KaKao

- Created a 10 billion KRW fund to co-exist and cooperate with Kakao Mobility platform taxi drivers and designated drivers
- Donated 2.2 billion KRW to the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association, started donating to taxi drivers
- Support will start with taxi drivers and will expand to more mobility workers, with expectations that other mobility platforms and the public sector will follow suit

[September 7, 2022] Kakao will set up a 100 billion KRW fund to co-exist and cooperate with mobility platform workers.

Kakao’s corporation foundation Kakao Impact (Chairperson Hong Euntaek) and Kakao Mobility (CEO Ryu Gungseon) set up a “Mobility Worker Win-Win Fund” and delivered 2.2 billion KRW to the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association (“Hope Bridge”).

The fund delivery ceremony held at Hope Bridge on September 6 was attended by Hope Bridge Chairperson Song Pilho, Hope Bridge Secretary General Kim Junghee, Kakao ESG Vice President Yuk Simna, Kakao Impact Team Leader Jeong Yeonju, and Kakao Mobility Policy Cooperation Director Kim Soo.

In April, Kakao announced a plan for sustainable growth with society that will utilize a fund worth 300 billion KRW over five years. The Mobility Worker Win-Win Fund is part of the sustainable growth plan, where Kakao will provide 10 billion KRW over five years to support mobility platform workers, including taxi drivers and designated drivers, who have experienced illness or accidents.

This year, Kakao will thoroughly review and support taxi drivers who are experiencing hardships due to side effects or diseases that are not covered by insurance. Kakao Impact and Kakao Mobility, along with Hope Bridge, will form an advisory committee to finalize conditions for funding and start accepting applications during the fourth quarter of this year. People who receive support, as well as the scope of support, will be expanded in the future.

Kakao co-CEO Hong Euntaek said that Kakao would “listen to mobility workers who are exposed to more risks due to the nature of their job and will continue to expand plans for co-existence and cooperation”, and added that “since these workers also work with other platforms, we expect other platform companies and the public sector to follow Kakao’s lead”.

Meanwhile, as part of the company’s efforts to strengthen social responsibility, Kakao Mobility currently operates various plans to co-exist with society, including the △ temporary driver qualification system to grow with the industry, △ creating good jobs for the hearing impaired, women and youth, △ operating a program to convert taxis into electric cars, and △operating the Seodaemun Hope Car program for people with mobility issues. Kakao also provides services to create a safe working environment for platform workers, including the “Safety Insurance,” which provides compensation for damages that can occur while driving a taxi, as well as a “Health Support Service,” which provides free checkups to designated drivers.