Kakao to spin off chat app-based platform business into KakaoAI, relist in 2027

South Korea’s dominant chat app ​operator Kakao Corp said ​on Friday it plans to ​spin off its chat app-based platform business into a new company, tentatively named KakaoAI, while retaining investment ‌operations in ⁠a ⁠firm renamed KakaoX.

With this move, the company is ​seeking to address a conglomerate discount and strengthen business ​specialisation, Kakao said in a regulatory filing.

The company expects the new entity to relist ​on the Korea Exchange on ⁠January 27, ‌2027, following a planned ​January 1 ​split.