South Korea's leading free messenger service operator Daum Kakao Corp. on Tuesday showcased a taxi application for drivers in its first step to start a full-fledged taxi service, adding the passengers' version will also be released by the end of the first quarter.

The release came a month after Daum Kakao signed a preliminary deal with the Seoul Taxi Association and Korea Smart Card Co. for the service that would link customers with the closest cab through a mobile app.

Daum Kakao said all drivers with certified taxi licenses can be registered to the app, which will be used to respond to passengers' requests.

"Kakao Taxi is a mobile platform that will provide those in the taxi industry with an efficient source of profits, and provide a convenient and reliable environment," Daum Kakao said. "We will put the top priority on connecting drivers and passengers in an efficient manner on mobile."

Daum Kakao said it will also introduce payment methods and other details of the service upon the launch of the app for passengers.

The company was created in October out of a merger between Kakao Corp., the provider of the popular messenger app Kakao Talk and portal service Daum Communications Corp.

Its flagship free messenger service Kakao Talk commands around 37 million local users in the country of 50 million people. (Yonhap)