'라이언' 등 카카오 캐릭터 사업, 카카오커머스가 맡는다

합병 대신 카카오IX의 캐릭터 사업 양수도로 가닥…내달 초 이사회 의결 예정

카카오커머스 IPO 탄력받을 듯…카카오IX는 부동산 사업 전담

카카오프렌즈

[카카오 제공]

(서울=연합뉴스) 홍지인 기자 = 카카오[035720]를 상징하는 '라이언' 등 캐릭터 사업을 전자상거래 전문 자회사인 카카오커머스가 맡게 된다.

22일 IT업계에 따르면 카카오커머스와 카카오IX는 내달 초 각각 이사회를 열어 사업 양수도 안건을 의결할 예정이다.

현재 카카오IX가 맡은 캐릭터·유통 부문을 올해 연말께 카카오커머스에 양도하는 내용이 골자다.

카카오는 애초 두 회사를 아예 합병하는 방안도 검토했지만, 결국 사업 부문을 조정하는 것으로 결론이 났다.

카카오커머스는 '카카오톡 선물하기', '카카오톡 스토어' 등 쇼핑 부문을 전담하는 카카오의 자회사다. 지난해 매출 2천961억원, 영업이익 757억원을 올렸다.

올해 들어 신종 코로나바이러스 감염증(코로나19) 유행으로 온라인 쇼핑 부문이 활황세를 맞으면서 카카오커머스가 모회사의 카카오톡 사업 실적에 차지하는 몫이 커졌다.

[카카오커머스 제공. 재판매 및 DB 금지]

올해 1분기 카카오커머스 거래액은 지난해 같은 기간보다 55% 늘었고, 이에 힘입어 전체 카카오톡 사업 부문의 매출도 77% 성장한 2천247억원을 기록했다.

카카오프렌즈를 위시한 캐릭터 사업은 '라이언 전무'라는 애칭이 나올 정도로 카카오의 성장에 큰 역할을 했다. 그런 점에서 쇼핑 사업과 합칠 때 발생할 시너지에 큰 기대를 걸고 있다는 분석이 나온다.

또 캐릭터 사업 부문 인수로 회사의 덩치가 쑥 커지면서 카카오커머스가 기업공개(IPO)를 본격적으로 추진할 것이라는 관측도 나온다.

회사 관계자는 "카카오IX와 사업적 협업에 관해서는 꾸준히 논의하고 있다"며 "여러 가지 가능성을 놓고 검토 중이지만 결정된 바는 없다"고 말했다.

사업 양도 이후 카카오IX는 부동산 관련 사업을 전담할 계획으로 알려졌다. 이 회사는 지난해 매출 1천450억원, 영업이익 132억원을 올렸다.

카카오IX는 조수용 공동대표가 운영하던 디자인·브랜딩 전문회사 'JOH'를 2018년 합병했다. JOH는 광화문 D타워·여의도 글래드호텔·인천 네스트호텔 등 건물 디자인을 맡았다.

이미 카카오IX는 연수원 성격의 카카오 계열사 공동 공간을 마련하는 '포레스트 원 프로젝트'를 추진 중이다.

카카오프렌즈 용산역 팝업스토어

[카카오IX 제공]

ljungberg@yna.co.kr

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