It has been confirmed that Kakao plans to set the basic subscription fee for its upcoming 'Kakao Membership' service, expected to launch as a pilot program by year-end, at 4,900 won per month. This matches the price of Naver Plus Membership, signaling a direct competition between Korea's two leading tech giants to secure loyal customers.
On the 4th, MoneyToday analyzed product information from KakaoTalk’s recent app and web sources and confirmed that a subscription product named 'Kakao Membership' is registered at 4,900 won per month. The product description includes the phrase "Points are standard; choose the benefits you need."
The product is set up as a monthly recurring subscription, with product sales information indicating that 4,900 won is the "lowest price." It is estimated that this pricing structure anticipates variations in subscription fees depending on the benefits or services selected by users. Code for managing subscription changes was also found within the KakaoTalk app.
The Kakao ecosystem includes various paid services such as Melon, KakaoT, Kakao Pay, and Kakao Webtoon. It appears that joining a membership plan starting at 4,900 won will allow users to earn cash-like points when shopping via Kakao Commerce and access discounted rates for Kakao’s own paid services or external paid services based on specific concepts.
Kakao’s decision to set the price for its first subscription-based membership at 4,900 won appears to be a strategic move in response to Naver Plus Membership, which is priced identically. The 'Kakao T Members' membership system operated by Kakao affiliate Kakao Mobility also starts at 4,900 won.
The key challenge lies in how diverse LINE services Kakao can offer, as it currently lacks them. Naver Plus Membership provides free or discounted access to third-party services such as OTT (video streaming), delivery apps, PC games, Market Kurly, taxis, and e-books, in addition to a 5% point rebate when using its own shopping services.
A Kakao representative stated, "We are building a membership service concept that offers bundled discounts or additional benefits for users who utilize Kakao’s paid services," adding, "(The price) will vary depending on the benefits and is currently undecided."
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