KakaoTalk, also known as KaTalk, is a popular mobile messaging app operated by Kakao Corporation in South Korea. Since its launch in March 2010, it has gained significant traction and is now available on both mobile and desktop platforms.

As of August 2022, KakaoTalk boasts 53 million monthly active users, with 47 million of them residing in Korea. The app supports 15 languages and is utilized by 93% of smartphone owners in South Korea, making it the most widely used messaging app for both smartphones and personal computers in the country.

KakaoTalk's prominence surged during the COVID-19 pandemic as it became a valuable tool in the fight against the virus, with cooperation from the South Korean government.

The app offers free calling and messaging services, allowing users to easily share photos, videos, voice messages, locations, web links, and contact information. It facilitates one-on-one conversations and group chats with an unlimited number of participants. KakaoTalk enables users to synchronize their contact lists, helping them connect with friends who also use the service. Contact search is possible using KakaoTalk IDs without requiring phone numbers. Users can export and save their messages, providing a convenient backup option.

While initially a messenger service, KakaoTalk has evolved into a platform that supports the distribution of third-party content and apps. It offers a wide range of downloadable games that users can play with friends directly through the messaging platform. The "Plus Friend" feature enables users to follow brands, media outlets, and celebrities to receive exclusive messages, coupons, and real-time information within KakaoTalk chatrooms. Moreover, the app's "Gifting" platform facilitates the purchase of real-life goods.

In January 2021, KakaoTalk introduced the "Emoticon Plus" service, which allows users to access an unlimited collection of emoticons for a monthly fixed rate of ₩3,900. Users can subscribe to "KakaoTalk Wallet" and purchase Emoticon Plus through the wallet platform, streamlining the payment process.

Website: https://www.kakaocorp.com/page/service/service/KakaoTalk?lang=en

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YouTube is immensely popular in South Korea, boasting 41.8 million active users out of a population of 51.6 million. In September alone, these users collectively spent a staggering 1.38 billion hours on the platform, as data provider Mobile Index reported.

Interestingly, YouTube has become a go-to platform for current affairs programs seeking to reach wider audiences and enjoy greater freedom of expression. One example is "Modesty is Nothing," which emerged as the revamped version of the radio show "News Factory" after it was taken off the air due to a dispute with the government.

South Korea exhibits a high penetration rate of YouTube usage. According to Statista, a market, and consumer data statistics site, the country had over 46 million YouTube users as of January this year, accounting for more than 90% of the population, significantly surpassing the usage rate in the United States, which stands at over 70%.

Both traditional media outlets and smaller independent companies spanning the political spectrum have embraced YouTube as a platform. Many of these entities have established their own YouTube channels, including right-wing Tubeshin, with 1.46 million subscribers, and left-wing Newstapa, with over 1 million subscribers.

The growing influence of YouTube was evident during the previous general election in South Korea. Yoon, a candidate for the People Power Party, experienced a decline in popularity following a less-than-stellar performance in a Christmas Day YouTube interview conducted by 3ProTV.

Website: https://www.youtube.com/

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Naver is a leading internet portal and search engine in South Korea. It was launched in 1999 and quickly gained popularity, becoming one of the most visited websites in the country.

Naver offers a wide range of services that cater to various aspects of users' online needs, including news, webtoons, online communities, and more. It has a significant presence and user base in South Korea, providing a range of services that cater to the needs of the local population. Naver's popularity and usage make it one of the go-to platforms for information, communication, and entertainment for many people in South Korea.

Naver has expanded its services beyond South Korea, with a presence in Japan, Taiwan, and other countries. It has successfully established itself as a major internet brand and plays a significant role in the digital landscape of South Korea.

Website: https://www.naver.com/

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BAND is a mobile community app that promotes group communication. The service, developed by Naver Corporation, is available on iOS, Android, and PC.

Depending on the purpose of the groups, users can create various places for chatting with members of those groups. Existing groups, such as sports teams, marching bands, campus groups, church groups, teams, friends, and family, as well as interest-based groups, such as those for hobbyists, gamers, and fans, are searchable within the app. BAND is a prominent social app in Korea, with more monthly active users than Facebook by June 2014.

Secret Bands are typically formed by members of pre-existing offline organizations that want to stay connected, plan, and interact with one another via mobile. Examples of such groups are sports teams, clubs, courses, work teams, church groups, organizations, and extended families. After creating a group on the BAND app, a member can invite other members by sending a Band URL via SMS, messenger applications, or email. Members can then use the URL to sign up for the BAND app and join the group.

Interest-based groups, such as people who share common life experiences or hobbies, gamers, fans, and so on, form closed and public bands.

In April 2014, BAND introduced a gaming platform that allowed players to play games and compete against one another. BAND has become an official communication medium in the Republic of Korea Army in South Korea.

Users can change their notification choices to choose how and when they wish to receive mobile notifications. Band's "read by" function allows the group's leader to know which members have viewed the post, allowing users to conveniently track group member engagement.

Website: https://band.us/en

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Coupang is a highly popular and convenient online shopping app in South Korea. It offers many products, including baby items, kids' products, fashion, beauty, home and kitchen essentials, and electronics. With millions of items available, It has gained popularity among savvy shoppers who appreciate its convenience and money-saving opportunities.

Coupang delivers quickly and reliably to make shopping easy. The app delivers orders faster and cheaper than competitors.

Coupang offers everyday low prices and avoids adding extra charges to the item prices. Users can access various discount coupons applicable to their orders, enabling them to find the best bargains and money-saving offers.

The app's interface makes shopping simple. Users may easily access product information and millions of consumer reviews to make informed purchases. Icon categories simplify purchasing by making things easy to find.

Rocket Delivery, performed by the cheerful and reliable Coupang Man, delivers purchases placed today the following day. Fast delivery has made the app popular and satisfied customers. RocketPay, Coupang's in-app payment mechanism, simplifies transactions. RocketPay customers receive cashback benefits.

Website: https://www.coupang.com/

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Samsung Pay (abbreviated SΛMSUNG Pay) is a mobile payment and digital wallet service provided by Samsung Electronics that allows users to make payments using compatible phones and other Samsung-produced devices. The service allows contactless payments using near-field communications (NFC), but also magnetic stripe-only payment terminals via magnetic secure transmission (MST) on devices released prior to 2021. It also supports bill payments in India.

The service debuted in South Korea on August 20, 2015, and in the United States on September 28, 2015.

Samsung Pay was built from LoopPay, a crowdfunded startup company Samsung acquired in February 2015 for $300m. The service supports NFC-based mobile payment systems (prioritized when discovered) and magnetic stripe-only ones. Magnetic secure transmission (MST) generates the near-field magnetic waveform to simulate the swipe of a permanent magnet strip past a reader. LoopPay's inventors said this approach would operate with "nearly 90%" US point-of-sale machines (excluding terminals requiring the card to be physically placed into a slot).

Swiping from the bottom launches Samsung Pay on phones. The software lets you swipe through credit, debit, and loyalty cards.

Samsung Pay can be used online and at some banks' ATMs in South Korea. Samsung Pay supports in-app, QR code, and public transit cards in Mainland China. Samsung Pay can be linked to Smart Octopus cards in Hong Kong to perform online or offline electronic payments with saved value. Samsung Pay supports UPI and BharatQR in India. It accepts BBPS bill payments.

Samsung Money by SoFi, a mobile-first money management service from Samsung Pay and fintech company SoFi, launched in May 2020.

In June 2022, Samsung Pay became Samsung Wallet in the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. The Wallet app now stores digital assets and keys after the rename. Despite not adopting the "Samsung Wallet" branding, the Samsung Pay app in South Korea received these new functionalities.

Website: https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/samsung-pay/

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NAVER Map is considered one of the most used apps in South Korea. It is a popular navigation and mapping app developed by Naver Corporation, a prominent internet company in South Korea. NAVER Map provides comprehensive mapping and navigation services, including real-time traffic information, public transportation routes, driving directions, and street view imagery.

South Koreans widely utilize the app for various purposes, such as finding locations, planning routes, checking traffic conditions, and exploring points of interest. NAVER Map's accuracy, reliability, and user-friendly interface have contributed to its widespread adoption among locals.

In addition to its mapping features, NAVER Map offers additional functionalities like restaurant reviews, user-generated photos and comments, and real-time public transportation schedules. This wealth of information further enhances its utility and makes it a go-to app for many South Koreans regarding navigation and exploration.

Website: https://map.naver.com/v5/

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Instagram is a photo and video-sharing social networking website owned by Meta Platforms in the United States. Users can upload media to the app, which can then be altered with filters and grouped using hashtags and geographical tagging. Posts can be shared with the general public or with pre-approved followers. People can view trending content, like photographs, and follow others to add content to a personal feed.

Instagram is indeed popular in South Korea. It has a significant user base and is widely used by individuals, businesses, and influencers in the country. Many South Koreans, especially younger generations, actively use Instagram to connect with friends, share moments from their lives, follow their favorite celebrities or influencers, and discover new trends and inspirations. Instagram's features, such as filters, hashtags, and the Explore page, contribute to its popularity and appeal among users.

In addition, businesses and brands in South Korea recognize the marketing potential of Instagram and often utilize the platform to promote their products or services. Many Korean celebrities, K-pop idols, and influencers have a strong presence on Instagram, attracting a significant number of followers and engagement.

Website: https://www.instagram.com/instagram/ Visit website