Kakao Corp. (035720.KS)

Kakao faces growing regulatory risks as political scrutiny rises

South Korean tech giant Kakao faces growing regulatory heat after the country's president urged a review into its taxi app amid complaints about monopolistic practices, which comes on the heels of a probe into suspected stock market manipulation. Shares in Kakao Corp, which operates Korea's dominant chat app KakaoTalk and has expanded into digital banking, taxi services and entertainment, have dropped 27% over the past three months, undershooting a 10.5% fall in the broader market and reflecting growing regulatory concerns. "Kakao's issues appear to politicised beyond their essential reality," said Park Ju-gun, head of corporate analysis firm Leaders Index.