This post is written by Hyunseok Choi, editor at Onsuccess.me, a Korean Tech Blog with insights into Korean startup ecosystem and tech space.
1. Kakao, famous for its messaging app named KakaoTalk, acquired a location based commerce service, Lotiple. KakaoTalk has expressed itself as a platform, since it launched ‘Plus Friend’, which is the brand page in KakaoTalk. And it announced that its user had passed 30 million on 16th of this month. Lotiple is a real-time location based commerce app, and it announced its suspension from 8 Dec 2011 midnight. According to a Korean tech news, why Kakao acquired Lotiple is highly skilled tech people of Lotiple is needed for Kakao’s main projects. The specific acquisition amount is unknown.
2. Seoul city opens ‘Global Business Support Center’ in Seoul International Finance Center(SIFC) building in Yeouido, Seoul this December. Foreigners who want to found their company in Korea can apply for Seoul City’s incubating program including free office rental. Not only the new office in SIFC but also some offices in COEX, Kangnam can be rented at no cost for foreign entrepreneurs.
3. One of the Korean TechCrunch Disrupt Beijing 2011 Finalists, Shakr Media started its private beta since 15th November. Shakr transforms written content into video instantly using WebGL technology. Anyone with a facebook friend already using Shakr can access its private beta.
