Kakao to discuss massive server failure at conference

Firefighters enter the SK C&C data center building located in Pangyo, Gyeonggi, on Oct. 15 to extinguish a fire that broke out on the afternoon. [NEWS1]

Kakao will explain why its services blacked out due to a fire that shut down a data center in Pangyo, Gyeonggi, in October and how to prevent it from taking place again during a conference next month.

The tech company said Wednesday that it will hold the “if(kakao)dev2022” developers conference from Dec. 7 to 9 online, featuring 120 developers from Kakao and its subsidiaries to share their tech insights.

The analysis of the Kakao services shutdown will be given on the first day by four executives from Kakao including former CEO Namkoong Whon, who is leading a task force to come up with compensation and prevention plans.

The presentation will include the company’s findings and its plans on infrastructure investment to prevent a similar accident in the future.

“Kakao has planned out the sessions so that it can take the time to candidly look back on its shortcomings this year and share its plans to start over in order to make the world a better place through technology,” the company said in a press release.

Twelve themes will be discussed in 106 sessions, ranging from the Oct. 15 blackout, artificial intelligence technology, cloud network and blockchain to culture and the so-called environment, social, environmental and governance (ESG) management.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]