[DigitalToday reporter Ho-jung Lee (이호정)] Kakao said on Thursday it has introduced a "My Name Protection" feature that allows users to directly check when their name is newly registered to a Kakao account.

If the feature is turned on, additional verification steps are required when identity authentication information under the same name is newly registered to another Kakao account.

The additional verification is completed either by tapping "Allow" in a KakaoTalk message from an account that already has the same name registered, or by entering a verification code sent to that account's email.

Users can use this to confirm whether a new name registration is at their request and block registration attempts they did not make.

The feature can be turned on or off under the "Account Security" menu within Kakao Account settings in KakaoTalk. It can also be set through the Account Security menu on the Kakao Account website.

Kakao currently provides account security features including two-step verification, country-by-country login restrictions, passkeys and QR code login.

A Kakao official said, "My Name Protection is a feature designed to allow users to directly check and manage the process of registering their name," adding, "We will continue to strengthen security features so that users can use Kakao accounts safely."