TXT’s Beomgyu Voicing Frustration Over KakaoTalk Redesign

On September 28, TXT’s Beomgyu (Choi Beom‑gyu) took to the fan platform Weverse to speak candidly about his strong discomfort with KakaoTalk’s latest update. He expressed annoyance at the sudden changes and the app’s new layout. (Reported originally by Nate)

“Why does the KakaoTalk update just change by itself?” he wrote.
“I hate when anything changes suddenly. I truly dislike this update — I don’t know if it’s okay to say, but it’s really bad.”

He went on to request a rollback option:
“If you’re going to update automatically, at least make a function that allows going back to the previous version. I already like analog stuff, and when so much changes all at once, it’s really overwhelming.”

Beomgyu KakaoTalk update' 'orean' 'text' 'messages' 'screenshot' 'conversation.

Beomgyu acknowledged that updates should ideally introduce innovations, but argued that this version made the interface harder to use. He particularly criticized a new feature that displays other users’ profiles in a gallery-like format, saying he isn’t interested in “anyone’s profile” being shown that way. He asked: “Who does this update serve?”
Still, he softened his tone at the end:

“Even so, I think it’s admirable that you (the developers) keep creating new things and updating for the users. Thank you always.”

Reaction & Context: Why Users Are Upset Too

This isn’t just Beomgyu’s gripe. As of September 23, KakaoTalk rolled out a sweeping overhaul — after 15 years on the market — that transformed the friends list into a feed-style layout (akin to social media) and made individual profile displays more prominent. The company also added a short-form video tab, pushing the app further into the realm of social media and multimedia.

KakaoTalk's first major update in 15 years
KakaoTalk’s first major update in 15 years

Many users voiced displeasure over the changes:

  • Some said the revamp exposed old photos they’d forgotten about, causing embarrassment.
  • Others complained about being forced to view images of profiles they have no interest in.
  • Several users left 1-star reviews on app stores, demanding a return to the previous version.

A Kakao representative responded that they are “listening to user feedback” and intend to improve functionalities, though there is no confirmation yet whether they’ll fully revert to the older design.

Sources: daum