[2023 Women’s Forum] Kakao Introduces ON Work System and Establishes Dedicated Human Rights Management Team

Gender Equality Index Award | Asia Economy Grand Prize Organizational Culture Division

Jeong Ju-yeon, head of the Kakao People Team, is receiving the Asia Economy Grand Prize in the Organizational Culture category at the 8th Asia Gender Equality Index Awards held on the 24th at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Kakao has created a work environment that is convenient for parents and established a human rights management system, receiving the Asia Economy Grand Prize (Organizational Culture category) at the 8th Gender Equality Index Awards.

Kakao operates various systems to help employees with infants and young children balance childcare and work. It has the largest workplace daycare centers among domestic IT companies at its Pangyo and Jeju offices, enrolling 907 children. Employees can freely use nursing facilities within the office during working hours, and legally mandated leave systems such as parental leave, prenatal checkup leave, and family care leave are provided. Recognizing the operational achievements of these family-friendly policies, Kakao obtained family-friendly certification from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Kakao’s operating subsidiary, DKainTech, has proactively introduced a flexible work system and implemented additional parental leave beyond legal requirements and a pregnancy period work-hour reduction system without wage reduction, contributing to the retention of female employees.

Key guests attending the opening ceremony of the '2023 Asia Economy Women Leaders Forum' held on the 24th at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, are taking a commemorative photo. From the left: Woo Byung-hyun, CEO of Asia Economy; Lee Sung-hee, Vice Minister of Employment and Labor; Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul; Han Duck-soo, Prime Minister; Hyun Sang-soon, Chairman of Asia Economy; Kim Hyun-sook, Minister of Gender Equality and Family; Kang Shin-sook, President of Suhyup Bank; Son Byung-doo, Chairman of Korea Exchange. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The 'Kakao ON' work system, implemented since January, operates as a 'fully flexible working hours system' where employees freely set their own working hours. The primary workplace is, in principle, the office designated by the company. The last Friday of every month is operated as a 'Recovery Day' to support employees' rest, recharge, and readjustment of work rhythm.

A dedicated human rights management organization was also established to systematically and continuously manage human rights risks. This organization analyzes domestic and international human rights management trends and guidelines and supports Kakao’s human rights-centered management activities. Since this year, regular meetings involving management-level organization heads responsible for oversight have been held monthly to discuss human rights issues and seek concrete implementation plans.

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