Kim Beom-su (also known as Brian Kim) is a South Korean businessman, the self-made billionaire Founder and former Chairman of Kakao Corp. (KRX: 035720), the creator of KakaoTalk (South Korea's dominant mobile messaging and platform service). Born in 1966 in Seoul, his early life was marked by extreme poverty: he grew up in public housing with five siblings, and his family sometimes shared a single room.

Kim became the first in his family to attend university, working as a tutor to pay for his tuition. He graduated from Seoul National University (SNU) with a B.A. and M.S. in Industrial Engineering. His career began in technology at Samsung SDS (1992). His philosophy centers on social responsibility (he is a Giving Pledge signatory), community connection, and disruptive platform innovation.

• Kakao Corp. (Founder & Former Chairman): The core publicly traded asset, the dominant mobile messaging and platform service in South Korea (controlling KakaoTalk and diverse services).
• Giving Pledge Signatory: He has joined The Giving Pledge, committing to giving away more than half of his wealth to social causes (focusing on social issues and poverty).
• Early Struggles: He grew up in extreme poverty and was the first in his family to attend university.
• Platform Innovation: His company successfully diversified into banking, gaming, mobility, and e-commerce (KakaoBank, Kakao Games).

Kim Beom-su's strategic genius was his commitment to Internet and mobile platforms. He founded Hanmail (Daum) in 1998 (Korea's first successful Internet portal). His major venture was founding KakaoTalk in 2010, quickly achieving market dominance (becoming the de facto national communication tool for South Korea).

He stepped down as Chairman in 2022 but retains a substantial 24.5 percent stake in Kakao. His structural contribution is tied to transforming communication and digital services in South Korea, creating a powerful 'Super App' ecosystem. His commitment to social responsibility is monumental: he signed the Giving Pledge and committed half of his wealth to charity, aiming to help those born into poverty (reflecting his own upbringing).

Kim Beom-su is a major global philanthropist and a Giving Pledge signatory. His structural social impact is tied to KakaoTalk's role as a foundational communication tool in South Korea and the economic activity generated by its Super App ecosystem (KakaoBank, Kakao Games). His profound philanthropic commitment is to addressing social issues and poverty (committing half his wealth to charity, a model of wealth redistribution).

His structural contribution is tied to his belief in platform technology as a vehicle for social change and his dedication to social justice issues.

Kim Beom-su maintains the professional, composed style of a technology executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects stability and immense corporate authority, typical of a pioneer in the high-growth mobile platform sector.

Residing in Seoul, South Korea, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to platform innovation, social responsibility, and the long-term stewardship of the Kakao empire.