{{short description|South Korean web portal}} {{about|the South Korean search portal|the company|Naver Corporation}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox company | name = Naver Co., Ltd. | logo = Naver Logotype.svg | logo_caption = Wordmark used from 2018 | image = NAVER Green Factory.jpg | trading_name = NAVER | type = Subsidiary | founder = Lee Hae-jin | native_name_lang = ko | area_served = Worldwide | location_country = Korea | industry = {{ubl|Internet|Artificial intelligence|Cloud computing}} | founded = {{start date and age|df=y|1999|6|2}}<ref name="official-company-stats">{{Cite web |title=NAVER Company |url=https://www.navercorp.com/en/naver/company |access-date=19 July 2023 |website=navercorp.com |language=ko |archive-date=25 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725224319/https://navercorp.com/en/naver/company |url-status=live }}</ref> | hq_location_city = Seongnam-si | parent = Naver Corporation | products = {{hlist|NAVER Mail|NAVER Map|NAVER News}} | website = {{Official URL}} | module = {{Infobox Korean name/auto|child=yes |hangul = ^네이버 }} }}
'''Naver''' ({{Korean|hangul=네이버}}; stylized as '''NAVER''') is a South Korean online platform operated by the Naver Corporation. The company's products include a search engine, email hosting, blogs, maps, and mobile payment.<ref name="official-company-stats"/>
== History == Naver was the first Korean web provider to develop its own search engine. The company was founded on 2 June 1999, and is headquartered in Seongnam, South Korea. Naver is a combination of 'navigate' and the suffix '-er', referring to a person who navigates the vast ocean of information on the Internet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brand Resources |url=https://www.navercorp.com/media/brandGuide |access-date=23 October 2024 |website=navercorp.com |language=ko}}</ref> Naver provides community services including blogs and cafes, other convenient services such as knowledge, shopping, maps, books, e-mail, and a Naver toolbar.<ref name="official-company-stats"/>
In August 2000, Naver launched its 'comprehensive search' service, which allows users to get a variety of results from a single search query on one page, organized by type, including blogs, websites, images, and web communities.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}
Naver became an early pioneer in user-generated content through the creation of the 'Knowledge iN' (네이버 지식인)' service in 2002.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Sang-Hun |first=Choe |date=2007-07-04 |title=To outdo Google, Naver taps into Korea's collective wisdom |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/04/technology/04iht-naver.2.6485099.html |access-date=2026-05-19 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In Knowledge iN, users can pose questions on any subject and select from answers provided by other users, awarding points to those who give the best answers. Knowledge iN was launched three years before Yahoo! introduced its similar 'Yahoo! Answers' service<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/yahoo-answers-has-app-babby-and-calls-it-answers-now-1.2901672|title=Yahoo! Answers has app babby and calls it Answers Now|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=13 December 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201042041/https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/yahoo-answers-has-app-babby-and-calls-it-answers-now-1.2901672|url-status=live}}</ref> and now possesses a database of over 200 million answers. Bradley Horowitz, former Vice President of Product Strategy at Yahoo!, has cited Knowledge iN as the inspiration for Yahoo! Answers, which was launched three years after Naver introduced the original service.<ref name="NAVER">{{cite web |last1=Pastreich |first1=Emanuel |title=Take Naver Global Today! |url=http://www.koreaittimes.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=15748 |website=Korea IT Times |access-date=20 September 2018 |date=18 July 2011 |archive-date=21 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221012544/http://www.koreaittimes.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=15748 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Over the years, Naver has continued to expand its services. Naver Blog started with the name 'paper' in June 2003 and evolved to 'blog' in October 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |title="네이버 블로그 21주년, 1030 비중 64%까지 확대" |url=https://v.daum.net/v/20241108092449950 |access-date=15 November 2024 |website=다음 - 머니투데이}}</ref> 'Webtoon' is a South Korean webtoon publisher launched in 2004 by Naver.<ref name="Webtoon">{{Cite web |date=28 June 2024 |title=Naver's Webtoon Entertainment shares close nearly 10% higher on Nasdaq debut |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2024/10/129_377621.html |access-date=12 October 2024 |website=koreatimes |language=en}}</ref>
In May 2005, Naver started the Real-time Search service. The rising search terms was a chart in Naver that highlighted trending topics in real-time.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}} The top searches would appear on the portal main page, reaching a large number of users.<ref>{{Cite web |title=네이버, 검색분야 점유율 70% 육박 |url=https://v.daum.net/v/20050505052638445 |access-date=14 November 2024 |website=다음 - 아이뉴스24}}</ref>
From 2005 to 2007, Naver expanded its multimedia search services, including music and video search, as well as mobile search.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}} Naver had launched a messaging app called Line for the South Korean market in February 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LINE｜라인은 언제나 사용자와 함께 합니다. |url=https://line.me/ko/ |access-date=2 November 2024 |website=line.me |language=ko}}</ref>
In 2019, Naver reorganized its mobile version of the main screen, excluding search windows and some menus.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}} In response, more than 3,000 comments opposing the change were posted.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Park|first=Ji-hye|title=Naver Mobile's old version ends in August...'User Complaints' Continuous|url=http://www.newsprime.co.kr/news/article.html?no=545241|access-date=6 June 2021|website=프라임경제|language=ko}}</ref>
In October 2023, Naver announced the beta release of its AI chatbot service, 'CLOVA X' (클로바X).<ref>{{Cite web |title="투자제안서 대신 써줄래"…네이버, 대화형AI '클로바X' 베타 출시 |url=https://v.daum.net/v/20230824100112024 |access-date=15 November 2024 |website=다음 - 디지털타임스}}</ref>
Naver mobile map application began providing real-time service on natural disaster information on 15 September 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20240913005600320?section=economy-finance/economy|title=Naver Map starts providing natural disaster information |date=2024|website=Yonhap News |last1=Na-Young |first1=Kim }}</ref>
== Services == {{See also|Band (software)}}
=== Naver Dictionary === {{Main article|Naver Dictionary}}
Naver Dictionary was launched in 1999, alongside Naver. It initially supported only Korean and English.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=박 |first=철현 |date=17 October 2016 |title=네이버, 어학사전 발전 위해 100억원 투입...'옛 사전 개정 新 사전 구축나서' |url=https://it.chosun.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=2016101785068 |access-date=31 July 2024 |website=IT조선 |language=ko}}</ref> {{As of|2024}}, it supports 67 languages.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 July 2024 |title=네이버 사전 |url=https://apps.apple.com/kr/app/%EB%84%A4%EC%9D%B4%EB%B2%84-%EC%82%AC%EC%A0%84/id673085116 |access-date=31 July 2024 |website=Apple App Store |language=ko-KR}}</ref> The dictionary aggregates results from a number of other dictionaries, including Urimalsaem, which is operated by the National Institute of Korean Language.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=차 |first=현아 |date=5 December 2018 |title="고대 히브리어도 찾아준다"...네이버, 소수어 5종 사전 오픈 |url=https://it.chosun.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=2018120501575 |access-date=31 July 2024 |website=IT조선 |language=ko}}</ref> It also aggregates results from English-language dictionaries such as Oxford Dictionary of English<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Sohn |first=Ji-young |date=22 March 2018 |title=Pwag, zoobs? Naver's English dictionary contains nonsense, questionable definitions |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180322000756 |access-date=31 July 2024 |website=The Korea Herald |language=en}}</ref> and the Collins English Dictionary.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=29 June 2010 |title=네이버 국어·영어 사전 서비스 강화 |url=https://www.jjan.kr/article/20100629359998 |access-date=31 July 2024 |website={{ill|Jeonbuk Ilbo|ko|전북일보}} |language=ko}}</ref> It also operates an open-source dictionary called Open Dictionary PRO (ODP).<ref name=":7" />
===Junior Naver=== '''Junior Naver''' (쥬니어 네이버), also known as '''Juniver''' (쥬니버), is a portal website for children, similar to Yahooligans. Junior Naver offers services such as avatars, educational content, quizzes, videos, Q&A, and a homework helper. It uses a panel of experts and educators to filter out harmful content, ensuring a safe internet environment for children. With its competitors Daum Kids and Yahoo Kids having closed down, Junior Naver is now the only children's portal site operating in Korea.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}
===Knowledge iN=== '''Knowledge iN''' (지식iN), formerly '''Knowledge Search''' (지식검색), is an online Q&A platform launched in October 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kin.naver.com/event/kin10th.nhn|title=네이버 지식iN|website=kin.naver.com|access-date=31 May 2017|archive-date=20 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920195926/https://kin.naver.com/event/kin10th.nhn|url-status=live}}</ref> The tool allows users to ask any question and receive answers from other users. Naver became an early pioneer in user-generated content through the creation of the 'Knowledge iN' (네이버 지식인)' service.<ref name=":0" /> Bradley Horowitz, former Vice President of Product Strategy at Yahoo!, has cited Knowledge iN as the inspiration for Yahoo! Answers, which was launched three years after Naver introduced the original service.<ref name="NAVER" />
Naver encourages unauthorized publishing to attract users to its Knowledge iN service. This led to lower-quality content when compared with Wikipedia as of 2007, which had more moderators.<ref name=":0" /> In April 2024, the service was reorganized so that answers could be continuously registered without closing questions, and new answers could be registered even if there were adopted answers. In addition, the limit on the number of additional questions and additional answers has disappeared.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}}
===Naver Webtoon=== {{main article|WEBTOON}}
'''Naver Webtoon''' (네이버 웹툰), later simply '''WEBTOON''', is a webcomic platform where users have free access to a variety of webtoons created by professional artists. Users can also pay publishers to view comic books and genre fiction content online. Naver has incorporated a 'Challenge' section that allows amateurs to post and promote their works.<ref name="Webtoon"/>
=== Naver Cafe === '''Naver Cafe''' (네이버 카페) is a service that allows Naver users to create their own internet communities. As of May 2017, 10.5 million cafes were active. Each person can create up to 300 cafes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://help.naver.com/service/5622/contents/771?osType=PC&lang=ko |title=make up to |access-date=8 April 2024 |archive-date=8 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408064526/https://help.naver.com/service/5622/contents/771?osType=PC&lang=ko |url-status=live }}</ref> From January to August 2024, Naver Cafe's MAU averaged 30 million, up about 10% from the previous year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=네이버, 카페 서비스 '오류'... "긴급 점검 중" |url=https://v.daum.net/v/20240924170426986 |access-date=29 November 2024 |website=다음 - 파이낸셜뉴스}}</ref>
===Naver Blog=== '''Naver Blog''' (네이버 블로그) started with the name 'paper' in June 2003 and evolved to 'blog' in October 2003.<ref>Naver service history in Naver public website</ref>{{Original research inline|date=May 2026}} It had 23 million users as of April 2016.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}} In 2023, there were 1.26 million new users.<ref>[https://www.sedaily.com/NewsView/29YEOW25YX New user in 202] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408064713/https://www.sedaily.com/NewsView/29YEOW25YX |date=8 April 2024 }} (SEDaily.com)</ref>{{Overly detailed inline|date=May 2026}}
For two weeks from 1 May 2021, Naver held an event to pay up to 16,000 won to people who posted on Naver's blog every day. However, this event ended early due to several incidents involving people with multiple IDs. Many participants in the event criticized Naver's response.<ref>{{Cite web|last=신|first=진호|title="작심삼일 노노"라던 네이버, 사흘만에 '오늘일기챌린지' 조기종료|url=https://www.seoul.co.kr/news/newsView.php?id=20210504500211|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=서울신문|date=4 May 2021|language=ko|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504130716/https://www.seoul.co.kr/news/newsView.php?id=20210504500211}}</ref>
Naver announced on its official blog that it would resume its "Today's Diary Challenge (#오늘일기챌린지)" event, which ended early in three days, from May 24. However, only those who participated in the previously discontinued event (who completed the three-day record) can participate in the event.<ref>{{Cite web|last=최|first=민영|date=2021-05-18|title='작심삼일 논란' 네이버 오늘일기 24일 재개…기존 참여자만 가능|url=https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/economy/it/995663.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-20|website=한겨레|language=ko|archive-date=2021-05-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520124435/https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/economy/it/995663.html}}</ref>
On 13 May 2021, Naver announced that it would display profile pictures along with comments posted on Naver news articles. Previously, only the first four digits of the author's ID were disclosed, making it difficult to identify users. Naver implemented this change expecting it to facilitate user recognition and address issues with malicious comments. Critics, however, criticized the company for censoring comments.<ref>{{Cite web|last=윤|first=지혜|date=4 May 2021|title="댓글달면 사진뜬다"..네이버 발표에 네티즌들 시끌시끌 – 머니투데이|url=https://news.mt.co.kr/mtview.php?no=2021050410524375121|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=머니투데이|language=ko|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504063400/https://news.mt.co.kr/mtview.php?no=2021050410524375121}}</ref>{{Relevance inline|sentence|date=September 2025|reason=Censoring comments isn't the same thing as displaying profile pictures.}}
=== Naver NOW === {{Main article|Naver TV}}
'''Naver NOW''' (formerly '''Naver TV''') is a video streaming and sharing platform that primarily offers web dramas distributed by Naver. Naver NOW replaced the Naver TV mobile app, while Naver TV continues to serve as a web portal.{{cn|date=July 2022}}
=== Naver Pay === {{main|Naver Pay}}
In June 2015, Naver launched its own payment service, Naver Pay, which allows mobile payment service and online checkout. It is Naver's second mobile payment service after Line Pay. Naver Pay is the most widely used mobile payment service in South Korea.<ref>[https://pay.naver.com/about Service Introduction], Official webpage of Naver Pay</ref>
=== Naver Mail === '''Naver Mail''' (네이버 메일) is an email service available to all Naver users. Each user is provided with up to 5GB of storage.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
=== Naver News === '''Naver News''' (네이버 뉴스) is a news aggregator operated by Naver since 2000. The website co-founded a committee with Daum News to evaluate news presses for the service in 2015, but it was indefinitely shut down in 2023 after allegations of biased audit.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20241029145200017 |title=네이버뉴스, 언론사 입점·퇴출 심사에 '수백명 풀단' 활용 논의 |work= Yonhap News Agency|date=30 October 2024 |last=Choi |first=Hyeonseok |language=ko |access-date=24 January 2025}}</ref> It also runs Naver Enter, a subdivision focusing on entertainment news.
=== Naver Shopping Live === '''Naver Shopping Live''' (네이버 쇼핑 라이브) is a live commerce platform operated by Naver. Broadcasts can be transmitted via mobile phones or camcorders, with a resolution of 1080*1920 and a vertical format similar to YouTube shorts. It is currently the platform with the highest number of consumers in Korea. As of 2023, 73.6% of mobile shoppers in South Korea use Naver Shopping Live as their primary platform.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.growthmk.com/insight/naver-shopping-live-case/|title=Naver Shopping Live: Live Commerce and Marketing in Korea|website=Growth Marketing Agency|date=8 October 2024 |language=en|access-date=28 November 2024}}</ref>
=== PRISM Live Studio === '''PRISM Live Studio''' (프리즘 라이브 스튜디오) is a live streaming application available for both mobile and PC users. Streamers can simultaneously broadcast to multiple platforms, a practice known as simulcasting, with support for up to 1080p HD resolution without increasing network usage. Supported platforms include YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, Periscope, V Live, Naver TV, afreecaTV, KakaoTV, and RTMP channels. The application can also be utilized for video editing purposes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/@prismliveofficial|title=PRISM Live Studio. Official|website=Medium|language=en|access-date=14 November 2019|archive-date=15 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815053128/https://medium.com/@prismliveofficial|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Naver Papago === {{main|Naver Papago}}
In July 2017, Naver launched Papago, which is an AI-based mobile translator that uses a large neural network technology named N2MT (Naver Neural Machine Translation). It can translate text and phrases in 15 different languages by analyzing context instead of statistical analysis. Papago app has so far garnered over 16 million downloads.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 November 2020 |title=네이버 파파고, 이미지 '바로번역' 기능 출시 |url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20201104134200017 |access-date=29 October 2024 |website=연합뉴스 |language=ko |author1=홍지인 }}</ref>
=== Search engine === As of 2024, Naver is used for most searches in South Korea.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dave |first=Paresh |date=November 12, 2024 |title=Two Upstart Search Engines Are Teaming Up to Take on Google |url=https://www.wired.com/story/ecosia-qwant-eusp-take-on-google-search-index/ |access-date=2026-05-07 |work=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> In 2025, Naver provided twice as many searches as Google.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taipei |first=Lillian Chen |date=2026-01-07 |title=Naver doubles Google's search market share in South Korea in 2025 |url=https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20260107PD203/naver-google-search-engine-market-share-2025.html |access-date=2026-05-07 |website=DIGITIMES |language=en}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal bar|South Korea|Companies|Internet}}
* List of search engines * Search engine * Comparison of search engines
== Notes == {{Notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}} * [https://section.cafe.naver.com/ Naver Cafe] * [https://kin.naver.com/ Knowledge iN]
{{Naver}} {{Web search engines}} {{S&P Asia 50}}
Category:Blog hosting services Category:Webmail Category:Internet search engines Category:Naver Corporation Category:Web portals Category:Internet television streaming services Category:Livestreaming software Category:1999 establishments in South Korea