‘Records are Silent, They Merely Accumulate’: Kakao Releases First CSR Report

Kakao has published its first corporate social responsibility (CSR) report, 'Kakao CSR Report 2025,' detailing its journey of addressing social issues with technology since 2014. It is the culmination of its efforts to explore its role as a member of society, beyond mere sponsorship. The report presents achievements in seven key areas—digital transformation, impact commerce, tech talent development, regional cooperation, digital literacy, CSR platforms, and environmental response—along with quantitative figures. Notably, 'Project Dangol,' a support program for small business owners, provided approximately 26.3 billion won worth of message sending costs to over 66,000 individuals and trained over 2,800 merchants in 227 traditional markets. In the digital literacy sector, the 'Visiting Senior Digital School' offered education to 3,000 seniors in 100 locations nationwide, even linking them to job creation. The program for adolescents, 'Friendly Digital World,' has cumulatively educated over 255,000 people. The CSR platform 'Kakao Together' recorded 92.9 billion won in cumulative donations and 66.5 million participations, expanding its reach by encouraging digital participation beyond simple transfers. In the environmental sector, Kakao declared 'Net Zero 2040,' aiming for an annual energy saving of 30 GWh and a 15% reduction in carbon emissions through 'Kakao Data Center Ansan,' which maximizes power efficiency. Furthermore, through 'Kakao Tech Campus,' Kakao collaborated with five regional universities to cultivate 287 IT talents and emphasized its contribution to local communities by concurrently running Jeju-centric, community-focused projects. While this report documents the methods and achievements of a tech platform's intervention in social issues, the fundamental question regarding the scope of corporate social involvement still remains. Rather than directly answering this question, Kakao substitutes its meaning with substantial figures, demonstrating its efforts to find a careful balance between technology and daily life, and between systems and people.