South Korea's largest mobile chat app&nbsp;Kakao Corporation's CEO Namkoong Whon resigned on Wednesday after failing to calm public anger over not being able to access various services.

The CEO was indirectly forced to resign after seven months of appointment after millions of users vented anger over outage following a power cut due to a fire at a data centre. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/founder-of-south-koreas-kakao-to-give-away-half-his-billions-362180">Also read |&nbsp;Founder of South Korea's Kakao to give away half his billions</a>

After a massive outage, the company promised to increase its investment in the data centre. Both former CEO Namkoong and co-CEO Hong Euntaek apologised to people for the inconvenience caused.&nbsp;

At a press conference, co-CEO, now CEO Hong said, "We did not prepare for a complete shutdown of an entire data centre." He added, "We will increase infrastructure investment so we can be prepared for shutdown of a data centre or two."

Hong further said that though most of the systems were recovered on Wednesday, some unknown functions remained disturbed and people were not able to do some basic chores, like paying online.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-fires-artillery-shells-near-sea-border-says-south-korean-military-526580">Also read |&nbsp;North Korea fires artillery shells near sea border, says South Korean military</a>

Hong said, "While Kakao has become a public service that the majority of the public uses, we've neglected the responsibilities accompanying our status."

The former CEO will remain an adviser to the company. He said, "As the CEO in charge of the business...all thinking revolved around sales and operating profit. Rather than staying in that role, I recognise the gravity of this situation." 
Reuters reported him as adding,&nbsp;"For a tech company, the system is like water or air... as (Kakao) has grown rapidly in recent years, we are reevaluating the need for deeper interest and investment in the area."&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
As per the company's statement, Kakao is set to invest $460 million to build its own data centres. One of them will be completed by next year.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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South Korea's largest mobile chat app Kakao Corporation's CEO Namkoong Whon resigned on Wednesday after failing to calm public anger over not being able to access various services.

South Korea's largest mobile chat app Kakao Corporation's CEO Namkoong Whon resigned on Wednesday after failing to calm public anger over not being able to access various services. The CEO was indirectly forced to resign after seven months of appointment after millions of users vented anger over outage following a power cut due to a fire at a data centre. Also read | Founder of South Korea's Kakao to give away half his billions After a massive outage, the company promised to increase its investment in the data centre. Both former CEO Namkoong and co-CEO Hong Euntaek apologised to people for the inconvenience caused. At a press conference, co-CEO, now CEO Hong said, "We did not prepare for a complete shutdown of an entire data centre." He added, "We will increase infrastructure investment so we can be prepared for shutdown of a data centre or two." Hong further said that though most of the systems were recovered on Wednesday, some unknown functions remained disturbed and people were not able to do some basic chores, like paying online. Also read | North Korea fires artillery shells near sea border, says South Korean military Hong said, "While Kakao has become a public service that the majority of the public uses, we've neglected the responsibilities accompanying our status." The former CEO will remain an adviser to the company. He said, "As the CEO in charge of the business...all thinking revolved around sales and operating profit. Rather than staying in that role, I recognise the gravity of this situation." Reuters reported him as adding, "For a tech company, the system is like water or air... as (Kakao) has grown rapidly in recent years, we are reevaluating the need for deeper interest and investment in the area." As per the company's statement, Kakao is set to invest $460 million to build its own data centres. One of them will be completed by next year. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Kakao's CEO Namkoong Whon resigns after outage, company to build its own data centres

A fire at a suburban data centre south of Seoul damaged servers of South Korea's major tech companies, Kakao Corp. and Naver Corp. on Saturday, causing extensive disruption to the country's dominant messenger service and internet portal.

The fire at SK C&amp;C on Saturday afternoon affected the operations of companies including Kakao and Naver housed at the data centre in Pangyo, on Seoul's southern periphery, an SK official said.

Kakao messenger and some affiliated services remained down for more than eight hours after the fire broke out. Various services offered by Naver also went down partially for several hours.

There were no reports of injuries but the companies involved apologised to customers for the service disruptions. Safety precautions were preventing Kakao from resuming power supplies to its data centre, the Yonhap news agency reported.

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A fire at a suburban data centre south of Seoul damaged servers of South Korea's major tech companies, Kakao Corp. and Naver Corp. on Saturday, causing extensive disruption to the country's dominant messenger service and internet portal.

A fire at a suburban data centre south of Seoul damaged servers of South Korea's major tech companies, Kakao Corp. and Naver Corp. on Saturday, causing extensive disruption to the country's dominant messenger service and internet portal. The fire at SK C&C on Saturday afternoon affected the operations of companies including Kakao and Naver housed at the data centre in Pangyo, on Seoul's southern periphery, an SK official said. Kakao messenger and some affiliated services remained down for more than eight hours after the fire broke out. Various services offered by Naver also went down partially for several hours. There were no reports of injuries but the companies involved apologised to customers for the service disruptions. Safety precautions were preventing Kakao from resuming power supplies to its data centre, the Yonhap news agency reported. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Fire at data centre disrupts services of South Korean tech giants Kakao and Naver

One of South Korea's wealthiest people, the billionaire founder of the country's biggest mobile messenger operator KakaoTalk, promised Monday to give away more than half his wealth.

The decision by self-made Kim Beom-su, worth around $9.4 billion, is an unusual one for the world's 12th-largest economy, where business is dominated by sprawling family-controlled conglomerates.

"I have pledged to donate more than half of my assets throughout my life to solve social issues," Kim said in a message sent to all of Kakao's employees seen by AFP.

Kakao, founded in 2010, has a range of mobile offerings and its flagship messaging application is installed on more than 90 per cent of phones in South Korea.

Forbes described Kim the nation's "biggest gainer" during the coronavirus pandemic last year.

His firm benefited from social distancing measures that saw more use of its messaging app, e-commerce platform, and online games.

The promise to donate more than half of a billion-dollar fortune is at the core of the Giving Pledge, the philanthropic initiative set up by Bill and Melinda Gates, as well as Warren Buffett.

More 200 super-wealthy have signed the pledge, according to its website, but it has struggled to make headway in East Asia, listing only a handful of donors from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan — and none from Japan or South Korea.

Kim said he was looking to make his pledge official, adding discussions on the details of his donation were "at the early stage".

"I plan to find and help people that Kakao has difficulty approaching to solve social problems," he added.

Kakao reported 120 billion won in operating profit in the third quarter, up 103 per cent from a year earlier, and is expected to report record yearly profits for 2020.

One of South Korea's wealthiest people, the billionaire founder of the country's biggest mobile messenger operator KakaoTalk, promised Monday to give away more than half his wealth.

One of South Korea's wealthiest people, the billionaire founder of the country's biggest mobile messenger operator KakaoTalk, promised Monday to give away more than half his wealth. The decision by self-made Kim Beom-su, worth around $9.4 billion, is an unusual one for the world's 12th-largest economy, where business is dominated by sprawling family-controlled conglomerates. "I have pledged to donate more than half of my assets throughout my life to solve social issues," Kim said in a message sent to all of Kakao's employees seen by AFP. Kakao, founded in 2010, has a range of mobile offerings and its flagship messaging application is installed on more than 90 per cent of phones in South Korea. Forbes described Kim the nation's "biggest gainer" during the coronavirus pandemic last year. His firm benefited from social distancing measures that saw more use of its messaging app, e-commerce platform, and online games. The promise to donate more than half of a billion-dollar fortune is at the core of the Giving Pledge, the philanthropic initiative set up by Bill and Melinda Gates, as well as Warren Buffett. More 200 super-wealthy have signed the pledge, according to its website, but it has struggled to make headway in East Asia, listing only a handful of donors from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan — and none from Japan or South Korea. Kim said he was looking to make his pledge official, adding discussions on the details of his donation were "at the early stage". "I plan to find and help people that Kakao has difficulty approaching to solve social problems," he added. Kakao reported 120 billion won in operating profit in the third quarter, up 103 per cent from a year earlier, and is expected to report record yearly profits for 2020.

Founder of South Korea's Kakao to give away half his billions

A South Korean taxi driver burned himself to death on Monday in protest at an Uber-like ride-sharing service being introduced by the country's largest mobile chat app, reports said.

South Korean taxi drivers have angrily protested against the car-pooling service created by KakaoTalk, saying it would threaten their jobs and livelihoods.&nbsp;

US giant Uber has only a minimal presence in the country, offering only taxi- and licensed-hire vehicle hailing after closing its main ride-sharing service in 2015 in the face of an extensive backlash from drivers.

But Kakao is used by more than 80 per cent of South Koreans, and in recent months tens of thousands of taxi drivers have held mass rallies in Seoul to condemn its upcoming car-pooling service, which is due to launch next week. &nbsp;

The 57-year-old driver surnamed Choi, set himself alight in front of the national parliament in Seoul after complaining about the carpooling service, according to the police and Yonhap news agency.

Choi had told another taxi driver he wanted to set himself on fire "because of the Kakao carpool", Yonhap news agency quoted the man as saying.

He poured fuel over himself while sitting in his vehicle and set himself alight, police said. He was taken to hospital but died hours later.

Choi was a leader of the union branch at his firm in Seoul.

A South Korean taxi driver burned himself to death on Monday in protest at an Uber-like ride-sharing service being introduced by the country's largest mobile chat app, reports said.

A South Korean taxi driver burned himself to death on Monday in protest at an Uber-like ride-sharing service being introduced by the country's largest mobile chat app, reports said. South Korean taxi drivers have angrily protested against the car-pooling service created by KakaoTalk, saying it would threaten their jobs and livelihoods. US giant Uber has only a minimal presence in the country, offering only taxi- and licensed-hire vehicle hailing after closing its main ride-sharing service in 2015 in the face of an extensive backlash from drivers. But Kakao is used by more than 80 per cent of South Koreans, and in recent months tens of thousands of taxi drivers have held mass rallies in Seoul to condemn its upcoming car-pooling service, which is due to launch next week. The 57-year-old driver surnamed Choi, set himself alight in front of the national parliament in Seoul after complaining about the carpooling service, according to the police and Yonhap news agency. Choi had told another taxi driver he wanted to set himself on fire "because of the Kakao carpool", Yonhap news agency quoted the man as saying. He poured fuel over himself while sitting in his vehicle and set himself alight, police said. He was taken to hospital but died hours later. Choi was a leader of the union branch at his firm in Seoul.

South Korea cab driver burns himself to death in protest against ride-sharing service

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