Kakao Launches Paid Writer Subscription Feature over Brunch Platform

Seoul, South Korea - Kakao Corp. launched a paid subscription service for authors on its Brunch Story platform on Wednesday. During the one-month pre-registration phase, 3,000 applications were received.

The "Brunch Writer Membership" allows readers to pay monthly fees to subscribe to individual writers and access premium content, the company said.

Kakao began testing the service with about 20 writers in January before opening pre-registration on June 10.

The company said it will not charge commission fees on subscription revenue until June 2026.

Writers will receive the full subscription amount during this period, according to Kakao.

Writers participating in the membership program receive profile pages on the platform.

Those who publish 10 exclusive articles and gain 100 paid subscribers will be offered publishing opportunities with partner companies, Kakao said.

Three works from the pilot program are scheduled for publication.

The platform will feature a daily "Today Only Free" promotion, making one work available at no cost for 24 hours starting at midnight, the company said.

"Brunch Writer Membership serves as a starting point for creating a structure where writers' creative activities connect with genuine readers and lead to revenue," said Oh Sung-jin, leader of Kakao's Brunch division.

Kakao reported an increase in activity on the platform following the announcement of its membership.

New writer registrations increased 135 percent compared to the same period last year as of June 2025, while published works rose 125 percent, the company said.

The platform's existing donation feature, called "Support," has generated more than KRW 400 million in cumulative contributions from readers to writers, according to Kakao.

Kakao operates Brunch Story as part of its content publishing business. The company said it plans to expand support programs for creators.