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SEOUL — YouTube, the video content-based social media platform run by Google, will surpass messenger app Kakao Talk, the former king of South Korea’s smartphone app ecosystem, for the first time in December 2023, data shows. It has become the most popular smartphone app. Released by mobile big data company IGA Works.
With over 45.5 million monthly active users (MAUs), KakaoTalk has remained South Korea’s favorite smartphone app since the early 2010s. The messenger app was so popular that its operator, Kakao, acquired Daum, one of South Korea’s two largest internet portal services, in 2014. Users of all ages use this app to communicate at work, home, and school.
Smartphone messenger apps also served as gateways to various services in the private and government sectors. Businesses and government agencies rely on apps to communicate and disseminate information. In 2016, the web services giant launched Kakao Bank, an online banking service, and entered South Korea’s financial technology (fintech) field. In 2018, the company introduced Kakao Pay, a digital payment service, to expand its customer base.
Meanwhile, YouTube gained momentum to gain more South Korean MAUs in the late 2010s after domestic video content streaming platforms operated by Daum and Naver failed to capture user interest due to low-quality content. Increased. Google’s video streaming service has become popular among users of all ages. YouTube also offers children’s content, making it a great place to start learning nursery rhymes and second languages from an early age.
According to IGA Works, the number of MAUs on YouTube is 45.47 million as of December 2023, which is about 220,000 more than the number of MAU on Kakao Talk, which is 45.47 million. An app market research company analyzed that the overtaking by Google’s video platform was caused by changes in the usage patterns of mobile device users in their 30s. Short-form content, such as YouTube shorts, attracted more users in their 30s.
reporter
Park Se Jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com
