This Year-End... "Let's Do Stocks via KakaoTalk"

Kakao Pay to Develop MTS by Second Half
Integrated into 'KakaoTalk, Pay App' Without Separate App

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Junho] By the end of this year, it will be possible to trade stocks through KakaoTalk (KakaoTalk).

On the 3rd, according to Kakao, Kakao Pay, together with its subsidiary Kakao Pay Securities, plans to include the mobile stock trading system (MTS) currently under development, targeting the end of this year, not as a separate app but within the KakaoTalk app and the Kakao Pay app.

Currently, on KakaoTalk, users can create a general securities account through Kakao Pay and trade funds. Kakao Pay explained that by adding stock trading functionality, anyone will be able to easily use investment services. However, relatively simple trading functions will be included in KakaoTalk, while the full range of MTS functions, including important information for stock trading, will be implemented through the Kakao Pay app.

As the stock trading function is integrated into the 'national platform' that most Koreans use, a significant shift is expected in the financial investment industry. KakaoTalk's monthly active users (MAU) reach 46 million. According to the Korea Securities Depository, as of the end of last year, there were about 9.19 million stock investors.

A financial investment industry official said, "The major shift in the industry is a foreseen step," and predicted, "The outflow will begin with investors in their 20s and 30s, who are considered the future growth drivers for securities firms."