카카오TV is shutting down. After 9 years of operation, Kakao announced on March 5, 2026 that the platform will permanently close on June 30, 2026. If you have content on KakaoTV — or there are videos you follow on the platform — you have until the end of June to save them.
Here's the full shutdown timeline and exactly how to download KakaoTV VODs before they disappear forever.
The Shutdown Timeline
- Now until June 30 — all existing videos are still viewable
- June 1 — new channel creation and VOD uploads stop permanently
- June 30 — KakaoTV shuts down completely. All videos become inaccessible
The platform has been providing a backup window since March 9. If you're a content creator on KakaoTV, you can back up your own uploaded videos via the 비디오스테이션 (Video Station) menu inside KakaoTV. But that only covers videos you uploaded yourself.
For viewers who want to save videos from other creators — streams, variety clips, live recordings — you need a different approach.
Why KakaoTV Is Shutting Down
KakaoTV launched in 2017 with ambitions to compete in the Korean video streaming market. At its peak it hosted original dramas, variety shows, and live broadcasts integrated directly with KakaoTalk — Korea's dominant messaging app.
But the competitive landscape shifted fast. YouTube's dominance grew to the point where nearly every Korean smartphone user is on it monthly. Netflix and OTT platforms took the premium content audience. Short-form platforms ate into casual viewing time. KakaoTV — caught between all of these — couldn't keep up.
Kakao made the decision to shut down rather than continue operating at a loss, and has been winding down original content production for years. The June 30 closure is the final step.
How to Download KakaoTV VODs with Vodloader
Vodloader supports KakaoTV downloads — paste the video URL and download it directly. No account needed, works from anywhere.
How it works:
- Find the KakaoTV video you want to save
- Copy the URL from your browser address bar
- Go to vodloader.com
- Paste the URL and click download
- Choose your quality and save the file
That's it. The video is saved locally — no expiry, no platform dependency.
What Happens to KakaoTV Content After June 30?
Everything disappears. Unlike YouTube where deleted content sometimes lives in caches or fan re-uploads, KakaoTV's closure means the infrastructure shuts down entirely. The CDN hosting the video segments gets wiped. M3U8 playlists become invalid. There is no coming back for any content not backed up before that date.
This includes:
- Creator VOD archives
- Live stream recordings
- Variety show clips
- Drama episodes hosted on KakaoTV
Don't Wait
The window is closing. June 1 is when the platform starts its final wind-down. After June 30 it's gone — permanently.
If there's KakaoTV content you care about, download it now.