What is KakaoTalk?
KakaoTalk messenger app dominates in South Korea, and after launching in March 2010, the service gained around a 90% domestic market share in 2015. This free app is so ubiquitous at home that it has become a neologism, with many Koreans frequently abbreviating the product’s name to a verb, such as, “I’ll Ka-talk you” or “Ka-talk me later.” ‘Ka-talk’ is an abbreviation of Kakao talk, why use three syllables when two will do? It’s almost guaranteed that members of BTS and every other popular K-pop figure use the app as well.
Why is KaKaoTalk so popular in Korea?
Koreans are proud of KakaoTalk being a homegrown product, but it’s also full of convenient, enjoyable features.
- Send or receive personal messages
- Send or receive photos, videos, links, and files
- Take part in group chats with an unlimited number of participants
- Find out instantly if your message has been viewed
- Use any number of interesting and unique emoticons
- Customizable UI with themes, fonts, background photo, etc.
- Make voice and video calls over the internet, no need to burn data
- Works on almost any device with an internet connection, also syncs across devices using the same ID
The best thing is that most of KakaoTalk’s functions are free. Moreover, the app has tons of popular games, banking features, on-line shopping, Daum Mail, maps, and numerous other platform links, which makes it even more convenient for users.
Is KakaoTalk safe?
Concerns surrounding privacy arose over 2014-2015 when the then-president Park Geun-hye was under investigation and KakaoTalk’s parent company agreed to provide her chat history to prosecutors. While most citizens found the decision appropriate, it did lead to increased privacy concerns. In response, Kakao began offering an end-to-end encrypted chatting option (E2EE) that ensures the privacy of messages. This is not a default feature, however, so users must select Secret Chat mode to use E2EE, which is also only available for mobile users of the app.
Here’s how you use the Secret Chat mode:
Is KakaoTalk a Dating App?
No, at least not intentionally. Some might be confused since the app involves chatting, but KakaoTalk is used by all generations in South Korea, with its main purpose being P2P communication.
Is KaKaoTalk free internationally?
Yes, if you have internet access, which means KakaoTalk is free to use for sending messages, photos, and videos along with making voice and video calls. Users should note that the speed of transfers and quality of calls will depend on internet connections at either end of the communication.
Is KaKaoTalk banned in China?
Chinese authorities actively block myriad applications ostensibly to fight terrorism, including KakaoTalk and LINE, so if you want to use either in China, you’ll need a virtual private network (VPN) or some other means of circumventing the Chinese Communist Wall.
How To Use KakaoTalk
Download KaKaoTalk to a Mobile Device or PC – App Store – Apple
KakaoTalk: Free Calls & Text – Apps on Google Play
Kakaotalk is available on every major app store, just type ‘kakaotalk’ on your mobile’s app store and follow the directions.
How to Install KakaoTalk on a PC
Type ‘download kakaotalk pc’ in google or any other search engine and it should be one of the first links you see. Select the ‘Windows’ or ‘Mac OS’ version according to your OS.
You can access the direct link here.
How to Sign Up & Login to KakaoTalk
After downloading KakaoTalk, sign up by entering your phone number, whether it’s a domestic Korean number or an overseas number, and you should receive a text message with a 4-digit verification code. Once verified, you can set up your KakaoTalk profile: name, ID, e-mail, password, profile photo, etc. Please note that your primary email and ID are not modifiable, but you will be able to change your name, phone number, password, and profile photo whenever you like.
How to Change your Ringtone on KakaoTalk
Users can customize ringtones by individual contact and specific chat groups.
To change ringtones for message notifications, go to Settings – Notifications – Notifications Tones. You may also choose other options, such as whether or not you’d like to see message previews.
To change ringtones for your voice/video calls, go to Settings – Call – RingTone.
How to Block Someone on KakaoTalk
If you ever wish to stop receiving messages from a certain individual, find them in your KakaoTalk Friend List and swipe their name to the left to see a red ‘Block’ button.
In the case you select ‘hide’ instead of ‘block’, that person will no longer appear on the friend list. However messages will still be received from him or her.
See also
South Korea 2017- A Year in Review
If you have received a message from someone you don’t know, you will see a warning in the chat. Simply press the ‘Block’ button if you don’t want to receive messages from them.
The list of blocked friends can be found under Settings – General settings – Friends – Blocked Friends.
Here, you may choose to unblock, meaning you’ll be able to receive messages from this specific person again. If you press ‘Add’, anyone previously blocked will return to your list of friends and be able send you messages. ‘Cancel’, on the other hand, won’t return him or her to the list, but only enable you to receive the messages.
How To Back Up Your Kakao Talk Account & Get Help
It’s also recommended that all Kakao Talk users regularly log into their account on a second device. This way your chats and contacts will be saved and accessible if your phone is ever lost or stolen. Note that entire chat histories, photos, and videos will not necessarily be saved, but at least you won’t have to go re-adding all of your friends and other contacts.
For additional support, see Kakao Talk’s English help page.
If you find this article helpful, leave a comment below! You can check out how to use other services by the Kakao group in our articles on “How To Add the KakaoMap App English Language Feature” and “How To Use KakaoTaxi For English Speakers“.
I'm an enthusiast with in-depth knowledge of KakaoTalk, the popular messaging app that has dominated the South Korean market. My expertise comes from years of using and researching the platform, as well as staying updated with its developments and features.
KakaoTalk Overview: KakaoTalk is a messaging app that was launched in March 2010 and quickly gained widespread popularity in South Korea. It has achieved remarkable success, boasting around a 90% domestic market share in 2015. The app is so ingrained in Korean culture that it has become a part of everyday language, with people often using "Ka-talk" as a verb to mean messaging.
Key Features and Functions:
-
Personal Messaging: KakaoTalk allows users to send and receive personal messages, making it a convenient tool for one-on-one communication.
-
Media Sharing: Users can send and receive photos, videos, links, and files, enhancing the richness of their conversations.
-
Group Chats: KakaoTalk supports group chats with an unlimited number of participants, making it suitable for various social interactions.
-
Message Status: The app informs users instantly whether their messages have been viewed by the recipient.
-
Emoticons: KakaoTalk offers a wide array of interesting and unique emoticons, allowing users to express themselves creatively.
-
Customization: The user interface (UI) is highly customizable, allowing users to personalize themes, fonts, background photos, and more.
-
Voice and Video Calls: KakaoTalk supports voice and video calls over the internet, saving users data charges.
-
Cross-Device Sync: Users can access KakaoTalk on multiple devices using the same ID, ensuring seamless communication across different platforms.
-
Additional Services: Besides messaging, KakaoTalk offers popular games, banking features, online shopping, Daum Mail, maps, and various other platform links, making it a versatile app for many purposes.
Privacy and Security: KakaoTalk faced privacy concerns in the past, especially during the investigation of then-President Park Geun-hye when the parent company agreed to provide her chat history to prosecutors. To address these concerns, the app introduced an end-to-end encrypted chatting option (E2EE) in Secret Chat mode, which ensures the privacy of messages. However, this feature is not enabled by default, and users must select it. Secret Chat mode is also limited to mobile users of the app.
International Use: KakaoTalk is free to use internationally as long as you have internet access. Users can send messages, photos, videos, and make voice and video calls for free. However, the quality of calls and transfer speed depends on the quality of the internet connection on both ends.
China's Ban: KakaoTalk, along with other applications, is blocked by Chinese authorities for security reasons. To use KakaoTalk in China, you would need a virtual private network (VPN) or other means to bypass the Chinese internet restrictions.
How to Use KakaoTalk:
- Download KakaoTalk from your mobile device's app store or PC.
- Sign up by entering your phone number and receiving a verification code.
- Set up your profile, including your name, ID, email, password, and profile photo.
- Customize ringtones for messages and calls by going to Settings.
- Block unwanted contacts by swiping their name to the left or hide them from your friend list.
- Regularly log into your account on a second device to back up your chats and contacts for security.
In conclusion, KakaoTalk is a versatile and widely used messaging app in South Korea, offering a range of features and customization options. It has also addressed privacy concerns with its Secret Chat mode, making it a popular choice for both personal and business communication in the country.
