KakaoT to Send Parcels... New Business MOU with Hanjin

From the left, Cho Hyun-min, Vice President in charge of Future Growth Strategy and Marketing at Hanjin; Noh Sam-seok, CEO of Hanjin; Ryu Geung-seon, CEO of Kakao Mobility; Ahn Gyu-jin, Vice President and Head of Business Division at Kakao Mobility

[Asia Economy Reporter Buaeri] Kakao Mobility announced on the 12th that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hanjin Co., Ltd. to promote new businesses such as parcel delivery.

This agreement aims to operate parcel delivery services based on the 'Kakao T' platform and to develop future new businesses for long-term collaboration. The plan is to combine Kakao Mobility's big data and platform operation expertise with Hanjin's logistics assets and network operation experience.

As the first step, a parcel delivery beta service started on the 'Kakao T' platform from the 30th of last month. With this agreement as a milestone, the service will be fully launched and user touchpoints expanded.

Service convenience will also be enhanced. Any subscriber to the Kakao T app can handle everything from delivery requests, item pickup and delivery status checks, to automatic payment all within a single platform. For small parcels (weighing 20kg or less, with a combined length, width, and height of 140cm or less), the service is available at a flat rate of 4,000 KRW.

The two companies will also collaborate in future business areas to advance parcel delivery service operations. This includes developing parcel delivery vehicle infrastructure and systems based on autonomous driving technology, building parcel transport management systems utilizing parcel data containing drivers’ operation information and artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and jointly promoting in-building delivery solutions using unmanned robots for buildings with affiliated parking lots.

Furthermore, by combining Kakao Mobility’s mobility technology with Hanjin’s logistics operation know-how, they plan to explore cooperation opportunities in last-mile delivery, a key future strategy in the transportation industry that covers the final segment to the destination.

Ryu Geung-seon, CEO of Kakao Mobility, said, "This agreement with Hanjin, which has contributed to innovation in everyday transportation services by introducing Korea’s first personal parcel brand, will serve as a catalyst to evolve the movement of objects service area showcased on the Kakao T platform. We will strive to establish parcel delivery services as a daily life service through the ‘Kakao T’ app."