Kakao Entertainment

Kakao Entertainment (카카오엔터테인먼트) is the South Korean entertainment and media conglomerate that sits at the intersection of technology and content. Formed in March 2021 through the merger of KakaoPage and Kakao M, the company operates as a subsidiary of internet giant Kakao, spanning webtoons, web novels, music distribution, K-dramas, film, and artist management. The company runs a dual structure: Page Company handles digital publishing (webtoons and web novels), while M Company oversees entertainment and media. The M Company division controls music distribution, artist management through subsidiary labels including Starship Entertainment, IST Entertainment, and EDAM Entertainment, and operates Melon, one of South Korea's largest music streaming platforms. Kakao Entertainment became a central player in the 2023 SM Entertainment ownership battle. After HYBE acquired founder Lee Soo Man's 14.8% stake, Kakao launched a counter-bid and ultimately won control. Through Kakao and Kakao Entertainment combined, the parent group holds approximately 41.5% of SM Entertainment, making it the dominant shareholder. Tencent Music Entertainment later acquired HYBE's remaining SM shares. The Page Company division is equally significant. Kakao's webtoon and web novel platforms have become one of the most important IP pipelines in Korean entertainment, supplying source material for K-dramas and films across Netflix, Disney+, and domestic platforms. Headquartered in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Kakao Entertainment reported revenue of 1.47 trillion won ($1.08 billion) in 2023, making it one of the largest entertainment companies in Korea by revenue.