Kakao Receives Prime Minister's Commendation for Supporting Digital Transition of Small Businesses
TECHWORLD ·
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Kakao received a Prime Minister's Commendation at the '2026 Awards for Contributions to Revitalizing Traditional Markets and Shopping Districts' for supporting the digital transition of small business owners in traditional markets and shopping districts and helping revitalize local commercial districts.
The award recognized its support for strengthening digital capabilities and expanding customer touchpoints through its small business win-win program, 'Project Dan-gol.'
Kakao has been carrying out related projects with partner organizations since 2022 and will continue its digital transition support project for 38 traditional markets and shopping districts nationwide this year.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Small Enterprise and Market Service, which host the '2026 Awards for Contributions to Revitalizing Traditional Markets and Shopping Districts,' honor the achievements of markets, merchants, support agencies and organizations that have contributed to revitalizing local commercial districts. The awards ceremony was held on the 9th at the Goma Art Center in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province.
Kakao said it received a Prime Minister's Commendation for its contributions to supporting the digital transition of small business owners in traditional markets and shopping districts, as well as efforts to revitalize local commercial districts.
The award recognizes Kakao's support for strengthening the digital capabilities of traditional markets and shopping districts and expanding customer touchpoints through its small business win-win program, 'Project Dan-gol.' 'Project Dan-gol' aims to help small business owners use digital services and maintain ongoing communication with customers.
Kakao has been carrying out the project since 2022 together with the Small Enterprise and Market Service, local merchants' associations and partner organizations. Through the effort, it has continued to provide customized on-site training and marketing support.
As of 2026, Kakao said it has helped 325 commercial districts nationwide in traditional markets and shopping districts participate in digital transition training, and supported the opening of more than 4,000 KakaoTalk channels. Those channels have drawn about 1 million customers as friends, broadening customer touchpoints for traditional markets and shopping districts.
Kakao has also been supporting increased visits to local areas. Last year, it operated the free shuttle bus 'Dan-gol Bus' 104 times across 4 regions in connection with local festivals and commercial districts, helping about 2,400 people visit those areas.
This year, it will continue its digital transition support project for 38 traditional markets and shopping districts nationwide. It newly introduced AI training this year and expanded the scope of support for merchants to include digital tool use such as product promotion and customer communication.
Since 2016, Kakao has operated 'Kakao Class' for small business owners and founders. 'Kakao Class' has been run as training in digital use and online market development, with cumulative participation reaching about 7,000 people. The track record of operating 'Kakao Class' was also included in the merits for this award.
Kakao added a new project this year with the goal of boosting the competitiveness of individual stores and increasing local visits at the same time. 'Dan-gol Gage' targets 12 food and beverage stores in Gangwon Province, and provides support for product planning, branding, online commerce and AI training, while also linking them with Kakao Tolkdeal and Makers listings.
'Gokgok' operates by connecting local stores with visitors. To that end, it publishes a magazine introducing local shops and spaces, and also links walking routes and local tours using Kakao Map. On the 6th, it published 'Magazine Gokgok Gongju,' and from the 16th it plans to hold 'Gokgok Walk' around the Je-mincheon area in Gongju.
Yang Hyun-seo, head of shared growth project performance at Kakao, said the award reflects achievements made when merchants and local partner organizations joined forces on new initiatives in the field. He added that Kakao will continue win-win activities so small business owners can steadily build relationships with customers and local communities can grow on their own, using Kakao's technology and services.
Source: TECHWORLD · Kim Seung-gi
Original: https://www.epnc.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=408047
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Source: TECHWORLD
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