Examine individual changes

'{{short description|South Korean entertainment, mass media, and publishing company}} {{More citations needed|date=August 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox company | name = Kakao Entertainment Corp. | native_name = 주식회사 카카오엔터테인먼트 | native_name_lang = ko | logo = kakaoentlogo.svg | type = [[Privately held company|Private]] [[subsidiary]] | traded_as = | founder = | predecessor = {{ubl|[[KakaoPage|KakaoPage Corp.]]|[[Kakao M]]}} (as separate companies) | key_people = Joseph Chang(CEO) Gisu Kwon(CEO) | industry = {{unbulleted list|[[Entertainment]]|[[Mass Media]]|[[Publishing]]}} | genre = | services = {{unbulleted list|[[Web development]]|[[Talent management]]|[[Record Production|Production]] and [[Record distribution|Distribution]]}} | products = {{unbulleted list|[[Webtoon]]s|[[web fiction|Web novels]]|[[Music]]|[[Korean drama|Dramas]]|[[Movie]]s|Other entertainment-related products}} | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | aum = | assets = | equity = | parent = [[Kakao]] | owner = {{unbulleted list | [[Kakao]] (63.50%) | Podo Asia B.V. (15.33%) | Joy Lee (0.96%) | Others (20.21%) }} | num_employees = | divisions = {{unbulleted list|Page Company|M Company}} | subsid = [[#Subsidiaries|see list]] | homepage = {{URL|https://kakaoent.com|KakaoEnt.com}} | caption = | foundation = {{Start date and age|2021|03|02}}<ref name="KakaoEnt">{{Cite web|url=https://kakaoent.com/|title=Kakao Entertainment|publisher=Kakao Entertainment Corp|access-date=May 1, 2021|archive-date=May 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507023154/https://kakaoent.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> | location = [[Seongnam]], [[Gyeonggi Province|Gyeonggi-do]] | location_country = South Korea | area_served = Worldwide }} '''Kakao Entertainment Corp.''' ({{Korean|주식회사 카카오엔터테인먼트}}; stylized as '''kakao ENTERTAINMENT''') is a South Korean entertainment, mass media, and publishing company founded in 2021. A subsidiary of the Internet company [[Kakao]], it was established subsequent to the merger of the latter's two subsidiaries [[KakaoPage]] and [[Kakao M]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2021/03/04/business/industry/kakao/20210304191100343.html|title=Kakao M and Kakao Page merged into Kakao Entertainment|website=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]]|last=Song|first=Kyoung-son|date=March 4, 2021|access-date=May 1, 2021|archive-date=May 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507083533/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2021/03/04/business/industry/kakao/20210304191100343.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ajudaily.com/view/20210125160643324|title=Kakao units merged into entertainment company targeting global market|last=Park|first=Sae-jin|date=January 25, 2021|website=[[Aju Business Daily]]|access-date=May 1, 2021|archive-date=April 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426015942/http://www.ajudaily.com/view/20210125160643324|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2057011/south-koreas-kakao-affiliates-to-merge|title=South Korea's Kakao affiliates to merge|website=Bangkok Post|last=Leesa-Nguansuk|first=Suchit|date=January 26, 2021|access-date=May 1, 2021|archive-date=August 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805024345/https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2057011/south-koreas-kakao-affiliates-to-merge|url-status=live}}</ref> ==History== ===KakaoPage Corp.=== {{Main|KakaoPage}} '''Podotree Co, Ltd.''' was founded on July 20, 2010, as a subsidiary of Kakao, and launched KakaoPage three years later. On August 1, 2018, the company changed its corporate name to '''KakaoPage Corp.''' ===Kakao M=== {{Main|Kakao M}} '''Seoul Records, Inc.''' was established in October 1978 by {{interlanguage link|Min Young-bin|ko|민영빈}}, the founder of South Korea's leading educational company {{interlanguage link|YBM Group|ko|YBM}} (formerly Sisa English). In 2005, the company was acquired by [[SK Telecom]] and relaunched as '''LOEN Entertainment, Inc.''' three years later, before being sold to Star Invest Holdings (a subsidiary of [[Affinity Equity Partners]]). In January 2016, it was taken over by Kakao and renamed again as '''Kakao M Corp.''' in December 2017. In October 2020, the company expanded in [[Asia]] by launching a Thailand-based subsidiary called '''Kakao M Asia (Private) Co., Ltd.''' (currently '''Kakao Entertainment Asia Co., Ltd.''').<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.matchlink.asia/business/page/Thailand/BANGKOK/34954-kakaom-asia-co-ltd.html|title=Kakao Entertainment Asia Co., Ltd.|publisher=Match Link Asia|access-date=August 22, 2021|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818155043/https://www.matchlink.asia/business/page/Thailand/BANGKOK/34954-kakaom-asia-co-ltd.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ===Merger as Kakao Entertainment (2021–present)=== In December 2020, KakaoPage Corp. proposed a merger with Kakao M Corp. as a unified company.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.pulsenews.co.kr/view.php?year=2020&no=1244785|title=Kakao Page close to merging with Kakao M before IPO|website=Maeil Business News Korea|last1=Kang|first1=Doo-soon|last2=Oh|first2=Dae-seok|last3=Kang|first3=Woo-seok|last4=Kang|first4=Young-woon|last5=Cho|first5=Jeehyun|date=December 3, 2020|access-date=May 1, 2021|archive-date=April 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428165331/https://m.pulsenews.co.kr/view.php?year=2020&no=1244785|url-status=live}}</ref> It was seen as an action by their parent company against US-based [[Google]]’s new policy for its app market place users, which would've affected Kakao M, which [[KakaoTV]] platform was starting to become popular in South Korea. Both companies announced the plans and timeline for their merger, as well as the proposed name for the unified company '''Kakao Entertainment Corp''' on January 25, 2021.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/launch-of-kakao-entertainment-through-strategic-merger-of-kakao-page-and-kakao-m-301213691.html|title=Launch of KAKAO ENTERTAINMENT through strategic merger of Kakao Page and Kakao M|website=[[KakaoPage]] Corp.|via=PR Newswire|access-date=May 1, 2021|archive-date=April 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428200842/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/launch-of-kakao-entertainment-through-strategic-merger-of-kakao-page-and-kakao-m-301213691.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Under the plans, KakaoPage Corp. is the surviving entity. The merger was completed on March 1, and Kakao Entertainment was formally founded a day later. On July 15, it was announced that Kakao Entertainment and [[Kakao M#Melon Company|Melon Company]] would be merging, with the merger expected to be complete in September 2021.<ref>{{cite web|title=[공식] 카카오엔터, 음악 플랫폼 멜론 품는다..9월 합병|trans-title=[Official] Kakao Entertainment embraces music platform Melon..September merger|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=076&aid=0003755008|website=[[Sports Chosun]]|via=[[Naver]]|language=ko|last=Jo|first=Ji-young|date=July 15, 2021|access-date=July 15, 2021|archive-date=July 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715083832/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=076&aid=0003755008|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 17, Kakao Entertainment announced that [[Play M Entertainment]] and Cre.ker Entertainment would be merging in the future.<ref>{{cite web|title=플레이엠·크래커 엔터 통합…에이핑크·더보이즈 한 식구 된다|trans-title=PlayM and Creker Enter integration… Apink and The Boyz become one family|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=052&aid=0001641655|website=[[YTN]]|via=[[Naver]]|language=ko|last=Kwak|first=Hyeon-su|date=September 17, 2021|access-date=September 17, 2021|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225152745/https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=052&aid=0001641655|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 12, it was announced that the company's new corporate name would be [[IST Entertainment]], which took effect on November 1.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ko:에이핑크 '플레이엠'·더보이즈 '크래커', IST로 통합|trans-title=Apink's 'PlayM' and The Boyz's 'Cracker' merged into IST|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=003&aid=0010829534|website=[[Newsis]]|via=[[Naver]]|last=Kim|first=Ye-ji|date=November 12, 2021|access-date=November 12, 2021|language=ko|archive-date=November 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112074458/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=003&aid=0010829534|url-status=live}}</ref> ==Divisions== ===Page Company=== Headed by co-CEO Joy Lee, the Kakao Entertainment's Page Company is in charge of the company's web fiction publishing and web development business. It is situated in [[Pangyo, Seongnam|Pangyo]], [[Seongnam]] in [[Gyeonggi Province]]. ===M Company=== Headed by co-CEO {{interlanguage link|Stephan Kim|ko|김성수 (기업인)}}, the Kakao Entertainment's M Company is in charge of the company's entertainment and mass media business. Its headquarters is in [[Teheran-ro]], [[Gangnam District|Gangnam-gu]] in [[Seoul]]. ==Subsidiaries== ===Under the Page Company=== *AdPage{{efn|joint venture with [[Kakao Games]]}} *Daon Creative *KW Books *Kiwi Vine *RS Media *Radish Media *Samyang C&C *Soundist Entertainment *[[Tapas (website)|Tapas Media]] *Yeondam ===Under the M Company=== ====Entertainment companies==== *[[Antenna Music]] *Bluedot Entertainment *EDAM Entertainment *High Up Entertainment *[[IST Entertainment]] *[[Starship Entertainment]] **Starship X **[[Highline Entertainment]] ====Talent companies==== *Awesome ENT *BH Entertainment *J.Wide Company *[[King Kong by Starship]] *[[Management SOOP]] *Ready Entertainment *VAST Entertainment & Media ====Production companies==== *3Y Corporation *Baram Pictures *Dolphiners Films *GRAYGO **Maison de Baja *[[Kross Pictures]] *[[Logos Film]] *[[Mega Monster]] *Moonlight Film *Sanai Pictures *Shownote *[[Story & Pictures Media]] *Studio K11O *Zip Cinema ==Assets== ===Buildings=== * Jungsuck Building (Seoul) - headquarters of the Kakao Entertainment M Company * The Kakao Entertainment M Company also owns a building at Samseong-dong in Seoul, where the headquarters of IST Entertainment and Flex M are located. ===Internet properties=== *[[1theK]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.1thek.com/english/#section1|title=''About Us''|website=[[1theK]]|publisher=Kakao Entertainment|accessdate=May 12, 2024}}</ref> ** 1theK Live ** [[1theK Originals]] ** 1theK Style (coming soon) * [[KakaoPage]] ** KakaoPage Indonesia (formerly Neobazar) ([[Indonesia]]) * [[KakaoTV]] * [[Kakao Webtoon]] ** Kakao Webtoon (South Korea) (formerly Daum Webtoon)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/kakao-entertainment-sets-global-standard-010000919.html|title=Kakao Entertainment sets a new global standard with the launch of 'KAKAO WEBTOON'|website=PR Newswire|via=[[Yahoo!|Yahoo! Finance]]|access-date=July 9, 2021|archive-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213626/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/kakao-entertainment-sets-global-standard-010000919.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ** Kakao Webtoon ([[Indonesia]]) ** Kakao Webtoon ([[Taiwan]]) ** Kakao Webtoon ([[Thailand]]) * [[Melon (online music service)|Melon]] * Muse (mobile audition application) * Radish ([[United States|US]]) ** Wuxiaworld ([[United States|US]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/biz/asia/kakao-entertainment-buys-wuxiaworld-1235134902/|title=Kakao Entertainment Buys Wuxiaworld Online Fiction Platform|author=Frater, Patrick|website=Variety|publisher=PMC|date=December 16, 2021|accessdate=January 10, 2022|archive-date=January 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111091734/https://variety.com/2021/biz/asia/kakao-entertainment-buys-wuxiaworld-1235134902/|url-status=live}}</ref> * [[Tapas (website)|Tapas]] (US) ==Locations== * Kakao Entertainment Page Company: Twosun World Building 8/F, 221, Pangyoyeok-ro, [[Bundang-gu]], [[Seongnam|Seongnam-si]], [[Gyeonggi Province|Gyeonggi-do]], South Korea<ref name="KakaoEnt" /> * Kakao Entertainment M Company: Jungsuck Building, 17, [[Teheran-ro]] 103-gil, [[Gangnam District|Gangnam-gu]], [[Seoul]], South Korea<ref name="KakaoEnt" /> ==Extra Info== * [[Tachiyomi]], A free and open-source Manga, Manhwa etc. reader app, was forced to stop development after Kakao Entertainment issued a cease-and-desist letter to the developers.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://animecorner.me/tachiyomi-team-stops-app-development-after-cease-and-desist-by-kakao-entertainment/ | title=Tachiyomi Team Stops App Development After Cease and Desist by Kakao Entertainment | date=January 14, 2024 }}</ref> ==Notes== {{Notelist}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * {{Official website|https://kakaoent.com}} {{in lang|ko}} {{Portal|Companies|South Korea}} {{Kakao}} {{K-pop}} {{Television production companies of South Korea}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Kakao Entertainment| ]] [[Category:Mass media companies established in 2021]] [[Category:Entertainment companies of South Korea]] [[Category:Mass media companies of South Korea]] [[Category:Publishing companies of South Korea]] [[Category:South Korean companies established in 2021]] [[Category:Companies based in Gyeonggi Province]] [[Category:Companies based in Seoul]] [[Category:South Korean record labels]] [[Category:Record label distributors]]'