Kakao signs Forward3D as first international agency partner

This relationship will provide the international digital marketing agency with full access to Kakao’s API (application programming interface), allowing the agency to integrate its internal tools directly with the Kakao and Daum advertising system and to manage large-scale data sets and analyse campaign performance more efficiently.

In a press statement, Forward3D’s EVP International, Hannes Ben said the company is proud to be the first international performance-marketing agency to have fully certified relationships with both major search platforms in Korea.

The company now has access to over 95 percent of the search engine market via partnerships with Kakao with Daum and mobile search engine platform Adam, as well as search portal Naver. 

“Mobile in particular has become an increasingly important channel for boosting brand awareness and traffic for our clients operating in the Korean market as the amount of time that people spend on mobile devices increases,” he added. “This relationship will help us to develop our capabilities further in the mobile field.”

The main barrier for western brands expanding to Korea has traditionally been the unique online landscape made up of domestic search portals, social and mobile platforms that can differ significantly in terms of the number and types of advertising formats from those in the West.

With the partnership, the agency will have a direct communication channel with Kakao’s official agency management team, who will be sharing early information and access to updates and new beta services and ad channels.

According to the agency, this will result in a more efficient workflow and the ability to provide clients with more information and insights regarding the newest and most effective online marketing opportunities in the Korean market.