Naver has been actively hiring employees while expanding new businesses such as artificial intelligence (AI). In contrast, Kakao has seen a slight decrease in its employee count. The industry assesses that Kakao continues to maintain a conservative hiring stance due to the impacts of restructuring its subsidiaries.
According to Naver's semiannual report for this year released on the 19th, as of June 30, the total number of Naver's workers (based on full-time employees) was 4,797. This marks an increase of 9.2% (407) compared to the first half of last year (4,390). Compared to 2023 (4,221), this is an increase of 13.6%.
In contrast, Kakao recorded 3,829 employees in the first half of this year, a decrease from last year (3,879). Compared to the number of employees in 2023 (3,713), the growth rate remained at 3%. However, the number of temporary workers, including contract workers, assistants, and interns, has remained steady. Kakao's number of temporary workers this year is 157, one more than last year.
The hiring policies of the two companies appear to diverge according to their internal business strategies. Previously, both Naver and Kakao significantly increased their workforce during the contactless boom period of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first half of 2022, Naver's employee count was 4,750, a similar level to this year. However, as both companies entered the endemic phase, they reduced new hires and minimized their size.
In the case of Naver, it seems to be actively expanding new businesses such as AI and has begun recruiting related personnel. This year, Naver has incorporated AI technology into areas such as search, shopping, news, and webtoons. Additionally, it is exporting its super-large AI model HyperClova X to the global business-to-business (B2B) market in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Recently, the Naver Cloud Consortium was selected as the elite team for the government-led independent AI foundation model project. The average salary per employee at Naver has also increased by 21%, from 76 million won last year to 92 million won.
It appears that the repercussions of Kakao's organizational restructuring have continued into this year. Since last year, Kakao has been streamlining its management by merging its subsidiaries focused on core businesses. Kakao's specialized subsidiary 'Kakao Brain' has absorbed its research and development and related institutional sectors. The company is also trending towards reducing new hiring and focusing on mid-career recruitment. According to Kakao's 2024 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report, Kakao's recruitment figures have decreased from 870 in 2022 and 452 in 2023 to 314 in 2024. The average salary per employee at Kakao rose by 1 million won, from 57 million won last year to 58 million won.
An industry official noted, "Until last year, the overall situation in the industry was not good, leading to a trend of reducing hiring. However, as domestic IT companies continue to need talent related to AI, hiring is expected to gradually become more active."