Kakao has opened the 2026 Kakao Business Best Awards, an online competition that surfaces case studies from partners who achieved measurable growth using Kakao Business services. This is the fifth year the program has run.
The notable change is the expansion to 10 award categories — a signal that judging has been broken into more specific lanes rather than a single "best campaign" verdict.
This year the competition is open regardless of industry or company size. Eligible entries are cases built on Kakao Business services including Kakao Ads, KakaoTalk Channel, and Kakao Shopping.
Applications close October 14.
Kakao will select 100 businesses to receive benefits worth KRW 500 million in total. Selected winners also receive shopping placement, consulting, and speaking slots at Kakao seminars.
For small and mid-sized brands, the non-cash items often matter more. Shopping placement is distribution inside the platform, and a seminar slot becomes an industry reference — neither is easy to buy with media budget.
Award judging is, in the end, reading case studies. An entry that only reports a lift number is weaker than one that shows what the problem was and how specific services were combined to solve it.
"Revenue up 300%" is unverifiable without a reference period. Stating the timeframe, the comparison basis, and the spend level makes the same number land far harder. For a working format, the case structure used across the BestPartner portfolio is a useful reference.
Ten categories suggests judging is not looking only at single-channel performance. An entry that traces acquisition through Kakao Ads, retention through KakaoTalk Channel, and conversion through Kakao Shopping fits more categories and reads as a system rather than a one-off spike.
There is not much runway before the deadline. If a campaign has already performed, documenting it is more realistic than launching something new to enter.
Applications are accepted through October 14.
Entry is open regardless of industry or company size. Eligible cases are those built using Kakao Business services such as Kakao Ads, KakaoTalk Channel, and Kakao Shopping.
Kakao will select 100 businesses to share benefits worth KRW 500 million in total, and selected winners also receive shopping placement, consulting, and seminar speaking opportunities.
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