Kakao Q3 2025 Revenue Up 9% to KRW 2.087 Trillion

SEOUL, South Korea - Kakao Corp recorded revenue of KRW 2,087 billion in the third quarter, an increase of 9% from the year-earlier period, according to preliminary unaudited consolidated financial statements released Friday.

Operating profit totaled KRW 208 billion for the quarter ended September, compared with KRW 131 billion in the same period of 2024. 

The operating profit margin was 10.0%, up from 6.8%. Net profit was KRW 193 billion, compared to KRW 79 billion a year prior.

Revenue from Platform operations reached KRW 1,060 billion, representing 51% of total revenue. Content operations generated KRW 1,027 billion, or 49% of the total.

Within Platform, Talk Biz revenue was KRW 534 billion, up 7% year-on-year. 

Business Message revenue within this segment increased 22%, while Commerce revenue declined to KRW 209 billion from KRW 221 billion. 

Portal Biz revenue was KRW 73 billion, a 5% decrease. Platform-Others revenue totaled KRW 453 billion, up 24%.

Content segment results showed Music revenue of KRW 565 billion, up 20% from the prior year. 

The company attributed this to album sales and concert revenue. 

Media revenue reached KRW 96 billion, representing a 75% increase.

Game revenue declined 34% to KRW 154 billion. Story revenue decreased 3% to KRW 211 billion.

Operating expenses totaled KRW 1,879 billion, representing a 5% year-over-year increase. Labor costs were KRW 477 billion. 

Cost of revenue was KRW 748 billion. Outsourcing and infrastructure costs reached KRW 261 billion, representing a 34% increase.

The company's KakaoTalk application had 49.468 million monthly active users in South Korea during the third quarter, compared with 48.933 million in the third quarter of 2024. 

Global monthly active users numbered 54.500 million.

Total headcount at quarter-end was 16,189, a decrease of 752 from the year-earlier period. Capital expenditure was KRW 178 billion, equivalent to 9% of revenue.

The company stated that the financial information is based on K-IFRS consolidated standards and has not been reviewed by an independent auditor.