Kakao Names Kim Do-young as Co-Chair Ahead of 2027 Group Split Plans

Kakao Group has appointed Kakao Investment CEO Kim Do-young as co-chair of its Corporate Alignment (CA) Council, alongside Kakao Corp. CEO Chung Shin-a.

The move comes as the South Korean technology group prepares to reorganize its businesses and split its operations into two separate entities.

Kim and Chung will jointly oversee the CA Council, which handles major decisions across Kakao and its affiliates.

The new leadership structure is expected to guide the group through the restructuring process, with Kakao aiming to complete the split in January 2027.

• Kakao appoints Kim Do-young as co-chair ahead of January 2027 business split
• Kakao prepares to divide operations into Kakao AI and Kakao X in 2027
• New Kakao leadership structure will oversee group restructuring and major decisions

Kim Do-young Takes Key Role in Kakao’s Group Management

Kim brings experience in investment banking, corporate finance and investment management. Before joining Kakao, he worked as an investment banking director at Samsung Securities and later served as chief financial officer of Kolon Mobility Group from 2022 to 2025. He later moved to Kakao Investment, where he became CEO.

As part of the planned restructuring, Kim is expected to lead Kakao X, while Chung will head Kakao AI. Their roles at the CA Council will allow them to work together on major decisions while preparing to lead the two businesses after the split.

Kakao has also set up task forces to handle different parts of the corporate restructuring. The teams are working on areas such as technology, finance and human resources. The company has also been holding meetings with employees and providing channels where staff can ask questions about the upcoming changes.

The CA Council will continue to play a central role during the transition. Kim and Chung will jointly manage key group management matters while the company works toward completing the separation.

Kakao Plans January 2027 Business Split

Kakao plans to divide its operations into Kakao AI and Kakao X. Kakao AI is expected to oversee KakaoTalk along with the company’s artificial intelligence (AI), advertising and commerce businesses.

Kakao X will be responsible for several major affiliated businesses and platforms, including KakaoBank, Kakao Pay and Kakao Mobility. The company plans to complete the business split in January 2027, with the two resulting entities expected to be relisted on January 27.

The restructuring is part of Kakao’s broader efforts to change how its businesses are organized and managed. The company has been preparing for the split through internal teams and discussions covering technology, finance, human resources and other areas.

The changes also come after a period of leadership changes at the group. Kakao founder and largest shareholder Kim Beom-su stepped down as CA Council chair in early 2025 and currently leads the company’s Future Initiative Center.

With Kim Do-young now joining Chung as co-chair, Kakao will have a two-person leadership structure at its group control tower during the restructuring. The two executives will oversee major decisions and coordinate with Kakao’s affiliates until the planned separation is completed.

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For now, Kakao’s focus is on preparing its employees, systems and businesses for the January 2027 transition. The company is expected to continue using the CA Council to coordinate operations across the group as it moves toward the new structure.