[Edaily Reporter Kim Hyun-ah ] Kakao(035720)is setting out to build a distribution platform geared toward the era of artificial intelligence (AI) agents. The company plans to expand the domestic AI service ecosystem by creating an “AI Agent Marketplace” where users can buy, sell, and utilize AI agents.

Kakao announced on the 6th that it has been selected as the implementing entity for the “AI Agent Marketplace Development Support Project,” which is organized by the Ministry of Science and ICT and managed by the National Information Society Agency (NIA).

Kakao plans to form a consortium with Kakao Enterprise to build a private-sector-led, open Agent AI ecosystem by December 2027. This project will be carried out with a total budget of approximately 11 billion won, comprising government grants and private-sector contributions.

The AI Agent Marketplace is a platform that enables users to search for and utilize various AI agent services and Agent AI tools in one place. Users can find and combine the AI functions they need for their work, while developers can register and distribute the AI agents they have created.

The Kakao consortium intends to build an ecosystem that provides the entire process—from agent registration and verification to search, combination, execution, and settlement—on a single platform. The plan is to launch the initial service within this year and further enhance the platform by 2027 by adding features such as “Agent Studio,” an agent development environment.

In particular, the platform is designed with an open architecture that is not tied to any specific cloud or AI model. It will integrate various domestic and international AI models, including Kakao’s proprietary AI model “Kanana,” and support seamless connectivity with external APIs and MCP (Model Context Protocol)-based tools.

A verification system will also be established to ensure the reliability of AI agents. AI tools registered on the platform will undergo procedures such as security reviews, sandbox testing, and hallucination verification before being made public, and the company plans to implement a continuous re-verification system even after the platform goes live.

Kakao will leverage its existing experience in operating AI platforms for this initiative. The company currently operates “PlayMCP,” an open platform with over 400 registered MCP servers, and “AI Agent Builder,” a tool for developing AI agents; it is also providing a pilot service for the “AI Citizen Secretary” in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Kakao Enterprise will support the platform’s development and operation based on its experience operating the Kakao Cloud Marketplace, as well as its cloud infrastructure and security capabilities.

Kakao will also run a developer support program to expand the AI agent ecosystem. Through initiatives such as the “AI Agent Challenge” and hackathons, the company plans to identify outstanding AI agents and connect them with the platform to drive ecosystem growth.

Kim Se-woong, Kakao’s AI Synergy Performance Leader, said, “We are reaching an inflection point where both the demand for and supply of Agent AI are expanding simultaneously,” adding, “Based on Kakao’s AI technology and platform operation experience, we will establish standards for an Agent AI ecosystem that any developer or company can trust.”