Journalist

BAEK SEO HYUN
  • Naver, Krafton and Mirae Asset Seek Up to 1 Trillion Won for India Tech Fund
    Naver, Krafton and Mirae Asset Seek Up to 1 Trillion Won for India Tech Fund Naver, Krafton and Mirae Asset are moving to make a large-scale technology investment push in India, aiming to identify promising information technology companies through a “Unicorn Growth Fund (UGF)” that could reach up to 1 trillion won. Naver said it introduced the UGF to local companies and venture capital firms at a briefing held April 21 in New Delhi. The event was arranged in connection with President Lee Jae-myung’s trip to India. Attendees included Industry and Trade Minister Kim Jung-kwan; Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon; Krafton CEO Kim Chang-han; Krafton India head Son Hyun-il; Mirae Asset India Vice Chairman Swarup Mohanty; and Punit Kumar, CEO of Mirae Asset Venture Investment India. “India is rapidly expanding its AI industry on the back of abundant IT talent and a dynamic startup ecosystem, growing into a center of global digital innovation,” Choi said. She said the UGF will invest in high-growth technology companies in areas including AI, fintech and content, and serve as a platform to create strategic synergies by combining the three firms’ capabilities. Kim said India is emerging as the world’s fastest-growing gaming market and a hub for technological innovation. He said Krafton will be a mid- to long-term partner that supports promising companies’ global expansion through the UGF. Choi met April 20 with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to explain the fund’s vision and plans, and the two sides were reported to have formed a positive consensus. The UGF was formed early this year after Krafton committed 200 billion won, and began operations at more than 500 billion won including contributions from Naver, Mirae Asset and outside investors. The fund could later expand to as much as 1 trillion won, the companies said. The fund follows the Asia Growth Fund (AGF), jointly created by Naver and Mirae Asset. The AGF invested in major unicorns including India’s food delivery platform Zomato and Southeast Asia’s largest mobility company, Grab. Separately, Naver said it signed a memorandum of understanding the same day with Tata Consultancy Services, the IT arm of India’s Tata Group, to expand cooperation in AI, cloud and B2C services as it steps up its India strategy.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 14:54:27
  • Naver Nears Launch of New AI Search Tab, Plans Agent-Based Features
    Naver Nears Launch of New AI Search Tab, Plans Agent-Based Features Naver is in the final stages of shifting its search service toward an artificial intelligence-driven model, a change expected to significantly reshape the results page users see. As search moved from PCs to mobile a decade ago, the company is now moving from keyword-based search to AI-based search. On 21일, Naver began a closed beta test of an “AI tab” for employees, aiming for a second-quarter launch. Because closed beta testing is typically a final internal check before release, the industry has raised the possibility of a rollout as early as late April or early May. Some features or even the name could change after feedback is reviewed. Internal reaction has been broadly positive, according to people familiar with the matter. Rather than trying to dominate general-purpose queries against global AI services, the approach is seen as focusing on areas where Naver already has an edge. For example, for location- and reservation-based requests such as “Find a restaurant in Pangyo that can take a reservation at 6 p.m.,” the system is expected to provide more practical answers by linking to existing data. Analysts attribute that to a structure that can quickly reflect reservation and store information accumulated through services such as Naver Place. The AI tab is expected to appear alongside existing category tabs such as News, Blogs and Cafes within the current search results screen. After a user enters a query, the AI would present personalized results reflecting preferences and context, while also allowing follow-up questions through a conversational interface. The goal is to strengthen a chat-style search experience beyond simple information delivery. Naver is also designing the AI tab as an umbrella for integrating multiple AI agents. Depending on what a search requires, different agents — such as shopping, maps or reservations — would be called. If a user requests a task, a relevant agent could run automatically, or the user could choose an agent and direct it to carry out the work. The first application will be a shopping AI agent. Naver plans to expand to finance, Place and other areas, and expects that by next year multiple agents will be linked across Naver services. Longer term, the company aims for a system in which a user typing “I’m going on an overseas trip” would trigger agents to divide and carry out tasks such as booking flights, buying needed items and managing an itinerary. The shift underscores Naver’s move from a search-centered service structure to an AI agent-based platform. The company has also been streamlining existing functions as part of a broader search overhaul. On April 8, it ended its related-search-terms service, and its AI search service Clova X has also been put on a path toward being phased out. A Naver official said the company is taking a gradual approach rather than a sudden overhaul, given its large user base. “We are pursuing a strategy of expanding the AI experience step by step while maintaining existing usability,” the official said, adding, “Just as AI Briefing was expanded only up to 20% over a year, the AI tab will also be rolled out in stages.” Globally, search is also shifting toward AI. Google has introduced “Gemini in Chrome” in South Korea, integrating its Gemini AI model into the Chrome browser and allowing users to call up AI through a side panel. The move of portal competition toward AI is expected to accelerate both in South Korea and abroad. 2026-04-21 14:19:40
  • T map revamps home screen with map-first layout to boost place discovery
    T map revamps home screen with map-first layout to boost place discovery T map Mobility has revamped the T map home screen, placing the map front and center to strengthen place-search features. The company said on the 21st that it reorganized the home screen, including grouping more than 20 core services — along with the map — by category. Users can now open the map immediately from the home screen. By swiping down the icon-based “content area,” the map expands to fill the entire mobile screen. Previously, users had to enter individual services such as navigation to view the map. T map Mobility also doubled the number of place names that appear automatically on the map, allowing users to discover more locations simply by moving the map with touch. Place icons were standardized in shape and color to make business types and characteristics easier to distinguish, and a search bar was added at the top of the map. Selecting a place on the map shows details including reviews, business hours, parking availability and the number of vehicles currently en route. From the same screen, users can view routes, save locations, share links and enter navigation. The update also streamlines the home-screen service menu. More than 20 core T map services are now grouped under categories such as “T map Recommendations,” “Convenient Travel” and “All Benefits,” making services easier to find and use. “Maps are a core interface that helps users explore places in everyday life, beyond just directions,” Jeon Chang-geun, T map Mobility’s chief product officer, said. He said the company will continue improving map usability to develop the service “into something that delivers value beyond navigation.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 14:18:58
  • Pearl Abyss latest RPG sells 4 million copies worldwide in less than two weeks
    Pearl Abyss' latest RPG sells 4 million copies worldwide in less than two weeks SEOUL, April 1 (AJP) - Pearl Abyss' latest role-playing video game "Crimson Desert" has sold a cumulative 4 million copies worldwide, the game developer said on Wednesday. Over 2 million copies of the fantasy adventure game were sold immediately upon its release on March 19, surpassing 3 million just a few days later and reaching 4 million in less than two weeks. The game's success reflects its widespread popularity, achieving an unprecedented milestone for a South Korean game in the global console market. As a testament to its global appeal, more than half of its reviews on Steam, the world’s largest PC gaming platform, were written in English. As of 2024, North America and Europe are estimated to account for 74 percent of the global console market, which is valued at approximately US$53.7 billion. Crimson Desert is a single-player, open-world action-adventure RPG set on the fictional continent of Pywel, following the epic journey of a mercenary leader and his companions. The game is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles and other platforms. 2026-04-01 15:07:17
  • Naver to bolster AI tools to block abusive comments ahead of local elections
    Naver to bolster AI tools to block abusive comments ahead of local elections SEOUL, March 19 (AJP) - Naver will enhance its artificial intelligence (AI)-based system to detect abusive comments ahead of local elections in early June, South Korea's largest online portal said on Thursday. It plans to introduce a feature dubbed "Cleanbot" by April that will automatically prevent users from leaving comments on certain articles such as politically sensitive or election-related stories, months ahead of the June 4 elections to elect mayors and governors across metropolitan and provincial governments. Naver is also considering extending the feature to all news articles throughout the official campaigning period including election day. Users will also be restricted from posting comments on certain news stories and sections to prevent any impact on or influence over voters, and will be limited to a maximum of three comments per article after verifying their accounts. Cleanbot, first introduced in 2019, has been continuously upgraded to detect not only explicit or violent language but also hateful and discriminatory expressions. "We will continue our efforts to serve as a trustworthy platform for news as well as a healthy space for communication," said Kim Su-hyang, a Naver executive. 2026-03-19 11:18:23
  • NHN returns to annual profit as Q4 earnings hit record high
    NHN returns to annual profit as Q4 earnings hit record high SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) - South Korea’s NHN Corp. reported record quarterly revenue and operating profit in the fourth quarter, supported by broad-based growth across its core businesses and improved profitability. In a regulatory filing Thursday, NHN said consolidated revenue for the October–December period rose 6.5 percent from a year earlier to a record 685.7 billion won ($480 million), while operating profit surged 120.5 percent to 55.1 billion won, also the highest quarterly figure in the company’s history. For full-year 2025, revenue increased 2.5 percent to 2.52 trillion won, supported by steady growth in its games, payments and technology businesses. Operating profit reached 132.4 billion won, returning to profit after a loss a year earlier. The company attributed the turnaround to continued efforts to streamline its business portfolio and improve operational efficiency. By segment, fourth-quarter game revenue rose 6 percent from a year earlier and 6.7 percent from the previous quarter to 126.1 billion won, with mobile game revenue increasing 12.3 percent year-on-year. Payments revenue climbed 16.2 percent from a year earlier to 345.6 billion won, up 5.6 percent from the prior quarter. Revenue from the technology segment increased 17.4 percent year-on-year and 24.5 percent quarter-on-quarter to 139.1 billion won. NHN said growth was driven by demand for graphics processing unit services, public cloud migration projects and higher sales from its integrated messaging platform, Notification. The segment also posted its first quarterly operating profit. NHN said it plans to accelerate growth this year by strengthening competitiveness in its core businesses while continuing efforts to restore profitability. The company is preparing to launch new mobile games based on well-known intellectual property, including Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy and Oshi no Ko: Puzzle Star, which is scheduled for official release in Japan later this month. Another title, Abyssdia, is taking pre-registrations ahead of a planned global rollout, including South Korea, by the end of the month. In payments, NHN said it is advancing preparations for a stablecoin-related business as it seeks to secure an early position in next-generation payment infrastructure. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-12 10:27:23
  • Naver posts double-digit revenue, profit growth, boosted by AI-driven advertising
    Naver posts double-digit revenue, profit growth, boosted by AI-driven advertising SEOUL, February 06 (AJP) - South Korea’s Naver Corp. reported double-digit growth in revenue and operating profit last year, supported by gains in advertising, e-commerce and fintech businesses, the company said in a regulatory filing on Friday. Consolidated revenue for 2025 rose 12.1 percent from a year earlier to 12 trillion won, while operating profit increased 11.6 percent to 2.21 trillion won. Fourth-quarter revenue climbed 10.7 percent on year to 3.2 trillion won, driven by expansion in platform advertising, commerce and fintech. Operating profit rose 12.7 percent to 610.6 billion won, resulting in an operating margin of 19.1 percent. By segment, fourth-quarter revenue totaled 1.06 trillion won for the search platform, 1.05 trillion won for commerce, 453.1 billion won for fintech, 456.7 billion won for content, and 171.8 billion won for enterprise, which includes cloud services. Platform advertising revenue increased 6.7 percent from a year earlier, helped by personalized services such as feeds and short-form clips. Commerce revenue jumped 36 percent to 1.05 trillion won, supported by continued growth of Naver’s Smart Store merchants and expansion of its global consumer-to-consumer marketplace. Fintech revenue rose 13 percent to 453.1 billion won, aided by stronger Smart Store transactions and broader adoption across external platforms. Total payment volume increased 19 percent in the quarter to 23 trillion won. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-06 08:47:17
  • Koreas homegrown satellite to fly on NASAs Artemis 2 to study space radiation
    Korea's homegrown satellite to fly on NASA's Artemis 2 to study space radiation SEOUL, January 29 (AJP) - South Korea’s homegrown CubeSat, K-RadCube, will fly aboard NASA’s Artemis 2 crewed moon mission to observe the space radiation environment, marking the first time a South Korean satellite will directly measure the high-energy radiation belts encountered by astronauts. The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) said on Thursday that the satellite will study Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts at multiple altitudes, generating data that could support the safety of future crewed deep-space missions. K-RadCube will be launched mounted on the Orion spacecraft’s stage adapter during Artemis 2, a crewed test flight that will send four astronauts on a lunar flyby and return them to Earth — the first such mission in about 50 years since the Apollo program. The CubeSat is scheduled to be deployed about five hours after launch, when it will begin measuring radiation levels in high-Earth orbit. “Securing direct measurements of space radiation is critical, as radiation exposure remains one of the biggest risks for human space exploration,” Kang Kyung-in, head of space science and exploration at KASA, said at a briefing in Seoul. He noted that while radiation can already cause errors in highly integrated semiconductors on Earth, radiation levels in space are far more intense. Data from K-RadCube could be used in the design of future crewed spacecraft and in mission safety planning, he said. The project involves several South Korean companies, including Nara Space Technology, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. Nara Space Technology said the CubeSat had to meet stringent NASA safety requirements not typically applied to small satellites, including battery standards, thermal runaway testing and hazard-control destruction tests. KASA Administrator Yoon Young-bin said the mission would serve as an important international validation of South Korea’s ability to develop and operate deep-space CubeSats, as well as safety and reliability technologies relevant to human spaceflight. He added that the project could help expand South Korea’s technical contributions and role in future lunar and deep-space exploration efforts. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-29 16:40:43
  • Nexon to Refund All Purchases for MapleStory Idle After Ability Odds Error
    Nexon to Refund All Purchases for MapleStory Idle After Ability Odds Error Nexon has decided to refund in full all money users spent in the idle game “MapleStory Idle” following a dispute over ability-related probability settings. The company said it is the first time in Nexon’s game-service history that it has moved from a CEO apology to compensation and a full refund over an operations controversy. In a notice posted Tuesday, Nexon said it committed a “serious mistake” by fixing an error that had a “critical impact” on gameplay without notifying users. “Taking full responsibility, we will provide a full refund to any user who wants one,” the company said. The refund covers all paid items purchased from the service launch on Nov. 6, 2025, through the time of the refund notice. It includes not only products tied to the disputed features — ability resets, attack speed and “Quick Hunt” tickets — but all purchase history during the period. Nexon said it will announce the refund process and application period later. After a refund is completed, gameplay will be restricted under existing service policies, it said, and purchases made after the notice will not be eligible. Previously promised individual compensation will be provided separately. The decision followed a late discovery of an error in the game’s core ability-option system that prevented the maximum value from appearing as intended. Nexon said the problem occurred during coding, and that its initial response was delayed because its internal probability-monitoring system was not applied due to collaboration with an outside developer. The Korea Game Users Association had filed a complaint with the Fair Trade Commission, alleging Nexon Korea violated South Korea’s e-commerce law, after receiving authorization from 1,507 users. The group withdrew the complaint after Nexon decided on full refunds. Nexon said that if an issue arises that damages user trust, it will offer the highest level of compensation, beyond the costs users incurred.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-29 08:36:25
  • South Koreas Wemade brings new Mir game to China with localized features
    South Korea's Wemade brings new Mir game to China with localized features SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - South Korean game developer Wemade has officially launched "Mir M," the latest title based on its long-running Mir franchise, in China. The game is available on Android, Apple’s iOS and PC platforms in China, the company said. Mir M is a modern reinterpretation of the world of “The Legend of Mir 2,” Wemade’s flagship title that gained widespread popularity in China in the early 2000s. The new release carries over hallmark elements of the original game, including signature items, eight-direction grid-based combat and a quarter-view perspective, designed to deliver a familiar Mir intellectual-property experience for Chinese players. At the same time, Wemade said it rebuilt core systems — such as combat mechanics and equipment progression — to reflect current market standards and the preferences of Chinese users. The game also introduces a user-participation operating model known as “Mir Partners,” under which selected players and creators can take part in community-building, promotion and content production. Participants will receive incentives and other benefits tied to their level of contribution, the company said. Wemade said the China launch is aimed at preserving the identity of the Mir franchise while offering a differentiated massively multiplayer online role-playing experience tailored to local demand. 2026-01-13 15:48:22