Kakao said Monday it will restore the original friends list as the first screen of its app after a recent redesign sparked user complaints.

The company introduced a grid-style feed last week, but users argued that it blurred the messenger’s identity and overloaded the app with social media features.

Criticism centered on Hong Min-taek, Kakao’s chief product officer, with one-star reviews flooding app stores and guides to disabling automatic updates circulating.

Kakao said the friends list will return as the default, with the feed available under a “news” menu, and improvements will be applied in the fourth quarter.

The firm, which recently introduced parental controls, said it plans to continue updating its protections for minors.

Kakao said it would also upgrade its user experience and interface, promising to reflect user feedback more actively.