Kakao launches integrated membership service to compete with Naver

Kakao has launched its first integrated subscription service, ‘Kakao Membership’, priced at 4,900 KRW per month. The service aims to compete with existing ecosystem leaders like Naver and Coupang by bundling various group services including shopping, content, and finance.

Key benefits include shopping and Kakao Pay point accumulation, with monthly limits of up to 20,000 and 50,000 points respectively. Digital content options allow users to choose between ‘Emoticon Plus’ or ‘Talk Cloud’ services. Additional perks include KakaoPage cash, Melon streaming discounts, and financial benefits such as Kakao Pay Securities commission cashback and Kakao Pay Insurance coverage.

To differentiate itself from Naver Plus Membership, which focuses on external partnerships like Netflix and Spotify, Kakao is leveraging its own internal ecosystem. While both services share a similar price point, Kakao emphasizes financial integration and its proprietary content services, whereas Naver focuses on lifestyle and third-party digital content.