Kim Beom-su

Early Life

Kim Beom-su, known as Brian Kim, was born in Damyang County, South Korea, and raised in Seoul. He was the third of five children and grew up in a household where his grandmother played a significant role in his upbringing. His parents worked in modest jobs, with his father in a pen factory and his mother as a hotel maid. Kim funded his college education by working as a private tutor, sometimes skipping meals to save money.

Rise to Success

Kim's career began as a developer for Samsung's IT services unit. In 1998, he founded Hangame with initial funding from friends and family. Hangame quickly became South Korea's first online gaming portal. In 2000, Kim merged Hangame with Naver, creating NHN Corporation, and became its co-CEO. Later, he started KakaoTalk, South Korea's leading messaging app, in 2010. KakaoTalk has become an integral part of South Korean society, with a vast majority of the population using it.

Key Business Strategies

Kim's key strategies included identifying the potential of mobile applications early on. He focused on creating a platform for social interaction and communication, which was key to the success of KakaoTalk. Also, he has made strategic acquisitions and diversification to expand Kakao's services into various sectors, including gaming, entertainment, and financial services.

Philanthropy

Kim Beom-su has committed to philanthropy. In 2021, he signed the Giving Pledge, promising to donate over half of his wealth to charitable causes.