Due to Advertising Message Reception Terms
Kakao: "Incorrectly Entered... Corrected"
Kakao sparked controversy among some users over the free 'Chunsik Emoticon' it offered on the 19th. The issue stemmed from the terms of service requiring users to receive KakaoTalk advertising messages. Previously, KakaoTalk had released three types of 'Mini Emoticons.' Unlike regular emoticons, these could be used directly in chat windows, featuring Kakao Friends' popular character 'Chunsik.' From the day of release, the emoticons were provided for free through a promotion page, attracting significant attention from netizens.
The problem lay in the terms of service. A phrase stating that "users receive advertising and marketing information provided by Kakao via text messages to the KakaoTalk verified phone number" was found, sparking controversy. According to the terms, users who simply download the emoticons automatically subscribe to the Kakao Emoticon Channel and must receive advertising text messages.
Additionally, the inconvenient clause requiring users to contact customer service directly if they do not wish to receive advertising and marketing information was also problematic. Complaints poured in such as, "It's no different from spam messages," "I liked it thinking it was free," and "I regret downloading it."
Kakao explained that this term was a mistake. In a post on its official website, Kakao stated, "The content indicating that advertising marketing information can be received via text messages was mistakenly included due to an operational error," and "It was corrected immediately upon confirmation."
They added, "If you block the Kakao Emoticon Channel, you will not receive advertising/marketing news without needing to separately request withdrawal through customer service."
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