Kakao conversational AI platform
Scope
Date
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Korean startups
Grocery delivery platform Oasis valuation tops $650 mn; eyes US expansion
South Korea-based grocery delivery platform Oasis Corp., referred to as Oasis Market, has attracted 50 billion won ($44 million) from global private...
Jul 07, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Korean startups
Neosapience develops AI voice actors that sound like humans, not robots
In February 2020, a South Korean broadcasting network aired a virtual reality (VR) reunion between a grieving mother and her late daughter. The docu...
Jul 06, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Webtoons
Naver vs Kakao: Webtoon rivalry extends to superheroes
The fierce competition over webtoons between Naver Corp. and Kakao Corp. enters another round as the two South Korean platform giants join forces wi...
Jul 06, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Artificial intelligence
Naver says it's constructing world’s first robot-friendly building
The world’s first “robot-friendly” building will complete construction in the second half of this year by South Korea’s tech...
Jul 05, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Future mobility
LG invests $88 mn in Kakao Mobility as both seek new growth opportunities
LG Corp., the holding company of South Korea’s fourth-largest conglomerate LG Group, is investing 100 billion won ($88 million) in Kakao Mobil...
Jul 02, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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IPOs
Kakao Pay eyes August listing, seeks to raise near $2 bn
South Korea-based Kakao Pay Corp. is set to make a trading debut on the country's main bourse next month -- just a week after its sister company Kak...
Jul 02, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Electric vehicles
Hyundai innovates EV manufacturing with smart factory system
South Korea’s top carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. is making innovations in its electric vehicle manufacturing processes. The company on July 1 reve...
Jul 02, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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IPOs
Online players head S.Korea's biggest month for IPOs
South Korea's initial public offering market in July is expected to see its largest-ever amount of share issues for a single month, worth over 8 tri...
Jul 01, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Naver expands ties with CJ Group into OTT platform
South Korea's Naver Corp. has agreed to buy 40 billion won ($35 million) worth of new shares in the domestic over-the-top (OTT) services provider TV...
Jul 01, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Korean startups
Atlas Labs makes it easy to transcribe phone calls via AI technology
South Korean startup Atlas Labs is making it easier for people to keep track of their phone conversations via Switch, an app that uses artificial in...
Jun 30, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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IPOs
KakaoBank’s $2.3 bn IPO set to alter Korea’s banking landscape
KakaoBank Corp., the mobile banking unit of online messaging app giant Kakao Corp., is looking to raise as much as 2.55 trillion won ($2.26 billion)...
Jun 28, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Entertainment
Netflix loses first court case over network usage fee
Global streaming giant Netflix Inc. lost a South Korean court case on Friday, in the world's first ruling over a dispute about whether over-the-top ...
Jun 25, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Metaverse
Hyundai Motor, Naver offer metaverse driving experience on its N Line
Hyundai Motor Co. is offering a unique driving experience for its high-performance brand, N Line, in a metaverse world created on Zepeto. Zepeto is ...
Jun 25, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Korean startups
AI startup Voyager X raises over $25 mn in Series A funding round
South Korea-based artificial intelligence startup Voyager X Inc. has successfully raised around 30 billion won ($26.4 million) in a Series A funding...
Jun 23, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Entertainment
DearU strives to catch up with leading K-pop fan platform Weverse
Imagine getting this text from your favorite K-pop group member: “Hey, what did you eat for lunch? Can’t wait to see you at the concert ...
Jun 17, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Markets
Kakao becomes 3rd most valuable company in Korea
Kakao Corp. is now the third most valuable company in Korea, after Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc.Kakao’s market cap on June 15 surp...
Jun 15, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Entertainment
K-pop fan engagement platform DearU eyes H2 listing
South Korea-based fan platform DearU Co. has filed a preliminary application to the Korea Exchange with plans for a trading debut on the country&rsq...
Jun 14, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Webtoons
Naver vs. Kakao: Global webtoon duel extends into Southeast Asia
The global webtoon battleground between South Korea's leading platforms Naver Corp. and Kakao Corp. has expanded into Southeast Asia with each compa...
Jun 14, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Banking & Finance
Hana Financial partners with Line to launch digital bank in Indonesia
Naver Corp.’s Japan-based messaging app affiliate Line Corp. is rapidly expanding its digital banking business in Asian countries outside Kore...
Jun 13, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Insurance
Kakao enters insurance sector for synergy with its online platforms
Kakao Corp.’s ambition to become an insurer is gradually becoming a reality. The platform giant’s application to start an insurance busi...
Jun 11, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Korean startups
FastFive secures near $30 mn; pushes to become office solutions provider
South Korea's co-working space provider FastFive Co. announced on June 11 that it has raised 30 billion won ($27 million) from seven investors, brin...
Jun 11, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Banking & Finance
Toss Bank to compete with K Bank, Kakao Bank from September
Toss Bank in September will enter the race of internet-only banks in South Korea as the third player, competing against K Bank and Kakao Bank. Toss ...
Jun 11, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Venture capital
NPS joins in TPG-led $125 mn funding for Kakao Mobility
The National Pension Service has committed $100 million to a TPG consortium that recently raised $116.8 million to invest in Kakao Mobility Co., Sou...
Jun 10, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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IPOs
AI edtech startup Buzzvil readies for 2022 listing; hires IPO manager
South Korea-based artificial intelligence startup Buzzvil is preparing to make a trading debut on the country’s junior bourse Kosdaq in the th...
Jun 09, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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E-commerce
Kakao's fresh e-commerce strategy puts Naver, Coupang on guard
South Korea’s mobile platform Kakao Corp. is set to shake up the country's e-commerce market in the second half of the year with the launch of...
Jun 07, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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E-commerce
Naver to challenge Amazon with launch of Smart Store platform in Spain
South Korea’s top online portal operator Naver Corp. is taking its online shopping platform Smart Store to Spain to support small merchants in...
Jun 06, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Fintech
KDB bets big on fintech platform Toss ahead of 2023 IPO
The Korea Development Bank (KDB) has decided to invest 80 billion won ($72 million) in the fintech startup Toss via a rights offering. This marks th...
Jun 04, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Enterprise value
Kakao just behind rival Naver in market cap, may overtake soon
South Korean mobile platform giant Kakao Corp.’s enterprise value is rising backed by its strong business performance, threatening to overtake...
Jun 03, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Media
Naver to gain toehold in OTT market via CJ ENM
South Korea's Naver Corp. is expanding its footprint into the over-the-top (OTT) media service market by acquiring a stake in CJ ENM Co.'s OTT platf...
Jun 02, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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Korean startups
Shopping app Ably raises another $55 mn
South Korea-based Ably Co., operator of the fashion app Ably, announced on Jun. 2 that it has raised 62 billion won ($55.7 million) in a Series B ex...
Jun 02, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
Latest News
- 1 S.Korea’s No.1 dried seaweed firm Kwangcheonkim up for sale for $295 mn
- 2 BOK chief warns against aggressive policy rate cuts, sees need for fiscal stimulus
- 3 S.Korea eases path for foreign REITs in senior housing push
- 4 Koramco targets $7 bn bets on Korea data centers
- 5 Lotte Chemical, HD Hyundai seek big deal via merger of naphtha cracking facilities