[Edaily Reporter Lee So-Hyun ] Kakao(035720) The labor union is stepping up its collective response, demanding that Kakao disclose the impact of its corporate spin-off on employment and working conditions and engage in preliminary consultations.

The Kakao Branch of the National Chemical, Textile, and Food Industry Labor Union announced on the 21st that it will hold a ceremony to declare joint collective bargaining for the Kakao community and a rally to resolve on a series of strikes targeting KakaoBank Corp. at Pangyo Station Plaza at 1:00 p.m. on the 26th. This marks the first large-scale union event to be held since Kakao announced its corporate spin-off into “Kakao AI” and “Kakao X.”

Regarding this corporate split, the Kakao Branch issued a statement titled “You Can Split the Company, but You Can’t Split Responsibility,” stating, “It is difficult to be optimistic that Kakao will change simply because of a new governance structure.”

While Kakao cited enhancing corporate value and streamlining decision-making and capital allocation as reasons for the spin-off, the union maintains that a complex business structure alone cannot be blamed for the erosion of corporate value. It argued that priority must be given to evaluating and holding the company accountable for repeated executive reshuffles, failed decision-making, excessive working hours, workplace harassment, and controversies over corruption and preferential treatment.

In particular, the Kakao branch union pointed out that the company’s promise of employment continuity during the spin-off process is insufficient. It argued that concrete measures are needed to protect employees’ jobs and working conditions in the event of restructuring, sales, mergers, spin-offs, or business transfers following the spin-off.

The Kakao Union claimed that during the announcement of this spin-off, the majority of employees were not provided with sufficient information regarding their department assignments, duties, or future employment, and that there was no prior consultation with the union.

Seo Seung-wook, president of the Kakao Union, stated, “Splitting Kakao into two may be the company’s decision, but the company cannot unilaterally decide on the changes to employment and working conditions resulting from that decision,” adding, “Even if the company splits, it cannot split its responsibility for past management failures and its obligations to its employees.”

The Kakao Union believes that the need for joint collective bargaining has actually increased due to the corporate split. Since major investments, business restructuring, and personnel and capital allocation are decided at the group level, the union maintains that issues such as responsible management, employment stability, fair performance-based compensation, prior consultation regarding organizational restructuring, divestitures, and spin-offs, as well as internal transfers within the group, should be addressed through joint collective bargaining rather than by individual legal entities.

At the rally scheduled for the 26th, the union will officially declare its demand for joint bargaining with Kakao and simultaneously pass a resolution for a five-day full-scale strike at KakaoBank Corp., scheduled from August 31 to September 4. Prior to that, on the 24th, the union plans to hold an Open Talk session for union members at Kakao’s corporate entities to gather questions and concerns regarding the corporate spin-off.

The Kakao branch has demanded that Kakao specifically disclose the impact the spin-off will have on employment and working conditions at Kakao and its major affiliates, and engage in substantive consultations with the union, before the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting scheduled for December.