Kakao is partnering with the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) to address the increasing impacts of extreme weather, such as heat waves, due to climate change. Following an overhaul of the KMA's heat wave alert system for the first time in 18 years, Kakao plans to use its KakaoTalk channel to deliver weather information more quickly and effectively while supporting vulnerable populations.
On July 3, Kakao announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the KMA for the dissemination of information on extreme weather and support for vulnerable groups. The signing ceremony took place at the KMA headquarters in Seoul, attended by KMA Administrator Lee Mi-sun and Kakao's Head of Sustainable Management Daeyul Kwon.
Under this agreement, Kakao will utilize its high-traffic platforms, including KakaoTalk, Bizboard, and Kakao Together, to establish a public-interest cooperation system that encompasses information dissemination and social support.
The company explained that this agreement expands the existing collaboration between Kakao, the KMA, and the Food Bank Community Welfare Foundation, which has been providing support to vulnerable populations during heat waves through Kakao Together. They view this initiative as a significant step in presenting a new public-private partnership model that connects not just information dissemination but also response guidelines and social support.
Kakao will inform users of the updated alert criteria and situational response guidelines through KakaoTalk and Kakao Bizboard, helping them quickly understand the new system and respond immediately when heat waves occur.
Practical support for vulnerable groups will also be implemented. Kakao's social contribution platform, Kakao Together, will conduct a fundraising campaign in collaboration with the Food Bank Community Welfare Foundation to assist those at risk during heat waves. The donations will be used to provide essential supplies to neighbors struggling in the heat.
Looking ahead, Kakao plans to continuously explore ways to closely link various weather information provided by the KMA, including heat waves, cold snaps, and earthquakes, with its platforms to strengthen the national safety net.
KMA Administrator Lee Mi-sun stated, "Through our collaboration with Kakao, a leading digital social networking service company in South Korea, we expect that critical information about extreme weather and earthquakes will be delivered to the public more quickly and accurately. In particular, the practical support through the Kakao Together fundraising platform will serve as a model of public-private cooperation to assist vulnerable groups affected by the climate crisis."
Daeyul Kwon, Kakao's Head of Sustainable Management, remarked, "It is meaningful that Kakao and the KMA are seeking solutions together in the face of increasing impacts from extreme weather due to climate change. Kakao will continue to strive to contribute to solving various social issues based on our public interest role and social responsibility."
Meanwhile, the KMA has revised its heat wave alert system due to the increasing intensity and frequency of heat waves caused by climate change. They determined that relying solely on temperature-based indicators was insufficient to protect public health and safety. With this revision, the KMA has transitioned to a more precise forecasting system that reflects perceived temperature and has detailed situational response guidelines to enhance effectiveness.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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