Kakao to split its business into two arms

[THE INVESTOR] Mobile messenger operator Kakao is reportedly planning to split its services business into two divisions -- social network and portal.

The social network division will be in charge of running its flagship social networking services including KakaoTalk and KakaoStory while the portal business will be operating news platform Daum News and content platform KakaoTalk Channel among others.

KakaoTalk Channel

Lim Sung-young, director of the firm’s media content team, will head the portal business, and an improved version of Kakao’s RUBICS system -- which automatically offers tailored news content for users -- will likely be used to refurbish the portal news platform.

Park Chang-hee, vice president of the firm, will head the social network division. Park used to work as a developer at Naver (then NHN) before he joined IWILAB, a predecessor of Kakao.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)