Top 7 Most Used Messaging Apps in South Korea as of 2025
Top 7 Most Used Messaging Apps in South Korea as of 2025
In today’s hyper-connected world, choosing the right messaging app is crucial—and nowhere is this more evident than in South Korea. With a population known for its tech-savviness and fast-paced lifestyle, South Koreans rely heavily on messaging apps to stay in touch, do business, and build communities. KakaoTalk leads the way, but new platforms are steadily gaining ground in this competitive market. Whether you’re planning to live, work, or expand your brand in Korea, understanding the top messaging apps used here is essential. In this article, we explore the most popular messaging apps in South Korea and what makes them a key part of daily life.
KakaoTalk dominates South Korea’s messaging landscape with a staggering 97% market share. It’s not just a messaging app—it’s deeply embedded in Korean daily life. Beyond basic chats and calls, KakaoTalk offers banking services via KakaoPay, shopping through its Gift tab, and ride-hailing with Kakao T.
Popular features include animated emojis and the iconic Kakao Friends characters, loved across generations. It also supports “Open Chat” for anonymous community-style conversations. KakaoTalk is used by nearly every age group, from students to seniors, and is frequently adopted by businesses for customer service and marketing.
Its seamless integration with the broader Kakao ecosystem—like KakaoMap and Melon—makes it indispensable. In South Korea, KakaoTalk is more than a communication tool; it’s a digital lifestyle platform
LINE is a product of Korean tech giant Naver, but it gained most of its traction in Japan and Taiwan.
In Korea, LINE holds a smaller market share but still ranks second due to cross-border communication. Popular among Koreans who have personal or business ties with Japan or Southeast Asia, LINE is appreciated for its polished UI and rich sticker ecosystem featuring characters like Brown and Cony.
The app also includes features like LINE Pay, LINE Games, and news feeds, although most are less active in the Korean market. Its user demographic skews younger and more internationally connected—university students, travelers, or workers with overseas clients. LINE may not rival KakaoTalk locally, but it thrives as a stylish alternative with a global appeal.
Telegram has steadily built a solid user base in Korea, especially among people valuing privacy and freedom of speech.
With end-to-end encryption, secret chats, and the option to self-destruct messages, it’s often chosen by users who distrust mainstream platforms. It’s popular in tech circles, activist communities, and cryptocurrency groups.
Telegram also allows for massive group chats, public channels, and bots, making it a versatile tool for both community organizing and content broadcasting. Though its market share is modest compared to KakaoTalk, its influence is noticeable during political unrest or major social debates. Young adults and professionals with strong digital literacy are the app’s main demographic, and its clean, ad-free experience continues to attract new users.
Despite Facebook’s relatively low popularity in Korea compared to global standards, Facebook Messenger maintains relevance, particularly among users with international connections.
It’s primarily used by students, expats, and global business professionals.
The app integrates seamlessly with Facebook’s social features, allowing users to initiate chats from profiles, groups, or events. It includes voice/video calls, stickers, and payment features (though underused in Korea). Messenger’s major strength lies in its ability to bridge communication with global audiences, making it a common secondary app. Its usage skews young and international—ideal for those already immersed in Facebook’s ecosystem.
Instagram Direct has become a key messaging channel for South Korean youth.
While not a standalone messenger, it ranks high due to Instagram’s popularity as a visual social platform. Teens and young adults often use Instagram Messenger to casually chat, reply to Stories, or coordinate social plans.
Its appeal lies in visual storytelling—users share memes, reels, and spontaneous photos along with messages. It’s particularly dominant among influencers and creatives, who value the mix of messaging and media engagement.
While market share as a pure messenger is lower, its role in everyday communication among Gen Z cannot be overstated. Integration with Facebook Messenger has also improved cross-platform connectivity.
Apple iMessage, while not widely discussed in the Korean messenger space, ranks sixth due to the growing market share of iPhones in South Korea.
It offers seamless integration with Apple devices, enabling rich features like Animoji, end-to-end encryption, and message effects. It’s mostly used in peer-to-peer communication among iPhone users, especially younger adults and professionals. While Android still dominates in Korea, iMessage usage is increasing with Apple’s rising popularity among urban consumers.
The lack of cross-platform support limits iMessage’s expansion, but within the Apple ecosystem, it provides a smooth, high-quality messaging experience.
Originally popular in the gaming community, Discord has expanded far beyond its roots in Korea. It’s now widely used among students, hobby groups, and even startups for collaboration.
Discord’s strengths lie in its real-time voice channels, text chatrooms (servers), and robust bot integrations. Korean youth use Discord for study groups, K-pop fandoms, streaming discussions, and even live tutoring sessions. The app’s aesthetic and functionality appeal to digital-native users who prefer community-based interaction over traditional 1:1 messaging.
Though its general market share is low, its niche dominance in subcultures and communities gives it a unique spot in the Korean messaging landscape.
South Korea’s messaging app ecosystem is more than just a communication channel—it’s a cultural and strategic touchpoint for marketing. With KakaoTalk dominating the scene, and apps like LINE, Telegram, and Discord carving out loyal niche audiences, understanding the role each platform plays is crucial for successful brand engagement.
KakaoTalk, for example, is deeply integrated into Korean life, offering not just chatting features but also e-commerce, payment, and advertising tools through Kakao Business. If your brand seeks mainstream awareness in Korea, investing in KakaoTalk’s ad platform and branded emoticons can be especially effective. Meanwhile, LINE has strong appeal among Gen Z users, particularly in certain regions and among fans of Japanese culture, offering opportunities for character-driven campaigns.
Telegram and Discord attract younger, tech-savvy audiences who value privacy, community, and direct engagement—perfect for niche product launches or exclusive content strategies. Instagram Direct and Facebook Messenger continue to serve as support and promotional tools, especially for lifestyle or fashion brands. Apple iMessage, though more limited in market penetration, still holds sway among iOS users, especially professionals and premium product customers.
The key to successful messaging app marketing in Korea lies in localization, cultural nuance, and platform-specific content. Brands that can adapt their tone, content, and communication style for each app’s audience will stand out in Korea’s highly connected digital landscape. Whether you’re building community, boosting sales, or increasing awareness, leveraging Korea’s unique messaging ecosystem is not just smart—it’s essential.
Stay Ahead in Korea’s Market!
Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive market insights, industry rankings, and the latest trends—delivered straight to your inbox. Don’t miss out on key opportunities! 
Sign up now!
Good
Awesome
Very good
Good