Kakao says spin-off will carry over staff terms to Kakao AI

Kakao said it held an employee Open Talk on October 15 to share the status of preparations for its spin-off, according to Digital Today. CEO Jeong Shin-ah, CFO Shin Jong-hwan and CTO Song Jae-ha attended and explained the spin-off work, the future schedule, and employment and working conditions.

The company said the rights and obligations related to its existing businesses will be transferred to the new company Kakao AI, and that the employment and working conditions of all employees will be comprehensively succeeded.

Vacation, work systems and the office working environment will keep the existing framework, Kakao said. Welfare benefits including the daycare center, loans, the in-house cafeteria Chunsik Dorak and resort facilities will be maintained.

Kakao plans to hold an extraordinary shareholders' meeting on December 17 and aims to complete the spin-off on January 1, 2027. It plans to relist Kakao AI and change the listing of Kakao X on January 27, 2027.

A second small shareholders' meeting is scheduled for October 20 to take questions about the spin-off. Kakao announced the spin-off in August 2026 and held an employee briefing at that time, followed by a briefing for performance leaders and a small shareholders' meeting in September 2026 and a joint analyst briefing with the CEOs of major affiliates at 'if(kakao)26' on October 13, 2026.