Kakao Corp. (A035720) Q4 FY2025 Earnings Call Transcript & Summary

[Interpreted] Good morning, and good evening. Thank you all for joining today. We will now begin Kakao's 2025 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Earnings Conference Call. This conference will start with a presentation followed by a divisional Q&A session. [Operator Instructions] I will now turn it over to Kakao.

[Interpreted] Hello. I'm Jeffrey from Kakao IR. We will now begin Kakao's 2025 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Earnings Conference Call. Today, I'm joined by Shina Chung, the CEO; and Jayden Shin, the CFO. Please be reminded that the earnings results are consolidated estimates under the K-IFRS basis and are subject to change upon the auditor's review. Also, forward-looking estimates are based on assumptions, so actual results may differ from figures included in today's presentation. Now we will have a presentation from CEO, Shina Chung.

[Interpreted] Good morning. This is Shina, CEO of Kakao. Over the past year, Kakao has focused on consolidating our group-wide capabilities around core businesses to ensure sustainable long-term growth. Through this process, we significantly streamlined our organizational structure, reducing the number of subsidiaries from 150 to 94 as of the end of last year. This year, while continuing our efforts for qualitative growth we intend to shift our strategic gear towards the growth of AI and Kakao Talk, our core pillars, leveraging the energy we have built up over the past year. First, I would like to discuss AI. While it is clear that AI presents a massive business opportunity for Kakao, it also brings uncertainties as we navigate an unchartered territory. Consequently, starting in 2025, Kakao began conducting various rapid trials and experiments, increasing our probability of success by learning from failures. We initially piloted the studio structure, a purpose-oriented organization within our AI units. This lean and agile operation focused on clear objectives while effectively accelerated the launch of services and products. Based on this, we determined that an organization structure capable of validating service value through iterative trials is essential for the AI era. Therefore, as of February 1, we expanded the studio model to the entire AI organization. From this year, each studio aims to develop and deploy new AI features in 1 month cycle established on high velocity execution framework. ChatGPT for Kakao and Kanana in Kakao Talk, both launched last year, are results of the accelerated studio structure. Regarding ChatGPT for Kakao, I mentioned in the previous earnings call that we secured 2 million users shortly after launch. Net user base has now expanded to 8 million, creating new traffic patterns for searching and generating content that did not previously exist within Kakao Talk. This year, we plan to build multiple touch points to ensure a more natural transition from the core messaging experience to ChatGPT for Kakao. Through this, we aim to secure a significant user base and discover high-utility AI use cases using Kakao's own agent, Kakao tools. Simultaneously, for Kanana in Kakao Talk, we have been conducting CBTs for small user groups since last year and are seeing great potential in on-device AI. Kakao is a company that holds data where 50 million people's daily conversations, searches, mobility and payments are connected in a single context. This data asset is our core competitive advantage and implementing AI that is most closely integrated into daily life. On-device AI is the optimal way to provide the strongest protection for user privacy while creating new value from the previous or precious data assets. However, our biggest concern before the CBT was the barrier to entry as users must download the AI model to their local device. Contrary to our concerns, over 80% of [ invited ] users completed the model download, proving that the download process is not a major obstacle. Furthermore, approximately 70% of current users continue to use the device, which is an overwhelmingly high retention rate for new service. Our internal analysis shows that the key to this high retention is the AI's role and proactively initiating conversations based on the user's chat context. To date, most global AI services has juggled to produce satisfying results with AI initiative features, thus, most interactions still begin with the user prompting the AI. In contrast, for Kanana, over 60% of interactions begin with an AI initiated message which effectively drives user lock-in. We have confirmed that the AI's ability to understand user intent and initiate conversation is a powerful moat that only Kakao can build. Another insight from the CBT is that scheduled reminders and briefing linked to AI initiative messages showed the highest frequency of use. Next, the most prominent user scenario was commerce. Since a clear business opportunity has been identified, our goal for the first half of the year is to more actively explore context where a transaction can occur. Based on this, we plan to strengthen user scenarios and validate monetization. In the first quarter, we plan to conclude the iOS only CBT for Kanana and officially launched both Android and iOS. Although devices meeting the required specifications currently account for only half of all devices, we aim to gather a meaningful number of users post launch by enhancing core features and expanding Service Access Pass. While expanding user touch points, Kakao is also steadily accumulating research achievements in language models. Last year, we unveiled Kanana MoE, a first in Korea. With 32 billion total parameters, it maintains LLM level intelligence, while actively only the 3 billion parameters necessary for inference, significantly improving computational efficiency. We have successfully internalized high-efficiency language model optimized for agentic AI that Kakao aims to implement. Additionally, we introduced our proprietary multimodal model, Kanana [ Omni ] which currently holds top benchmark scores in its class in Korea. On February 2, we created an orchestration benchmark data set to evaluate the planning and execution capabilities of LLM. This is a unique asset held only by Kakao in Korea and was also accepted by ICLR 2026, one of the world's top 3 AI conferences. As such, Kakao is focusing on developing models that balance cost and performance while supplementing investment heavy LLMs through partnerships, steadily evolving on orchestration strategy that organically combines models and services. To showcase next-generation AI experiences on devices, we have agreed to begin full-scale global collaboration. Today, I am pleased to announce for the first time the strategic partnership between Kakao and Google. As a starting point, we are beginning a collaboration with Google Android to further enhance our on-device AI services. By working directly with the Android development team, we expect to maximize the value of data assets within the Kakao ecosystem. Furthermore, as the financial burden of AI infrastructure increases, Kakao is considering ways to strengthen our infrastructure in the most capital-efficient manner by optimizing various chip lineups beyond GPUs. Given Kakao's expertise as the only company in Korea capable of effectively utilizing TPUs, we are in discussion with Google Cloud regarding the operation of a meaningful scale of TPU Cloud. Lastly, we are beginning a collaboration for the upcoming AI glass. Kakao intends to form hypothesis on how user experiences can change when Kakao services are integrated into various AI form factors creating new AI usage experiences. Following our AI strategy, I would like to discuss Talk Biz another core growth pillar. Over the past year, Kakao Talk has surpassed service reorganization with the goal of evolving into a super app. As a result, we have seen a qualitative shift in traffic. The time spent on Kakao Talk, which has been stabilizing downward saw a meaningful rebound and remained steady at around 25 minutes as of December. In particular, the AI services introduced last quarter, are creating new user behaviors. Based on our analysis of the change in user time spent, over the past 2 months before and after using the services for users, for ChatGPT, for Kakao and Kanana and Kakao Talk, the average daily time spent on Kakao Talk increased by a combined total of approximately [ 40 ] minutes. This is a significant early achievement demonstrating that AI services are extending the user time spent within Kakao Talk. Compared to past services, I believe this is one of the most meaningful cases in terms of expanding retention. Given the high contribution to retention time we are seeing, we believe the goal of increasing Kakao Talk user retention by 20% is fully achievable if we expand the AI user base this year. Next, regarding our advertising business, the Kakao Talk reorganization is a major turning point that turned top display ads to a growth trajectory. The feed-type ads introduced in the feed tab are blending naturally into content showing high efficiency in core metrics like clicks and conversions. This was clearly improved advertisers ROAS. Additionally, with the diversification of formats, demand from new industries is rapidly expanding. With the influx of small- and medium-sized commerce advertisers, we believe Kakao is establishing itself as an essential marketing platform. We view this not as a temporary effect, but as a structural shift driven by both new demand and improved efficiency. Consequently, Talk display ad revenue recorded a clear turnaround with 18% year-on-year growth in the fourth quarter. Last year, our annual consolidated revenue surpassed KRW 8 trillion for the first time and operating profit also reached a record high of KRW 732 billion. Our annual operating margin reached 9%, a 3 percentage point improvement year-on-year, clearly reflecting the results of our structural improvements. Based on these achievements, we plan to fully shift our gears towards growth this year. In the short term, we will improve our performance through visible earnings improvements, while simultaneously delivering tangible results regarding Kakao's mid- to long-term growth. We ask for your continuous interest and support for Kakao throughout this year. Next, Jayden, our CFO will present the 2025 Fourth quarter and Full Year Financial results.

[Interpreted] Hello. This is Jayden, Kakao's CFO. I will present the consolidated financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year. In the fourth quarter, as our high-margin core business, Talk Biz entered a full-fledged growth trajectory we achieved record high quarterly revenue, underpinned by solid growth across the entire platform sector, including Pay and Mobility. Accordingly, consolidated operating profit came in at KRW 203 billion, exceeding KRW 200 billion for 2 consecutive quarters, and the operating profit margin expanded to 10% which is a 5 percentage point improvement Y-o-Y. We view this earnings improvement as particularly meaningful as it demonstrates that our realignment of core businesses centered on Talk is generating tangible results. To be specific, Kakao's stand-alone operating profit in the fourth quarter comprising adds, commerce and AI was KRW 128 billion with an operating margin of 18%. Excluding operating losses from the AI business, operating profit increased 9% Y-o-Y to KRW 174 billion, with the margin expanding to 24%. Now turning to the top line. Consolidated revenue for the fourth quarter was KRW 2.133 billion, up 9% Y-o-Y and 3% Q-o-Q. Annual revenue for 2025 grew 3% Y-o-Y to KRW 8.099 billion. Platform revenue in the fourth quarter was KRW 1.223 billion, growing 17% Y-o-Y and 16% Q-o-Q. Within this, revenue for Talk Biz, Kakao's core business increased 13% Y-o-Y and 17% Q-o-Q to KRW 627 billion. Breaking this down further, Talk Biz advertising and subscription revenue recorded KRW 373 billion, up 16% Y-o-Y and 15% Q-o-Q. Of this, Talk Biz advertising revenue, excluding subscription, grew 18% Y-o-Y and 16% Q-o-Q to KRW 305 billion. Starting with business message, revenue continued its solid trend, growing 19% Y-o-Y despite the high base effect from 2024. Following the official launch of brand message in quarter 4, the customer pool available for advertisers expanded and ad efficiency improved, leading to an increase in total message volume. Consequently, we saw a full-scale inflow of advertisers from new sectors, such as finance. This allowed business message to record its highest ever revenue for 3 consecutive quarters. For display ads, revenue grew 18% Y-o-Y. This was driven by the Talk revamp, which expanded ad inventory in slots where users discover content as well as by improved user experience and advertiser efficiency. Beyond simply expanding inventory, we established a distribution structure that brings external advertiser demand into Talk inventory through external DSP integration. This expanded advertiser coverage and optimized ad delivery, ensuring that the inventory expansion translated into actual revenue growth. Moving on to commerce. Quarter 4 combined GMV reached KRW 3 trillion for the first time on a quarterly basis, rising 12% Y-o-Y and 17% Q-o-Q. For reference, annual combined commerce GMV grew 6% Y-o-Y to KRW 10.6 trillion. Specifically, Talk Gift GMV grew 14% Y-o-Y, reflecting the deferred Chuseok holiday effect from the previous quarter and maximize peak season performance through extended year-end promotions. Notably, for Kakao Shopping Festa, our largest annual promotion held in October, we reinforced curation of popular brand items by category and personalized benefits, effectively driving new user inflow and purchase conversion. As a result, the number of self-purchase users within Talk Gift grew 22% Y-o-Y and GMV increased 47%, driving overall growth. Commerce revenue recorded KRW 253 billion, up 8% Y-o-Y and 21% Q-o-Q. Revenue growth for commerce was more limited compared to GMV due to the impact of the expanded promotions mentioned earlier. However, we view this strategic marketing execution as an investment to broaden our user base and strengthen the foundation for future commerce growth. Next, Platform and other revenue recorded KRW 524 billion, up 30% Y-o-Y and 17% Q-on-Q. Starting with Mobility, revenues saw double-digit growth Y-o-Y driven by top line expansion in parking and quick services, adding to the stable taxi business. As for Pay, it sustained its solid revenue trajectory backed by balanced growth across all sectors, including payment, finance and platform services. Pay's operating profit also achieved a record quarterly high, showing a trend of improvement every quarter since its turnaround in quarter 1. Turning to the content business. Quarter 4 revenue was KRW 911 billion, remaining flat Y-o-Y and decreasing 11% Q-o-Q. First, Story business revenue recorded KRW 192 billion, down 5% Y-o-Y and 9% Q-o-Q. Piccoma revenue decreased 6% Y-o-Y and 11% Q-o-Q in yen attributable to the market slowdown in the Japanese manga sector, coupled with the lack of new blockbuster titles. In this environment, over the past year, Piccoma focused on maximizing marketing efficiency rather than engaging in excessive spending competition. This significantly improved profitability. And as a result, annual operating profit exceeded JPY 10 billion for the first time. Moving to Music. Revenue rose 12% Y-o-Y, but dipped 7% Q-o-Q to KRW 525 billion. On a Y-o-Y basis, solid performance in merchandise and licensing continued, increasing the contribution from IP-based businesses. However, revenue declined Q-o-Q as album sales slowed due to seasonal factors and the base effect from major artist activities concentrated in quarter 3. Finally, Media revenue recorded KRW 96 billion, while it grew 30% Y-o-Y due to continued expansion of production revenue recognition following the previous quarter, it remained similar Q-o-Q. Now let's look at operating expenses. Quarter 4 operating expenses were KRW 1,930 billion, up 3% Y-o-Y and 4% Q-on-Q. Labor costs were flat Y-o-Y as we maintained a conservative hiring stance, but increased 6% Q-o-Q to KRW 497 billion, due to bonuses at subsidiaries and a rise in incidental labor costs, including social insurance. Marketing expenses recorded KRW 116 billion, up 13% Y-o-Y and 16% Q-o-Q due to concentrated marketing activities by Piccoma and Kakao Pay in quarter 4. The ratio of marketing expenses to annual consolidated revenue was 4.8%, keeping our promise to stay within the 6% range made at the start of the year. As for revenue-linked expenses, they increased 18% Y-o-Y due to the base effect from the reclassification of annual album production costs to outsourcing fees in the same period last year. On a Q-o-Q basis, it increased 4% to KRW 768 billion due to changes in the Music business revenue mix. The ratio of revenue-linked expenses to consolidated revenue was maintained at 36% for both quarter 4 and the full year, consistent with the previous quarter. Outsourcing and infrastructure expenses decreased 13% Y-o-Y due to the base effect of the account reclassification last year and decreased 4% Q-o-Q to KRW 250 billion, reflecting the base effect of strong album sales concentrated in quarter 3. Amortization expenses decreased 17% Y-o-Y due to the base effect of one-off bad debt expenses reflected by Kakao Pay last year and decreased 2% Q-o-Q to KRW 204 billion. Consequently, quarter 4 consolidated operating profit was KRW 203 billion with an operating margin of 10%. And on an annual basis, it was KRW 732 billion with an operating margin of 9%. Moving on to nonoperating items. Quarter 4 nonoperating loss totaled KRW 243 billion. We recognized impairment losses on goodwill of KRW 128 billion and impairment losses on intangible assets of KRW 105 billion, with most losses stemming from the Content business sector. Regarding corporate tax, the expense was KRW 20 billion in quarter 4, while we recorded a net loss of KRW 39 billion, impacted by the recognition of KRW 20 billion in net income from discontinued operations due to the deconsolidation of Kakao Healthcare. Net profit attributable to controlling interest improved by KRW 268 billion Y-o-Y to KRW 43 billion. However, on an annual basis, driven by expanded operating profit and reduced goodwill impairment, we recorded a net profit of KRW 526 billion, achieving a turnaround Y-o-Y. Net profit attributable to controlling interest improved to KRW 446 billion to KRW 501 billion. Finally, on CapEx. Quarter 4 CapEx was KRW 195 billion, increasing KRW 87 billion Y-o-Y and KRW 11 billion Q-o-Q. Annual CapEx totaled KRW 616 billion, an increase of KRW 110 billion Y-o-Y driven by expanded investments in new tangible assets by subsidiaries. This concludes the presentation of the fourth quarter and full year earnings for 2025, we will now proceed to the Q&A session. As the time is limited, we kindly ask you to limit your questions, 2 per person.

[Interpreted] [Operator Instructions] The first question will be provided by Eric Cha from Goldman Sachs.

[Interpreted] I have 2 questions for you today. You have today announced your new partnership with Google. Can you also then give us an update as to what your current existing cooperation with OpenAI is ongoing? Would there be any difference or change going forward or any cannibalization with the current as is partnership with OpenAI. Second question relates to your strategy regarding the Agentic AI. I would like to know whether you are expanding your partnership with outside third-party stakeholders.

[Interpreted] This is Shina, responding to the first and the second question. First, in terms of our partnership with Google, based on on-device approach, we're focusing on scaling up user experience from the device perspective, and we're testing different Kakao's different service experience on new form factors as well. From a midterm perspective, we believe that in order to maximize our strength, we wish to build a collaborative framework generating synergies in specific areas where only Google is good at in order for us to identify and find AI-driven business opportunities. Now in terms of our collaboration with OpenAI, we can tell you that our partnership is solid as we continue to work together on B2C AI services based on ChatGPT. So basically, that will help us leverage the world's biggest B2C user base. And also after the rollout of ChatGPT for Kakao, we are focusing on service stabilization. From this year onwards, we will further strengthen the connection between the conversation context of Kakao Talk and ChatGPT, and we will further reinforce collaboration with OpenAI as we go forward. As such, we will work with Google on device experience and with OpenAI on the domain of AI B2C, establishing a partnership structure without an overlap. Now so rather than doing everything on our own through such global collaboration, we believe that this strategy really helps to cover the entire AI layer and at the same time, is the best way for us to optimize direct investment. As we move forward, we will continuously internalize the lightweight LLM capabilities internally, which is key to Kakao service competitiveness and focus on AI service that our user base can use in their daily lives. At the same time, to go beyond the uncertainties of the AI age, we are going to bring tangible results, meaning the expectations of people -- expectations that people have on Kakao's AI and we will nimbly respond to this coming age by flexibly making use of the off-platform external partnership. Responding to the second question on the external expansion of Agentic AI system. Now this year will be a key area for us in building the Agentic AI ecosystem. And as I have mentioned last year as a CEO, this actually is one of my key tasks as well. By the end of the year, many partners will connect to Kakao's AI platform, Agentic AI platform through PlayMCP, an agent builder by the end of the year. And capitalizing on Kakao's strong context-based moat as the starting point, investors will be able to see the early shape of how the Agentic commerce turns into actual services. So as I've mentioned in my opening presentation, we are seeing active interaction between users and AI agent taking place inside the commerce domain from the Kanana and Talk beta test. Now based on this data, we are talking to leading domestic vertical commerce players, and actually, not only domestic but global top-tier players have shown interest in joining the ecosystem as well. And so we believe and currently, the discussions are ongoing. So we believe that within the first half of the year, we will be able to onboard at least or actually more than 3 key players who could play a pivotal role in building the Agentic AI ecosystem. And these agent features will be rolled out sequentially through Kakao's AI services. And currently, such AI service is working as a key customer touch point. And this year, we are expecting to see a significant expansion of the user base with high velocity. And also this year will be an important year for us because we will be bringing together the AI service expansion and the agent feature usage. These 2 factors will come together in driving the service value as well as usability for AI services. Next question, please.

[Interpreted] The following question will be presented by Jee-un Lee from Daishin Securities.

[Interpreted] I have 2 questions that I would like to ask. Thank you very much for that update on your new business endeavors under AI services. But now I would like to know as to what the target or the guidance is in terms of your top line revenue and profit for 2026? Another question that I have is with regards to your Talk Biz growth estimate going forward because there was an impact of [ robot ] back in Q4. So I'm just wondering whether you will be able to sustain the growth of your Talk Biz going forward.

[Interpreted] Responding to your question on the guidance. In terms of the Talk Biz revenue, basically, we compared to what we had actually planned. We were able to achieve a double-digit growth earlier on in Q3. And in Q4, we were able to report a higher growth rate at 16%. Such steeper growth was driven by structural change that happened in the second half of the year. And we expect that this trend will continue into this year, contributing to consolidated basis operating profit enhancement. Now we will continue to make investments into AI within the scope that does not undermine profitability, and that will help us obtain investment efficiency. Kakao will focus on expanding the AI service user base and also, at the same time, implement the Agentic AI which I had just previously explained. Now through this strategy, this year will be the year for us to really build the foundation and basis for AI monetization and business, and we plan to generate meaningful revenue starting next year. Now also with solid growth this year and as well as improvement in profit for Kakao Pay, contributions to the total consolidated basis operating profit, we believe is going to continue to expand. In terms of the content segment, marketing spend and business structure rationalization will take place in full consideration of the market situation and the market backdrop in order for us to manage a short-term stable profitability. For Music and Piccoma, using the IPs, we will expand the derivative business in order to expand mid- to longer-term growth engine. So all in all, this will be a year for Kakao entering into a growth phase in full swing. So -- and start of revenue as well as profit improvement. On this basis, we will be targeting above 10% growth in annual consolidated revenue and OP margin of 10% in 2026. In terms of our Talk Biz advertisement business, going forward on the growth strategy, which is our key pillar of this year's growth. Now if you take a look at business messaging, we are targeting a double-digit growth based on a ramp-up expansion of brand messaging, which was launched last year. Now after the launch, we are seeing that advertisers are able to serve tailored communication to not only top channel subscribers but to their current customer base on whom the brands have their own customer data. So now these messages are more than just that, but an effective tool that drives repurchases and that builds relationship with the consumer base. And thanks to this change, we're quickly building best cases in terms of ad efficiency improvement and more advertisers are adopting brand messaging. Last year, it actually became the biggest revenue model inside the Talk Biz ad, but still, we think more than 2x expansion is possible. Now moving on to display ad. Q4 last year on top of the ad inventory slot expansion and advertiser demand growth based on ad tech, basically, it drove the Q4 DA growth and strategies for improving the advertisement efficiency. This virtual cycle will drive performance and be a key engine for us this year as well. On top of this, we expect that with the official launch of AI Moment, which actually is an advertisement -- advertiser support model. We believe that this will be able to provide analytics on the AI-related marketing performance and recommend improvement to the advertisers. And this, we expect will drive a quality-driven growth. And also from the second half of the year, the commerce ad inventory slot, which was only sold based upon the impression basis, will shift and will go through certain changes and adopt an open structure, adopting a bidding process that is on the performance ad. We believe that this will significantly help the monetization of the commerce slots inside the Talk and we'll really be able to further increase the contribution made by the advertisement revenue. Also, with the release of AI services, our people or the users are going to become more familiar with its use inside the Kakao Talk platform. And we believe that this will bring us a significant mid- to longer-term growth potential and expansion into the search domain. So combined by a solid growth of business messaging as well as display ads being our key pillars behind growth, our Talk Biz advertisement in Q3 of last year actually regained the growth rate of double digit. And our objective is to, on a per annum basis, sustain that trend in 2026. At the same time, we are going to expand our portfolio from commerce to search ad domain, and we will implement various different initiatives to achieve that mid- to long-term growth. Due to the time constraint, we will take the final question.

[Interpreted] The last question will be presented by Min-Joo Kang from Bernstein.

[Interpreted] This is Kang Min-Joo from Bernstein. Two questions. First is based upon your current business position, I would like to understand what your outlook for Q1 is? And also, can you provide some more color on where you stand in terms of ROE? Because last year, you communicated your ROE related objective. Where is your ROE at, at this point? And what is your outlook?

[Interpreted] Now responding to your question on our first quarter outlook, we believe that Q1 is going to be our first milestone where we start to see tangible results come through based upon the efforts that we've put in last year. More specifically, if you look at our platform business, Talk Biz ad, Pay and Mobility across the board, we are expecting a double-digit top line growth supported by margin improvement as well. In terms of Talk Biz ad, through marketing efficiencies, we are seeing advertisers budget concentrate mainly around Kakao, and we are seeing a much stronger growth momentum. On the content side rather than focusing on the short-term earnings or performance, we are focusing on realigning the IP lineup and also making the business structure more efficient so that we may regain mid- to long-term competitive resilience. Now on the cost side, as we start to ramp up and prepare for a full-fledged growth, certain fixed cost items like depreciation and infrastructure-related expenses, there may be a time lag between the expense and the actual outcome that we are able to gain. So in Q1, the profit on a temporary basis may show some variability, but that will still be within the annual guidance that we have previously communicated. So I can assure you that all of the executions are ongoing as planned towards achieving the annual target. Starting the second quarter, we believe that improvement in profitability and structural growth underpinned by platform mainly is going to start to emerge and every quarter, we will see that the burden on fixed cost will alleviate quite rapidly, and we will be able to see a recovery trajectory on a quarterly profit basis. Moving on to the question on ROE and where we stand. Last year, around this time, we communicated that we will ensure financial stability through business structure efficiency and also priority based resource allocation so that we could mitigate in stages the uncertainties that we see on the nonoperating side, thereby improving the ROE. Now looking back on quarterly profit for FY 2025, starting the second quarter, we started gaining more visibility in operating profit improvement. And in Q3, we were able to achieve record high quarterly OP. The improvement that we've seen on operating profit in Q2 and Q3 is due to the across-the-board cost efficiencies that the company was able to achieve as well as outperformance in our Music business, top line, which outperformed the estimates that we had. At the same time in Q4, the reason why we were able to do more than KRW 200 billion in operating profit, is because of the recovery of the top line from our advertisement business, which actually has the highest level of profitability following the Talk revamp. All in all, annual operating profit for 2025 hence actually posted a 48% year-on-year growth, reporting KRW 732 billion. At the same time, the biggest factor that impacted our net income line item was actually the goodwill impairment, and we are almost at the end of that cycle. So we were able to significantly reduce the variability and the volatilities that we've seen on the nonoperating accounts. As a result, 2025, net income attributable to controlling interest actually improved or went up by KRW 445.6 billion year-over-year and ROE improved 3.9 percentage points year-on-year, reporting 4.4%. Now so for this year, we believe that structural and secular growth will start to feed in from our advertisement business, which is our core pillar. And at the same time, in AI side, we will lay the foundation for monetization and capitalization of our capabilities. Supported by these factors, starting next year, we will be able to downsize on the size of the loss that is incurred. In terms of the subsidiaries that we have, we are improving on the governance and also making the cost structure more efficient through which we wish to secure a growth engine for -- secure new growth engine. And supported by all of these factors, we think that for this year, we will be able to sustain a sound profit uptrend. On top of this, we will be making different tools under shareholder returns, such as dividend payout and share buyback so that we can make our capital structure much more efficient. So by having a structure where we could actually drive growth at the controlling interest level as well as making our capital structure much more efficient, we will be able to achieve our midterm ROE target that is commensurate with what our peers are showing. Through these efforts, we are committed to achieving these improvements.

[Interpreted] This brings us to the end of the Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Earnings Conference Call of Kakao. Thank you, investors, for joining us. [Portions of this transcript that are marked [Interpreted] were spoken by an interpreter present on the live call.]