Kakao officially announced on the 16th that it has launched a paid content subscription service called "Brunch Writer Membership" on its content publishing platform "Brunch Story."
This service allows readers to subscribe to their favorite writers and enjoy premium content. It began a trial operation with about 20 representative writers in January and received a great response. Prior to its official opening on June 10, a pre-registration was conducted, attracting more than 3,000 applications in just a month, generating immense interest.
Kakao plans to set the platform fee for subscription fees at 0% until June 2026, allowing creators to secure their revenue fully and focus on their creative activities. Additionally, all membership writers will be provided with a special profile screen, and will publish 10 membership-exclusive writings. Writers who achieve 100 paid subscribers will be given the opportunity to publish their work. During the trial operation period, three Brunch Books are set to be published.
Readers will be offered a piece selected each day for free for 24 hours through a "Today Only Free" promotion. This connects writers with paid subscribers and gives readers the opportunity to explore various works.
O Seong-jin, the Kakao Brunch Leader, said, "The Brunch Writer Membership is the starting point for connecting writers with genuine readers, which leads to revenue," and added, "We will spare no effort in supporting a sustainable creative ecosystem."
Brunch Story promotes active exchanges between writers and readers. As of June, the number of new writers increased by 135%, the number of Brunch Book works rose by 125%, and the cumulative support amount for the "Cheering" service surpassed 400 million won. The support model for creators will continue to expand.