Kakao starts real-time commerce broadcast platform Partners Live

Companies entering South Korea's KakaoTalk Store can conduct "labang," a term combining the Korean words for "live" and "broadcasting," any time they want. 

Kakao Shopping Live, run by Kakao Corp. as a commercial company in company, on Thursday said it launched the service Partners Live. "We will provide more diverse live commerce broadcasts to users while expanding our partners' sales channels," a company source said. 

Kakao Shopping Live will offer the service to 1,500 outstanding KakaoTalk Store partners and expand its range of targeted partners in phases. Such partners new to labang can use smart studios and related equipment and get support from transmission experts and live hosts, and expansion of supporting infrastructure through live commerce training programs is also planned.

"Our goal is to grow into a commerce platform that best connects users and partners through Partners Live," said Lim San, head of Kakao's live commerce team. "We will continue attempts to raise partner sales and improve user convenience."

To mark the launch of Partners Live, Kakao Shopping Live will hold an event next month giving buyers a 3% rebate as points on their combined purchase amounts (maximum 30,000 won or $22.4) during the service's live broadcasts.

Write to Ji-Eun Jeong at jeong@hankyung.com