Kakao Mobility Launches Beta Service of 'Kakao T Pet' for Pet Transportation

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Kakao Mobility announced on the 27th that it is launching the beta service of its pet transportation service, ‘Kakao T Pet,’ and will begin operations throughout Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province.

Kakao Mobility plans to expand the reach of pet transportation services through the Kakao T platform, which has 30 million users, thereby helping pet owners alleviate transportation inconveniences. It is also expected to create a virtuous cycle by providing new mobility service areas to providers, generating new jobs.

Users who wish to travel with their pets can reserve a vehicle call up to 30 minutes in advance to their desired location via the ‘Pet’ menu on the Kakao T app home screen. After the trip is completed, payment can be made in one step using a card pre-registered in the Kakao T app. Additionally, a time charter service is offered for users who require round-trip transportation, such as visits to veterinary clinics, allowing them to use the vehicle for the desired amount of time.

The service fee is applied flexibly according to real-time supply and demand under a pre-determined fare system, allowing users to check the total fare for the travel section in advance at the vehicle call reservation stage. The base fare is 8,000 KRW.

The Kakao T Pet beta service is available throughout Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province based on the departure location, and there are plans to continuously expand the pool of mates (drivers) to increase the service area. The official service will be launched after analyzing data and collecting user feedback during the beta operation period.

Meanwhile, Kakao T Pet also offers the country’s first pet transportation-specific insurance, ‘Pet Injury Insurance.’ Existing automobile insurance classifies pets as ‘property,’ requiring drivers to cover pet treatment costs directly in case of an accident. However, with ‘Pet Injury Insurance,’ treatment costs for pets are also covered.

During the two-month pre-recruitment period for Kakao T Pet mates (drivers), hundreds of applicants applied, and about 30,000 users signed up for the pre-launch notification event.

Donghoon Shin, Executive Director of Kakao Mobility’s MaaS Business Division, said, “Through Kakao T Pet, we want to provide many pet owners with a comfortable travel experience anywhere they want with their precious pets, without worrying about transportation.” He added, “We will continue to expand barrier-free services not only for pet owners but also for transportation-vulnerable groups who face difficulties using public transportation, providing a mobility environment without blind spots.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.