Jeongsina, CEO of Kakao, Holds Open Dialogue with Employees... Likely to Address Work System Conflicts

CEO of Jeongsina to Hold Employee Open Talk on 29th
High Chance of Discussing Internal Issues Like Work System

Jung Shin-ah, CEO of Kakao, is introducing the artificial intelligence (AI) integrated brand 'Kanana' at the developer event 'if kakao 2024' held on the 22nd.
[Photo by Kakao]

Kakao CEO Jeong Shin-ah will hold a communication session with employees. Attention is focused on whether a solution will emerge amid escalating internal conflicts over work system disagreements.

According to industry sources on the 28th, CEO Jeong will conduct an online and offline meeting called 'Open Talk' for employees on the 29th. This Open Talk is known not to be a presentation with a predetermined specific topic.

CEO Jeong has frequently used Open Talk to listen to employees' opinions on major agendas. Open Talk draws attention because significant decisions are made through it. For example, CEO Jeong introduced the direction of organizational restructuring and announced plans to change the next in-house independent company (CIC) to a content CIC, and also introduced former Kakao Bank CTO Jeong Gyudon, who was suspected of stock option (stock purchase rights) misconduct, as the new Kakao CTO?both occasions were triggered by Open Talk.

It is highly likely that the work system will be discussed in this Open Talk. Recently, conflicts between labor and management have arisen at Kakao due to the revival of the work-from-home system and the introduction of the core time system, a focused work hours policy.

The labor union gathered opinions from members who want the work-from-home system and raised it as a wage and collective agreement (wage and labor agreement) agenda, while the management demanded the introduction of the core time system. The core time system allows employees to work at a self-chosen location but requires concentrated work during specific hours. The union demands the work-from-home system citing work flexibility but opposes the core time system, which requires uniform application.

Due to conflicts surrounding the work system, it has recently been reported that the membership rate of Kakao Crew Union, the labor union of Kakao headquarters and affiliates, has surpassed the majority.

Other topics expected to be discussed include the company's stance on the trial of Kim Beom-su, Kakao's Management Innovation Committee Chairman, who is accused of market manipulation related to SM Entertainment (SM), and Kakao's artificial intelligence (AI) strategy revealed at last week's developer event 'if kakao 2024.'

A Kakao official said regarding this Open Talk, "Rather than announcing new content, the main format will be a dialogue with employees."