Kim Beom-su
Overview
- Source of Wealth
- Online services
- Industry
- Technology
- Residence
- Seoul
- Education
- Seoul National University (Bachelor of Science in Engineering)Seoul National University (Master of Science)
- Marital Status
- Married
- Children
- 2
Assets
- Daum Kakao Corp105,021,969 shares @ --035720-KR
Biography
Kim Beom-su is the founder of Kakao, South Korea's biggest messaging app, which is installed in 90% of the country's smartphones. He stepped down as chairman and left the board in 2022.
Kakao's tens of millions of users also use the app for gaming, shopping and chatting.
In 2014 Kakao acquired the country's No. 2 search engine Daum in an all stock transaction worth $3.3 billion, which resulted in a back door listing.
That same year the South Korean government classified Kakao as a large company; it is the first tech startup that made it into the big leagues.
In 2021 Kim signed the Giving Pledge, committing to donate the majority of his wealth to charitable causes.
About
Kim grew up in poverty and paid his way through college by offering private tutoring, sometimes skipping meals to save money.
In 2017 he diversified into crypto and bought into Upbit, a top exchange in South Korea through his holding company K Cube Ventures.