Kakao Pay Receives 'A' Grade in MSCI ESG Assessment

First Evaluation in 2023: Grade B
Three Levels Up in Two Years

Kakao Pay announced on May 7, 2025, that it has received an A grade in the 2024 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ratings conducted by the global ESG assessment agency Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI).

Kakao Pay explained that it has improved its rating by three notches to an A grade, just two years after receiving a B grade in its first evaluation in April 2023.

Since 1999, MSCI has been evaluating core ESG issues for more than 8,500 listed companies worldwide every year, assigning each company one of seven grades.

According to the MSCI report, Kakao Pay was recognized for its excellence in areas such as financial accessibility and human resource development.

In the environmental sector, the company managed greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, and improved the operational efficiency of its data centers.

In the social sector, Kakao Pay was recognized for developing employee capabilities and implementing a performance evaluation system that surpasses industry peers, as well as enhancing mobile financial accessibility for vulnerable groups. In the governance sector, the company strengthened its ESG management in areas such as accounting and financial reporting, and tax transparency.

A Kakao Pay representative stated, "We were able to receive a positive evaluation by dedicating the entire company to ESG management for sustainable growth," adding, "We will continue to lead the ESG management culture in the fintech industry by strengthening communication with various stakeholders."