakeholder group, including users, partners, and society. This categorization allows a clear view of KakaoGroup’s contributions in the following 10 fields: improving everyday convenience; strengthening social safety nets; addressing social and environmental issues; managing public health; supporting small business growth; promoting digital transformation; enhancing the soft power ecosystem; fostering startups; alleviating users’ economic burdens; and reducing economic disparities.

 

Kakao Corporate Alignment ESG Chair Dae-yeol Kwon stated, “KakaoGroup will strive to expand further our socioeconomic value centered on these 10 core areas. In particular, we aim to broaden Kakao’s unique social impact through increased engagement and collaboration with society and partners.”

 

The economic ripple effect data and socioeconomic contribution analysis indicators announced this year are available online via Kakao Corporation website and Kakao’s Brunch Story post. (E.O.D.)

 

[Reference]

- Kakao Corporation website: https://www.kakaocorp.com/page/responsible/socialValue

- Kakao’s Brunch Story post: https://brunch.co.kr/@kakao-it/488