Kakao Games has been honored as a 2024 Outstanding Work-Life Balance Company, an accolade introduced this year by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Korea Employers Federation, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Korea Federation of SMEs. Organized by the Korea Labor Foundation, this award acknowledges companies that excel in fostering work-life balance through innovative workplace practices and policies. Kakao Games was selected for its comprehensive efforts to reduce working hours, improve workplace culture, and create an environment conducive to employee well-being.

Under the ethos of “Immersion and Leisure,” Kakao Games has consistently implemented practices that harmonize work with leisure, enabling employees to maintain focus while achieving work-life balance. A notable example is the introduction of the industry’s first monthly “Free Friday” policy in 2018. The initiative, which was later expanded to twice a month in 2021, allows employees to recharge through dedicated personal time.

Additional measures include extending lunch breaks by 30 minutes, allowing employees to start work 30 minutes later on Mondays, and enabling early departures by 1.5 hours on Fridays. These efforts have contributed to cultivating a more flexible and relaxed commuting culture.

Kakao Games also emphasizes transparency and efficiency in the workplace. The company distributed a “Working Hours Guide” to set clear expectations, and its internal campaign, “Healthy Breaks,” encourages employees to take meaningful downtime. This initiative promotes mindful practices such as avoiding habitual busyness, sharing work schedules, and respecting colleagues’ time, fostering an atmosphere of mutual respect and enhanced productivity.

Beyond workplace initiatives, Kakao Games supports employees balancing parenting and work. Collaborating with the Seongnam City Healthy Family Support Center, the company offers in-house education for parent employees on topics such as communication with children. Additional programs include the "Supermom Support" initiative, as well as maternal support facilities like nursing rooms and lactation stations, collectively housed in the “Mojayuchin Room” (Mother and Child-Friendly Room).

A Kakao Games representative expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating, “Creating a healthy and happy work environment not only enhances individual quality of life but also plays a critical role in ensuring sustainable growth for the company. We remain committed to helping our employees balance their professional and personal lives while developing advanced workplace practices that adapt to a changing world.”

Sayart / Jack Lee, wangjb77@gmail.com