Kakao said on Oct. 16 it held an "Open Talk" session for employees on Oct. 15 to share preparations for a planned corporate spin-off.

The session was attended by CEO Chung Shin-a (정신아), CFO Shin Jong-hwan (신종환) and CTO Song Jae-ha (송재하), among others. Management explained the division work under way and the upcoming schedule, as well as issues of interest to employees such as employment and working conditions.

Kakao is running a task force involving major departments, including technology, finance and human resources, to prepare for the spin-off. It has also opened a separate inquiry channel to take employees' questions at all times and plans to continue holding Open Talk sessions monthly until the new corporation is launched.

In a question-and-answer session that day, explanations focused on employment and the working environment after the split.

Kakao said that as rights and obligations related to existing businesses are transferred to the newly established corporation, KakaoAI, the employment and working conditions of all employees will also be comprehensively carried over.

Working environment items such as leave, work systems and offices will remain under the current framework. Welfare benefits such as daycare centers, loans, the in-house cafeteria "Chunsik Dorak" and resort facilities will also be maintained.

Chung said, "Preparing the new corporation is a process of building a system as an independent company, ensuring users can continue to use existing services without inconvenience, and redesigning structures and standards to fit the new company."

Kakao is pursuing the spin-off to establish execution speed and a capital allocation system suited to the AI era.

It aims to complete the split on Jan. 1, 2027, after an extraordinary shareholders meeting on Dec. 17. It then plans to proceed with KakaoAI's re-listing and KakaoX's change listing on Jan. 27, 2027. The detailed schedule may change depending on consultations with relevant institutions and related procedures.

It is also continuing briefings for shareholders and analysts beyond employees. Kakao held a meeting with minority shareholders in September, and on Oct. 13 it held a joint analyst meeting attended by CEOs of major affiliates at "if(kakao)26."

On Oct. 20, it plans to hold a second meeting with minority shareholders and take questions related to the spin-off.

The Open Talk session was the third internal communication event, following an employee briefing held when the spin-off was announced in August and a briefing for performance leaders in September.