Kakao Workers Stage Partial Strike in South Korea

By Kwanwoo Jun

Unionized workers at Kakao staged a four-hour strike Wednesday--the company's first-ever walkout--to press for job security and other union demands.

Kakao, operator of the KakaoTalk messaging app used by well over 90% of South Korea's 52 million population, reported no immediate disruption to its largely automated services.

The company pledged to take appropriate measures to ensure stable services despite the partial strike.

Union leaders said workers at Kakao and four affiliates walked off the job for four hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time Wednesday, while hundreds of union members rallied and marched near one of the company's main offices south of Seoul.

At government-mediated talks in May, union leaders and management failed to reach an agreement on job security, governance reforms and bonuses.

Shares in Kakao fell 3.5% in early Wednesday trading.

Write to Kwanwoo Jun at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

06-09-26 2257ET