Former Kakao CEO Lim Ji-hoon has sued Kakao Ventures and Kakao founder Kim Beom-su, seeking payment under a performance compensation agreement tied to the Kakao Youth Startup Fund. Lim says the claim concerns investment returns, not a management bonus from his time as Kakao CEO. He established K-Cube Ventures, now Kakao Ventures, in 2015 and managed the fund. Under its rules, returns above a benchmark generate performance compensation for the fund manager, with a portion allocated among managers. Lim says his priority allocation share was reduced from 60% to 22% at Kim's request, while a later Kakao Ventures confirmation stated that he would receive 100% of the calculated compensation regardless of his service period. After the fund was liquidated in July, Kakao Ventures said in August that it had found no basis for payment. The lawsuit will center on the legal effect of the amended contract and the subsequent confirmation, with potential implications for venture capital compensation practices in South Korea.