[E-Daily Reporter Lee So-Hyun ] Kakao(035720)is expanding its “Project Regular” mutual growth program for small business owners into an initiative to support the growth of individual stores.

Kakao announced on the 9th that, as part of Project Regular, it is launching “Regular Shops,” a new initiative to support individual business owners, and is opening its first call for applications targeting food and beverage businesses in the Gangwon region.

“Regular Customer Store” is a small business support program designed to help locally beloved shops reach customers nationwide beyond their immediate region. Kakao will provide comprehensive support for business growth, including training on service utilization, brand planning, expansion of online and offline sales channels, and marketing.

The first phase of the program will begin in the Gangwon region. Kakao plans to select a total of 10 small business owners in the food and beverage sector within Gangwon Province to provide them with intensive support.

Applications can be submitted on the Kakao Business Seminar website until the 28th. Final selection results will be individually notified on the 18th of next month.

Selected business owners will receive benefits worth up to 100 million won per store. Key support includes one-on-one consulting for product planning and menu improvements; training on online commerce and artificial intelligence (AI) utilization; listing on Kakao commerce platforms such as Kakao Talk Deal and Kakao Makers; and diversification of sales channels through connections with product planners at distribution platforms.

Marketing support is also included. Kakao will provide a 3 million won subsidy for sending messages via Talk Channels, as well as support for product branding and packaging design, online promotion, and opportunities to participate in online and offline promotional events.

Outstanding participating businesses will also receive additional promotional opportunities, such as creating collaborative content with influencers like Chef Yoon Nam-no, as well as participation in local festivals and department store pop-up stores.

Kakao will also continue its digital transformation support program, previously run by “Project Regulars.” On the 8th, Kakao held the launch ceremony for the “2026 Commercial District Digital Support Project” at Kakao Pangyo Ajit in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. This project is a field-based digital transformation support initiative jointly promoted by Kakao, “A World Created Together,” and the Small Business and Market Promotion Corporation. This year, training will begin in the second week of July, targeting 38 traditional markets and local shopping districts nationwide.

In particular, the program will introduce new AI training to strengthen merchants’ digital capabilities. It will also provide 3 million won in subsidies per commercial district to support the sending of Talk Channel messages and fund offline events to attract Talk Channel friends, thereby helping to revitalize local commercial districts.

Yang Hyun-seo, Performance Leader for Kakao’s Win-Win Business Division, stated, “Kakao will continue to strive for the efficient digital transformation of commercial districts and the sustainable growth of local business communities,” adding, “This year, we will provide support in various ways to help individual business owners with growth potential develop into competitive brands nationwide.”

Project Regular Customer is a mutual growth project through which Kakao has been supporting the digital transformation and growth of small business owners since 2022. To date, the project has provided digital training to 286 traditional markets and shopping districts nationwide and has provided small business owners with a cumulative total of 33.4 billion won in subsidies for sending Talk Channel messages.