[Edaily Reporter Lee So-Hyun ] Kakao(035720)has unveiled a Braille calendar that allows visually impaired people to feel the shapes and characteristics of popular emoji characters, such as Chunsik and Janmang Ruppi, with their fingertips.

On the 4th, Kakao held the “2027 Kakao Braille Calendar Presentation Ceremony” at the Seoul National School for the Blind and announced that it will distribute a total of 8,000 copies free of charge this year to special schools for the visually impaired and related institutions nationwide.

Now in its third year, the Kakao Braille Calendar features 12 emoji characters popular among people in their teens and 20s.

Characters such as Chunsik, Janmang Ruppy, Kkamja, the Mangled Bear, the Paradise Quokka, Jagun-kong and Jangkkeun-kong, Gwak Cheol-i, the Charismatic Pax, Gomdol-ching and Tokki-ching, Tosimi, Ganadi, and Wadada-gom are featured.

Character Outlines and Textures Rendered as

“Tactile Lines”
The back of the calendar features alternative text in Braille describing each character’s appearance and the emotions they convey.

In particular, tactile design was applied so that users can feel the characters’ outlines and textures with their fingertips, allowing visually impaired individuals to recognize the characters’ shapes and characteristics.

Eleven emoji artists participated in this project and agreed to the use of their characters.

Kakao has long provided alternative text for over 850,000 emojis to enable people with visual impairments to select emojis and express their emotions. The company also requires alternative text to be entered whenever new emojis are registered.

The company explained that this Braille calendar is an example of extending these digital accessibility improvements into an offline tactile experience.

Limited Edition of 500 Copies… All Proceeds Donated

General users can also purchase the Braille calendar. Kakao is offering a limited run of 500 copies through its impact commerce platform, “Kakao Makers.” Last year, the Braille calendars sold on Kakao Makers sold out completely.

To mark the 100th anniversary of the promulgation of “Hunmaengjeongeum,” the Korean Braille system, Kakao will donate all proceeds from this year’s sales to the National Museum of Korea. The donation will be used to fund customized exhibition projects for the visually impaired.

Kim Hye-il, Head of Digital Accessibility (DAO) at Kakao, stated, “The 2027 Kakao Braille Calendar is the result of a collaboration between Kakao and the artists, who hope that visually impaired users can fully experience the charm of popular emojis and share their emotions.” He added, “We will expand the accessibility improvements we have achieved in our digital services to all sectors of society.”