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Articles by Jeong Ho-jun
Kakao names Kim Do-young co-chair of CA Council
Kakao Group has appointed Kakao X CEO-designate Kim Do-young as co-chair of its Corporate Alignment (CA) Council, putting him alongside Kakao CEO Chung Shin-a to steer the group through its planned spin-off. Kakao Group said Monday that chief executives of participating affiliates approved Kim’s appointment at a group meeting held earlier that day. Kim is slated to lead Kakao X, the surviving company after the split.
NHN Cloud CEO raises NHN stake as AI business grows
NHN Cloud CEO Kim Dong-hoon has purchased 140.98 million won ($104,000) worth of shares in parent company NHN, a move seen as signaling confidence in the outlook for its artificial intelligence infrastructure business. NHN said in a regulatory filing Tuesday that Kim acquired 2,660 shares through an open-market purchase on Sept. 18. He paid 53,000 won per share. The purchase increased his holdings from 7,340 shares to 10,000 shares.
Kakao clears key hurdle for planned corporate split
Kakao Corp. has cleared the first hurdle in its plan to split the company into two entities, Kakao X and Kakao AI. According to information technology (IT) industry sources on Tuesday, only around 2 percent of shareholders expressed opposition to the merger during a period from September 7 to 21 for submitting objections. The merger would combine Kakao Investment, Kakao’s investment arm, with Kakao X following the planned spin-off. Kakao Investment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kakao.
Kakao to shut down standalone Kanana app in October
Kakao will shut down its standalone conversational artificial intelligence service Kanana on Oct. 15, shifting its AI strategy toward KakaoTalk as its central platform. “The Kanana app and PC service, which have been offered in beta, will conclude their journey of experimentation and challenges on Oct. 15,” Kakao said in a notice Tuesday. Kanana was first unveiled by Kakao CEO Chung Shin-a at the company’s annual developer conference, if(kakao)2024.
Liner raises $36 million in Series C funding
Artificial intelligence agent startup Liner has raised 50 billion won ($36 million) in Series C funding and plans to channel much of the proceeds into research and development for its core search and AI agent technologies. Liner said Tuesday that it had completed the funding round led by LB Investment. Existing investors Atinum Investment and CJ Investment participated in the follow-on financing.
Kakao Games secures $1.1bn for shareholder returns
Kakao Games Corp. announced on Monday that it will reduce its capital reserves by about 1.54 trillion won ($1.11 billion) to secure funds for shareholder returns as part of efforts to enhance shareholder value. Kakao Games held an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting on Monday and approved two agenda items, including a plan for holding and disposing of treasury shares and a proposal to offset accumulated losses and transfer capital reserves to retained earnings.
Korean telecoms bet on AI data centers for growth
South Korea’s three major mobile carriers are turning to artificial intelligence data centers (AIDCs) as their next growth engine as their core wireless businesses face slowing subscriber growth and stagnant revenue. According to industry data released on Sunday, all three telecom operators posted double-digit revenue growth in their AIDC businesses during the second quarter.
Netmarble’s Bang to buy 13.4% stake from Tencent affiliate for $270mn
Bang Jun-hyuk, chairman of Netmarble Corp. and Coway Co., will acquire a 13.4 percent stake in Netmarble held by a Tencent Holdings Ltd. affiliate for 374 billion won ($270 million). Netmarble said in a regulatory filing Friday that Bang will buy a 13.41 percent stake from Han River Investment Pte., which currently holds an 18.11 percent stake in Netmarble. The transaction is valued at 374 billion won.
Kakao Games targets global market with Korean folklore-inspired title
Kakao Games will launch its new massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), Realm of Dokkaebi, in October as the company seeks to improve earnings with a title built around Korean folklore. The company unveiled the launch schedule and key features of the game during a media showcase held Thursday at Korea House in central Seoul.
Kakao Mobility files for U.S. IPO, targets $1bn raise
Kakao Mobility Corp. is preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States after filing documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). According to U.S. financial services provider IPOX Schuster LLC on Wednesday, Kakao Mobility confidentially submitted a registration statement to the SEC in June for a U.S. IPO. The filing is part of the preliminary review process before a stock market listing.
Naver joins employers group amid labor law concerns
Naver Corp. has quietly become the first major South Korean information technology company to join the Korea Enterprises Federation (KEF), a move widely seen as an effort to strengthen its labor relations capabilities amid changes brought about by the so-called Yellow Envelope Act. According to industry sources on Wednesday, Naver applied for KEF membership in August last year and completed the approval process, becoming an official member without publicly announcing the decision.
Pearl Abyss Q2 OP misses market estimates despite Crimson Desert sales
South Korean game developer Pearl Abyss Corp. saw its second-quarter operating profit surge 7,411.1 percent from a year earlier, driven by the success of its new game “Crimson Desert.” Pearl Abyss announced on Tuesday that its operating profit for the second quarter stood at 67.6 billion won ($47.85 million), up 7,411.1 percent from the same period a year ago.
Webtoon Entertainment bets on games to expand hit webtoon IPs
Webtoon Entertainment, the parent company of Naver Webtoon, is expanding its webtoon intellectual property (IP) business into gaming as it seeks to diversify revenue beyond its core platform. The company said on Monday during its second-quarter earnings presentation that it will invest $100 million to acquire a 60 percent stake in RI Games Holdings, a game developer specializing in webtoon-based titles.
Google app overtakes Naver in Korea for first time
Google’s mobile app has surpassed Naver’s in monthly active users (MAUs) in South Korea for the first time, reflecting changing user behavior as competition in AI-powered search intensifies. According to Mobile Index operated by IGAWorks on Tuesday, Google’s app recorded 47.02 million monthly active users in July, making it the most-used app in the productivity category. Naver ranked second with 46.85 million MAUs, leaving Google ahead by about 178,000 users.
AI model boom boosts demand for benchmarking firms
A wave of new artificial intelligence models released last month by U.S. and Chinese technology companies has created an unexpected beneficiary: independent organizations that benchmark AI performance. According to the information technology industry on Sunday, website traffic to Artificial Analysis, an AI model evaluation firm, increased about 40 percent in July from the previous month.
Nexus posts Q2 loss, swings to net profit
Nexus Co. reported a wider second-quarter loss on Tuesday but returned to net profit after booking a one-time gain from its acquisition of OneStore, while betting on synergies to drive growth in its gaming platform business. The company posted revenue of 5.8 billion won ($4.0 million) for the second quarter, down 37.8 percent from a year earlier. It recorded an operating loss of 5.3 billion won, compared with an operating profit a year earlier.
Naver to invest additional $90mn in resale platform Kream
Naver Corp. said on Tuesday that it will invest an additional 130 billion won ($90.8 million) in limited-edition resale platform Kream Corp. during the second half of the year. The investment will be made by participating in Kream’s planned rights offering, through which Naver will acquire 38,681 common shares. The company’s board of directors approved the investment on Tuesday.
Superb AI clears key technology review for Kosdaq listing
Superb AI, a South Korean computer vision startup, said Tuesday it has passed the technology assessment required for a technology-special listing on the Kosdaq market, moving a step closer to its planned initial public offering. The technology assessment is the first major step for companies seeking a technology-special listing, evaluating the innovation and commercial viability of their core technologies.
Naver to introduce paid API model as AI era drives data demand
South Korean platform giant Naver Corp. is moving its search and trend data application programming interfaces (APIs) to a cloud-based platform as part of an effort to introduce a paid service model. According to sources from the information technology (IT) industry on Tuesday, Naver has been gradually discontinuing the Search API and the Search Trend and Shopping Insight APIs previously provided through the Naver Developers Center since late last month, transferring them to the Naver API Hub.
Nvidia invests $1 bn in Naver, becomes third-largest shareholder
Nvidia has agreed to invest $1 billion in Naver, becoming the South Korean platform company’s third-largest shareholder in a move that deepens their partnership in artificial intelligence infrastructure and data center development. Naver said Monday that its board approved the issuance of 7.24 million new common shares, all of which will be allocated to the U.S. AI chipmaker. The new shares will be issued at 204,500 won each, raising a total of 1.48 trillion won.
Naver brings smart building technology to Japan
Naver Corp. will deploy its smart building technology at an external commercial property for the first time, bringing the robot-friendly operating system developed for its 1784 headquarters in South Korea to a major mixed-use complex in Tokyo. Team Naver said Thursday it will work with NTT East and Mitsui Fudosan to introduce the technology at Tokyo Midtown Yaesu, a 45-story building in the Japanese capital’s business district.
Korean AI startup Corca named OpenAI Select Partner
South Korean artificial intelligence (AI) startup Corca Inc. has been selected as one of the partner companies in OpenAI Inc.’s official partner program. Corca said on Monday that it has been named an OpenAI Select Partner under the OpenAI Partner Network. The OpenAI Partner Network, launched last month, is a global program that enables partners to build, sell, and deliver AI solutions in collaboration with OpenAI. The program consists of three partner tiers: Select, Advanced, and Elite.
Naver Cloud, Mistral AI join forces on sovereign AI for manufacturing
Naver Cloud has formed a strategic partnership with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI to expand into the global manufacturing AI market with sovereign AI solutions that emphasize data sovereignty. The agreement was signed on Tuesday at Naver’s 1784 headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, the company said Wednesday.
Kakao scales back content platforms as Naver doubles down
Kakao is scaling back content platforms such as KakaoStory as it sharpens its focus on KakaoTalk and artificial intelligence, while Naver is moving in the opposite direction by investing heavily in creator platforms to strengthen its AI-powered search services. According to industry sources on Tuesday, Kakao has suspended updates to KakaoStory, its in-house social networking service, this year.
Naver brings maps and browser to Hyundai vehicles
Naver services available on Hyundai Motor’s Pleos Connect infotainment system. (Naver) Naver will integrate its key digital services into Hyundai Motor’s next-generation in-vehicle infotainment platform, allowing drivers to access the company’s navigation, browser and other applications directly from their vehicles.
Krafton CEO discusses AI cooperation with AWS chief
Kim Chang-han, chief executive officer (CEO) of South Korean game developer Krafton Inc., has met Matt Garman, the CEO of Amazon Web Services (AWS), the world’s largest cloud computing provider, to discuss potential areas of collaboration. According to a LinkedIn post released by Krafton on Wednesday, Kim visited AWS headquarters in Seattle and met with Garman.
Nexon launches major investment push for game startups
Nexon is launching a large-scale investment initiative targeting early-stage Korean game developers as part of a broader effort to strengthen the startup ecosystem and secure future growth engines for the company. The game publisher said on Tuesday that it has partnered with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Kona Venture Partners to operate a long-term investment program focused on domestic game startups.
AI agents gain traction at workplaces as they boost efficiency
The enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) market is rapidly shifting toward an autonomous digital workforce model, driving a massive expansion in cloud-based marketplaces where corporations can recruit and deploy specialized AI employees. According to industry sources on Monday, cloud infrastructure giants, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Salesforce.com Inc., have scaled up their platforms to act as digital talent agencies.
Nexus to acquire homegrown app marketplace One Store
South Korean game developer Nexus Co. has agreed to acquire control of One Store Co., the operator of the country’s homegrown mobile application marketplace. Nexus disclosed on Thursday that it will acquire an 89.03 percent stake in One Store for approximately 62.6 billion won ($40.74 million). The company will secure management control of One Store by purchasing shares from SK square Co. (45.78 percent), Naver Corp. (24.06 percent), Steel Number One First Co. (17.02 percent), and Krafton Inc.
Guardian AI, Samhyun partner to commercialize AI patrol robots
Industrial safety solutions provider Guardian AI Corp and motion control specialist Samhyun Co. have signed a preliminary agreement to jointly develop and commercialize artificial intelligence (AI)-powered patrol robots for the global market, Guardian AI said on Wednesday.
Nexon’s Crazy Arcade to end service after 25 years
South Korean game developer Nexon Korea Corp. will shut down its long-running online game, “Crazy Arcade,” in August, ending a 25-year run. The Crazy Arcade operations team said on the game’s website Thursday that service will end on August 13, 2026. Launched in 2001, Crazy Arcade is a multiplayer arcade game in which players use water balloons to trap opponents. Alongside “MapleStory,” the game was one of the titles that helped drive Nexon’s popularity in the 2000s.
PearlAbyss to begin paying dividends next year
South Korean game developer PearlAbyss Corp. announced a comprehensive shareholder return policy on Tuesday, revealing plans to initiate its first-ever dividend payouts next year alongside a massive treasury share cancellation. The aggressive value-up strategy follows the global success of its console blockbuster “Crimson Desert,” which has sold more than 5 million copies worldwide since its release this year.
Maeil Business Newspaper Korea's No. 1 Economic Media
Met five group chairmen, including Chung Eui-sun Second 'kkanbu meeting' with Chey Tae-won Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, throws the first pitch before the KBO League game between the Kiwoom Heroes and the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 7th. [Yonhap News Agency] Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, who arrived in South Korea on the 5th, continued his whirlwind schedule over the weekend, seeking to expand cooperation with Korean industry in artificial intelligence (AI).
Netmarble to sell G-Tower headquarters in Seoul for $455mn
South Korean video game developer Netmarble Corp. is set to finalize the sale of its headquarters, G-Tower, in Seoul, with the transaction valued at around 697.7 billion won ($455 million). According to a regulatory filing on Thursday, Netmarble will sell G-Tower, including the land and building, in Guro District, western Seoul. The buyer is a real estate fund managed by GVESCO Investment Management Corp., a subsidiary of GS Engineering & Construction Corp.
Maeil Business Newspaper Korea's No. 1 Economic Media
Jensen Huang’s wide-ranging schedule as he meets robotics and gaming leaders Dinner with business chiefs on the 5th Appears on the variety show "You Quiz on the Block" the next day Throws the ceremonial first pitch at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 7th Doosan Chairman Park Jeong-won will bat Expectations rise for cooperation with Doosan Robotics NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang speaks at NVIDIA GTC Taipei, which he hosted in Taipei, Taiwan, on the 2nd local time, ahead of COMPUTEX Taipei 2026, Asia’s...
Nvidia’s Jensen Huang to meet Korean AI startups during Seoul visit
Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jensen Huang is set to meet with leaders of South Korean artificial intelligence (AI) startups during his upcoming visit to Korea, including AI unicorn Upstage Co. CEO Kim Sung-hoon. According to AI industry sources on Wednesday, Huang is scheduled to hold a closed-door meeting with local AI and robotics startups on June 8 in Seoul. Upstage CEO Kim and other senior startup executives are expected to attend.
POSCO DX, NC AI team up on universal robot brain
POSCO DX and NC AI are joining forces to develop a foundation model that could serve as a universal brain for industrial robots operating across a wide range of workplace environments. The two companies said Sunday that they signed a memorandum of understanding on May 29 to jointly research robot foundation models and expand cooperation in next-generation robotics technologies.
Anthropic names Korea head, to open Seoul office next month
Choi Ki-young, Head of Anthropic Korea Anthropic is accelerating its expansion in South Korea after appointing the head of its local unit, with the company set to open a Seoul office next month. The American AI startup said Wednesday that it named Choi Ki-young, former general manager of Snowflake Korea, as head of its South Korean operations.
Kakao Mobility to phase out Kakao T Blue franchise over legal risks
(Image generated by Gemini) South Korea’s dominant ride-hailing operator, Kakao Mobility Corp., will discontinue its flagship franchise taxi service, following years of regulatory friction over inflated revenues. According to the mobility industry on Monday, Kakao Mobility halted new driver recruitment for Kakao T Blue earlier this year. Kakao T Blue was Kakao’s first-generation franchise taxi service, operated through subsidiaries such as KM Solution.
Nexon rebrands computer museum, to reopen as Nexon Museum
Nexon said Tuesday it will rebrand the Nexon Computer Museum in Jeju as the Nexon Museum and reopen it on May 12. The museum, originally established in 2013 in Jeju, was the first computer museum in Asia and has showcased the history of computing alongside the evolution of video games. Following the rebranding, the new Nexon Museum will be repositioned as a cultural hub that reinterprets the company’s three decades of gaming assets.
Smilegate profit drops 30% on weaker Lost Ark sales
Smilegate reported a sharp decline in profitability for 2025, as weaker performance from its flagship titles weighed on earnings despite relatively modest revenue contraction. The Korean non-listed company said in its audit report that it posted 1.43 trillion won ($977 million) in revenue and 359.8 billion won in operating profit for 2025. Revenue fell 5.6 percent from a year earlier, while operating profit dropped 30.1 percent. Net profit also declined 36.2 percent on-year to 302.3 billion won.
ByteDance brings advanced video AI to Korea
ByteDance is set to introduce its latest video-generation AI tools in South Korea, a move expected to shake up the local content industry as competition in AI-powered media creation intensifies. According to industry sources on Sunday, ByteDance’s subsidiary BytePlus will host its first Korea event, “AI Day,” on April 23, where it plans to unveil its AI model lineup including Seedance 2.0. Seedance 2.0 is a multimodal AI capable of generating both video and audio simultaneously.
Disney+ expands ESPN access, bringing sports content to S. Korea
Disney+ has expanded access to ESPN content in parts of Asia, allowing viewers in South Korea to watch a broader range of sports programming, including U.S. college basketball. The company said it began rolling out ESPN content to Europe and selected Asia-Pacific markets on Tuesday, with South Korea included alongside Japan and Singapore. Disney+ had previously introduced ESPN programming in regions such as the United States, South America, Australia and New Zealand.
Krafton aims for global launch of metaverse game platform Overdare this year
South Korean game developer Krafton Inc. is set to unveil Overdare, a user-generated content (UGC) platform developed in partnership with Naver Corp., this year, challenging Roblox, the world’s leading metaverse gaming platform. According to multiple sources from the gaming industry on Tuesday, Overdare Studio – a joint venture established by Krafton and Naver Z – has set its goal to officially launch the game Overdare globally this year and has begun upgrading the platform.
Netmarble to buy more Coway shares to boost control
Netmarble said Monday it will purchase an additional 150 billion won ($100 million) worth of shares in its affiliate Coway, aiming to strengthen control and improve financial stability. The company plans to acquire about 2.08 million shares over the next 12 months through market purchases, with roughly 40 billion won to be bought first within a month. Netmarble currently holds a 26 percent stake in Coway, which will rise to 29.1 percent once the additional purchases are completed.
Shift Up acquires Japanese game developer Unbound
South Korean game developer Shift Up Corp. announced on Wednesday that it has completed the acquisition of Japanese game developer Unbound Inc.
Yanolja tops 1 tn won in annual revenue for first time
Yanolja surpassed 1 trillion won ($667 million) in annual revenue for the first time since its founding, driven by steady growth in both its consumer platform and global enterprise solutions business. The global travel technology company said on Tuesday it posted consolidated revenue of 1.02 trillion won last year, up 11.3 percent from a year earlier.
KT to slash executives as new CEO takes over
KT Corp. is preparing to cut up to 20 executives as incoming CEO Park Yoon-young moves to streamline the organization and reset governance under a new leadership structure. The planned reduction — equivalent to 20 percent to 30 percent of the company’s executive ranks — is expected to be finalized following a board reshuffle and the formal appointment of Park at a shareholders’ meeting scheduled for March 31.
Hyundai, Kia expands Nvidia partnership for autonomous driving, SDVs
Hyundai Motor Group is expanding its partnership with Nvidia Corp. to advance autonomous driving technology and its transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs). During his keynote at GTC 2026 held in California, the United States, on Monday, local time, Jensen Huang, chief executive officer of Nvidia, announced that Hyundai Motor Group has joined its robotaxi-ready platform as a new partner, alongside BYD, Nissan, and Geely.
SK Group chief sees global wafer shortage persisting through 2030
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won said global semiconductor supply constraints are likely to persist through 2030, as structural bottlenecks continue to limit wafer production capacity. Chey told reporters at Nvidia’s GTC 2026 in San Jose that global wafer supply could remain more than 20 percent short of demand through the end of the decade. “Wafer supply shortages are expected to exceed 20 percent through 2030,” Chey said.
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