Early Life
Kim Beom-su was born in Damyang County, South Korea, and grew up in Seoul. He was the third of five children and was raised by his grandmother in a one-bedroom apartment. His parents worked hard to make a living, with his father working in a pen factory and his mother as a hotel maid. Kim funded his college education by tutoring and sometimes skipped 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, South Korea's first online gaming portal, with funding from friends and family. He merged Hangame with web portal Naver in 2000. Later, he started KakaoTalk in 2010, South Korea's biggest messaging app. In 2014, Kakao acquired the country's No. 2 search engine Daum.
Key Business Strategies
Kim's key strategies involved identifying and capitalizing on the growing demand for online services. KakaoTalk quickly became dominant in the South Korean market, with approximately 90% market share. This success was driven by a focus on mobile applications and constant technology exploration.
Philanthropy
Kim signed the Giving Pledge in 2021, promising to donate the majority of his wealth to charitable causes. He is committed to supporting various social causes and launched the philanthropy foundation, Brian Impact.