Kakao Emoticons – Changing the Way South Korea Communicates

Since the introduction of the Kakao Emoticons in 2011, they have become an integral part of South Korean communication. Emoticons are used to express emotions and thoughts in text messages and online chat rooms. As a result, Kakao emoticons have come to shape the way Koreans communicate with each other.

In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the history and usage of Kakao emoticons. We will also explore some of the most popular emoticons used in South Korea today. So buckle up and get ready for a fun ride into the world of Korean emoticons!

What Are Kakao Emoticons?

Kakao emoticons or Kakao Emoji are a type of emoji that was introduced on the KakaoTalk messaging app in November 2011. The idea behind them was to make conversations more pleasant and vivid in a mobile chat setting. There is a wide range of emotions that can be expressed with Kakao emoticons, from happiness and love to sadness and anger.

KakaoTalk Friends, the brand’s own characters, started appearing as emoticons in 2012. These characters were originally designed as stickers for the messaging app, but they have since become very popular in their own right. Consequently, Kakao Friends emoticons are now often used to express emotions in a more fun and light-hearted way.

There are also many different types of Kakao emoticons, including animals, food, and even celebrities. In total, there are about 300000 emoticons available. Over time, the Kakao emoticons have evolved, with new ones being added and older ones being retired.

10 Years of Kakao Emoticons

Since their introduction in 2011, Kakao emoticons have been online for over a decade. These ten years have seen the creation of emoticons of various characters and styles expressing emotions. Kakao emoticons have also helped KakaoTalk become one of the most popular messaging apps in South Korea.

The emoticon ecosystem has created a new career, the emoticon creator. There are over 10000 emoticon creators and related industry workers contributing to Kakao Corp.’s 700 billion won market. And there’s no slowing down with more emoticons entering the market every day.

Why Are Kakao Emoticons So Popular?

It’s no secret that Kakao emoticons are one of the most popular features of the messaging app. In a world where communication is increasingly digital, it’s no surprise that people are looking for ways to add a personal touch to their messages. It’s easy to see why- they’re cute, expressive, and perfect for those moments when words just don’t seem enough.

These emoticons are not just popular characters. They have their own personalities too. The users can find an emoticon that they relate to the most making their message more personal. With a wide range of emotions to choose from, there’s an emoticon for every mood and situation. Kakao emoticons have even been known to start trends, with some becoming so popular that they’ve become part of Korean pop culture.

One of the things that makes Kakao emoticons so special is the fact that they are constantly evolving. New emotions are added regularly, giving users a reason to keep coming back for more. And with new designs being added all the time, users can always find the perfect way to express themselves.

Emoticon Plus – Subscriber-Only Emoticons

Emoticon Plus is a service that provides subscribers with dedicated emoticons. With Emoji Plus, subscribers can freely use Kakao emoticons for a monthly fee. Emoji Plus recommends emoticons that are perfect for conversations, allowing users to download and use their favorite emoticons.

Recently, Emoji Plus launched a dedicated emoticon called “Hi! Pitch Five” based on Apeach from KakaoTalk Friends. Hi! Pitch Five has 24 emotes, providing users with a variety of options to choose from.

Most Popular Emoticons

But which emoticons are the most popular? According to Kakao, the top emoticon keywords were ‘Applause’, ‘Hehe’, ‘Alcohol’, ‘Good job’, ‘Best’, and ‘Cheer up.’ On the Emoji Plus service, the most popular emoticon sets were ‘Ompang’, ‘Today’s Meal’, ‘Ni-Esi’, ‘Yoha’, ‘Rat Bell’, ‘Family Ticon’, ‘Ja Geun-Kong’, ‘Walman’, ‘Mochi’, and ‘Wadadada Bear.’

How Are Kakao Emoticons Changing Communication among Users?

Face-to-face communication exchanges more than words. It includes our facial expressions and other non-verbal cues to convey our emotions. However, with the increase in digital communication, we are losing out on these important cues. The conversations on instant messaging apps need that human touch and that’s where Kakao emoticons stepped in.

Kakao Emoticons help to fill this gap in communication and express the sender’s emotions more accurately than words can. Sometimes, one cute emoticon can convey an emotion, feeling, or thought more expressively than words. This is one of the reasons why South Koreans started using Kakao emoticons more and more.

The emotions expressed by these cute emoticon characters added a human touch to the virtual conversation. It makes the messages feel more personal. KakaoTalk emoticons have even been known to change the way people communicate with each other in South Korea.

Kakao Emoticons Growing Together with Creators

As mentioned earlier, the Kakao Emoticon business created a new space for emoticon creators. They have come a long way since their humble beginnings with just 4 webtoon creators. In 2017, the emoticon contents platform transitioned into an open market, and since then, it has been home to over 10,000 creators from all over the world. With such a large and diverse group of talent, it is no wonder that Kakao Emoticons are some of the most popular and widely used emoticons out there.

Kakao protects the intellectual rights of the creators while ensuring that both the company and the creators are benefitted from the collaboration. Without the creators, Kakao will not have such diverse emoticons, and without Kakao, the creators will not have such a platform to share their creations. As quoted by the head of Kakao’s Digital Item Team, Kim Ji-Hyeon, “Kakao emoticons breathe with creators who are partners and companions, and have led a virtuous cycle in the creative ecosystem to continue healthy shared growth.”

Being an Emoticon Artist

Being an emoticon artist is not as simple as one might think. Contrary to popular belief, these artists do not just sit around and come up with random expressions for the sake of it. Instead, they are always on the lookout for inspiration, observing people in their everyday lives and taking note of anything that could be translated into an emoji. This can be something as small as a friend who always has an interesting facial expression or a pet with a habit that could be turned into a funny character.

Once they have accumulated a few ideas, they will sketch out their thoughts and see if anything starts to take shape. If not, they will simply move on and continue to observe until they find something that sparks their creativity. Creating emoticons targeted at different age groups is a good way to keep the creativity flowing and not run out of ideas. After the emoticons have been created, it’s always good to listen to feedback from users to see if there are any changes that need to be made.

Kakao emoticons have taken instant messaging to a new level with their cute and expressive characters. KakaoTalk has given these emoticon artists a great platform to showcase their creations as well as profit from it. You can become a contributor to Kakao Emoticons here.

Express Yourself with Kakao Emoticons!

Kakao emoticons are changing the way South Koreans communicate. The popularity of Kakao emoticons is due to their ability to express emotions and feelings that text cannot always capture. As the use of emoticons grows, so does the creativity and variety of icons. With new emoticons being created every day, it’s easy to express your feelings in ways that just weren’t possible before.

We hope you enjoyed this post on Kakao emoticons and will follow us for more posts on South Korean digital marketing. Inquivix is a digital marketing agency specializing in South Korea and other Asian regions. Contact us today for a consultation.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Kakao Emoticon