Kakao’s tentative 2026 wage agreement, drawn up after more than two months of conflict in wage talks with its labour union, has been approved through a vote by union members.

The Kakao branch of the Korean Federation of Chemical Textile Food Industry Workers’ Unions, known as Crew Union, said on Thursday that the vote on the tentative agreement has concluded and was approved.

The union said, "As the union member vote has concluded with approval, no separate unusual issues will occur." It said the wage talks are expected to end after procedures including a signing ceremony, but the date has not been set.

Kakao said the agreement includes applying a 6.3 percent increase, based on resources for the annual salary pool increase rate, with resources for stage-up separate, and paying a 3 million won special incentive payment.

The tentative agreement was reached by labour and management on July 29, after which a briefing session for union members was held and Thursday’s vote was conducted.

The dispute emerged as the two sides failed to narrow differences over the annual salary pool increase rate, resources for performance bonuses and whether to include restricted stock units (RSUs) worth about 5 million won paid to long-serving employees in performance compensation. The union demanded separate payments of performance bonuses worth 10 million won, equivalent to about 13 to 14 percent of operating profit, and RSUs, but the company did not accept the demands, citing management burden and future investment capacity.

After talks broke down, the union stepped up pressure. It raised the intensity through a rally at Pangyo Station involving about 600 union members on May 20, securing the right to strike following a Labour Relations Commission decision to suspend mediation on May 27, the company’s first partial strike since its founding on June 10 involving about 1,500 union members across five affiliates for four hours, and a "Logout Day" on June 29 with more than 2,100 participants. On July 21, lunchtime picketing continued at Pangyo Azit, centred on the KakaoBank union.

Kakao said, "We plan to faithfully implement the agreement 마련ed through these talks and work together to foster sustainable growth and create a working environment where members can focus more on their work."