Kakao said on Aug. 4 it will hold a running festival, "Kakao Friends Run 2026", for a total of 10,000 people on Oct. 10 around Tancheon in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.

The event will offer 5 km and 10 km courses and operate as a "fun run" format without record competition.

Applications will be accepted Aug. 10-17 for 8 days through the official website and a KakaoTalk Gift promotion page. Participants will be selected by lottery, and the final list will be announced on Aug. 20. The entry fee is 80,000 won, and all participants will receive a running apparel set, a finisher commemorative medal and a sponsor product package. Users who add the "Kakao Friends Run" KakaoTalk channel from Aug. 4 to Aug. 10 will receive emoticons.

Kakao will link its major services to the event. It will support features including KakaoMap's friend-location function, issuance of participant digital cards through the KakaoTalk Wallet and a donation campaign linked to Kakao Together. It also plans to offer a photo-verification service using artificial intelligence (AI) technology and AI running coaching, and to run a virtual run event for those not participating in person.

Major group affiliates including Kakao Entertainment, Kakao Pay Securities and Kakao Pay will take part on site. About 30 booths from 28 partner brands, including experiential booths featuring Kakao Friends intellectual property (IP) as well as Tislo, Takefit and Dong-A Pharmaceutical, will be installed at the venue.

A Kakao official said, "This Kakao Friends Run is an event where Kakao's various services are connected as one, allowing participants to experience our services in diverse ways." The official added, "We plan to provide an offline experience of running together with Kakao Friends IP."