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# Kakao Stock: National Messenger’s Future, Worth Investing in 2025?

연압아 2025. 5. 26. 08:00
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Kakao Stock: National Messenger’s Future, Worth Investing in 2025?

 
Hey there, investment enthusiasts! Today, we’re diving into Kakao (A035720.KS), South Korea’s iconic messenger and content platform. For 40-something beginner investors familiar with stocks or ETFs, Kakao’s ₩19.87T market cap, KakaoTalk, and AI Kanana make it a thrilling pick! With a 2025 stock price of ₩45,000, +3% in the last month, and a KOSPI IT services leader, Kakao is sparking buzz. This post covers Kakao’s basics, history, price movements, public sentiment, global outlook, my predictions, and similar companies. Ready to boost your portfolio with Kakao? Let’s dive in! 🚀

1. What’s Kakao Stock?

Kakao is a platform giant powering KakaoTalk, content (music, webtoons), commerce, and AI (Kanana). With a ₩19.87T market cap (05/24/2025, assumed, mk.co.kr), it leads KOSPI IT services. For new investors, Kakao offers Talk Biz growth, AI services, and global expansion.

  • Core Businesses: Talk Biz (ads/commerce, 50%), content (music/story, 30%), AI/others (20%) (tech42.co.kr).
  • Key Stats: KakaoTalk super app, Kanana AI, 2025 Q1 revenue ₩1.86T (-6%), operating profit ₩105.4B (-12%) (financialpost.co.kr).
  • Global Reach: Korea (70%), Japan/Southeast Asia (20%), others (10%) (assumed, fnguide.com).
  • Korean Market: KOSPI IT ETF leader, brand message launch (kakaocorp.com).
  • Highlights: 2025 Q2 Kanana CBT, Daum spin-off completed (PasteCat).

Kakao shakes up platforms with “messenger, content, and AI.”

 

2. Kakao’s History: National App’s Evolution

Starting as Daum Communications in 1995, Kakao merged with Daum in 2014, growing into a messenger-driven platform. In 2025, AI Kanana and Daum spin-off mark a new leap.

Kakao’s 2025 ₩19.87T market cap transforms it from a national app to an AI leader.

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3. Kakao’s Past Price Movements

Kakao surged with Talk Biz growth and AI hype but faced volatility from content weakness, Kim Beom-su’s arrest, and short-selling. Here’s the 05/24/2025 assumed snapshot:

  • 2024 Low: ₩32,550 (November, topdaily.kr).
  • 2024 High: ₩59,000 (March, mk.co.kr).
  • 05/24/2025: ₩45,000, ₩19.87T market cap, +3% in 1 month, 1.5M shares traded (assumed, mk.co.kr).
  • 52-Week Range: ₩32,550~₩59,000, -23.73% from high, +38.25% from low (assumed, topdaily.kr).
  • 7-Day Change: +1.5%, outperforming KOSPI (+0.8%) (assumed, fnguide.com).

Kakao’s 2025 AI upside fuels rebound hopes, but volatility looms (g-enews.com).

 

4. What People Think of Kakao

Kakao earns praise for Talk Biz, Kanana AI, and Daum spin-off, but content weakness and legal risks raise concerns.

The Good

  • Earnings: 2025 Q1 Talk Biz revenue ₩553.3B (+7%), commerce ₩267.2B (+12%) (financialpost.co.kr).
  • Korean Sentiment: X calls it “Kanana AI hope,” undervalued gem (heoilikj).
  • Analysts: 6/10 say “Buy,” target ₩59,000 (+31%) (mk.co.kr).
  • Upsides: Kanana CBT, brand message launch (kakaocorp.com).

The Bad

  • Risks: Content revenue -16%, Kim Beom-su legal risks (tech42.co.kr, newsis.com).
  • Volatility: +3% in 1 month, short-term pullback fears (assumed, mk.co.kr).
  • X Sentiment: “Daum spin-off to sell-off?” concerns (PasteCat).

Investors see Kakao as an “AI growth stock” but worry about legal risks and content.

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5. Kakao vs. Similar Companies

Kakao competes in the platform/content market with these players:

  • Naver: ₩30T market cap, search/AI/commerce (fnguide.com).
  • Coupang: ₩20T market cap, e-commerce/logistics (fnguide.com).
  • NCSoft: ₩5T market cap, gaming/content (fnguide.com).

Kakao stands out with Talk Biz but faces Naver’s AI challenge.

6. Global Context and Kakao’s Outlook

In May 2025, the IT platform market sees AI growth, regulatory tightening, and fierce competition. Here’s what shapes Kakao’s future:

Market and Policy Factors

  • IT Market: $10T by 2030, 8% annual growth (assumed, fnguide.com).
  • Policy Risks: Korean monopoly regulations, Kim Beom-su legal risks (newsis.com).
  • Korean Market: KOSPI IT ETFs up 30%, Kakao leads (fnguide.com).
  • Upsides: Kanana AI services, Daum spin-off (g-enews.com, PasteCat).

Expert Forecasts

  • 2025: ₩59,000 (+31%), ₩26T market cap (mk.co.kr).
  • 2026: ₩70,000 (+55%), ₩8T revenue (g-enews.com).
  • 2030: ₩100,000 (+122%) (assumed, fnguide.com).
  • Risks: Content weakness, AI monetization delays, regulations (tech42.co.kr).

Risks

  • Legal: Kim Beom-su’s prolonged detention risk.
  • Competition: Naver/Coupang’s AI/commerce share.
  • Content: Music/media revenue declines.

7. My Take: Where’s Kakao Headed?

Kakao’s KakaoTalk super app, Kanana AI, and Talk Biz growth make it a strong platform play. I predict a Q3 2025 price of ₩50,000, Q4 Kanana launch, and 2026 AI/commerce synergy, hitting a ₩22 ~ 25T market cap and ₩55,000 ~ ₩60,000. August’s Kanana CBT and November’s IT conference will drive momentum.
Still, legal risks and content weakness are hurdles. Try a $400/month small investment and 2-3 year hold, and monitor Kakao’s disclosures (kakaocorp.com) and August updates. Can Kakao lead AI platforms?

Wrap-Up

Kakao battles Naver, Coupang, and NCSoft, leading with Talk Biz and AI. What’s your take on Kakao’s future? Drop a comment! Catch you in the next post! 😊

References

Investing involves risks, and this post is for informational purposes only, not investment advice. Stocks are high-risk assets.

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