Wharton School visits Kakao headquarters

Business administration graduate students of Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania visited Kakao headquarters in Pangyo, Gyeonggi, on Friday. The visit came as part of the Ivy League school’s Global Immersion Program (GIP)...

Business administration graduate students of Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania pose for a photo at Kakao headquarters in Pangyo, Gyeonggi, on Friday. [KAKAO]

Business administration graduate students of Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania visited Kakao headquarters in Pangyo, Gyeonggi, on Friday.

The visit came as part of the Ivy League school’s Global Immersion Program (GIP) designed to provide an extensive survey of economic, cultural and geo-political drivers behind regions integral to the global economy.

Wharton School designated Korea, which is expanding its industrial and cultural presence in the global market, as its research subject and reportedly requested the visit to study Kakao’s innovations and global business strategies.

Kakao shared its experience on how it has built a digital ecosystem utilizing mobile technologies in multiple sectors including commerce, techfin, mobility, healthcare and artificial intelligence.

The tech company also discussed its global business goal currently generating new economic and industrial values by entering overseas markets with Korea’s cultural contents such as webtoon, K-pop and game.

“Kakao’s spirit of challenge and innovation that had a small start-up company leading Korea’s digital transformation in various areas of the society to acquire a business portfolio on par with global techs was noteworthy,” said GIP faculty director Oh Seung-youn.

BY SOHN DONG-JOO [sohn.dongjoo@joongang.co.kr]