KOREA WHO

Kim Beom-soo is the Chairman of Kakao Management Innovation Committee.

He is currently on trial without detention on charges of stock manipulation related to SM Entertainment.

Born on March 8, 1966, in Damyang, Jeollanam-do, he is the eldest son in a family of two sons and three daughters.

He graduated from Konkuk University High School and earned a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from Seoul National University, where he also completed a master's degree in the same field.

After working at Samsung SDS, he founded the gaming company Hangame in 1999.

Hangame merged with Naver Corporation to form NHN, where he served as co-CEO. However, after a disagreement with Lee Hae-jin, Naver's Global Investment Officer (GIO), he left the company and moved to the United States.

Upon returning to Korea to pursue mobile ventures, he launched the mobile messenger KakaoTalk.

He later merged Kakao with Daum Communications and rebranded the company as Kakao.

After stepping down as CEO, he focused on overseas business development as the head of the Future Initiative Center. However, he returned to management during a company crisis.

Known for his bold and down-to-earth personality, Kim has a gambler's instinct and makes quick, decisive choices.

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