Platform Business in Korea: Advent and Growth of Kakao

With the rapid development of ICT technology, a platform business is exerting dominant influence in various fields. This type has great ripple effect that it creates value by engaging and connecting market actors such as producers, suppliers, partners to ecosystem, rather than directly selling independent products or services. In this vein, current study introduces emergence growth process Kakao, which monopolistic dominance Korean mobile messenger market, an example business. company started be distributed consumers 2010 currently exercising its fields commerce, entertainment, finance, transportation, more expected future. Based on case investigation, background Kakao’s success can interpreted with combination reasons, Korea’s developed environment, large game users’ population, quick service launch, strategy utilize founder’s previous work experience, geared towards consumers.