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Naver founder Lee Hae-jin speaks to reporters at the Green Factory in Seongnam after returning as board chairman on March 26. (Naver) |
Lee Hae-jin, the founder of Naver Corp., made a comeback as chairman of the board after seven years.
As artificial intelligence emerges as a key survival factor, he is expected to lead major decision-making and spearhead Naver’s AI strategy.
Lee was appointed as an internal director and chairman of the board on Wednesday at Naver’s annual general shareholders’ meeting held at Green Factory in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. This marks his return to an executive role since stepping down in 2018 and he is also expected to step down from his previous position as global investment officer (GIO).
He particularly emphasized Naver’s role in the AI market, which is dominated by global big tech firms.
“Naver has grown by competing with big tech companies such as Google,” he said. “Just as we achieved success during the mobile transition era, we will turn the challenges of the AI era into opportunities with Naver’s unique technology and strategy.”
“It would be a sad reality if the entire world relied on just one or two search engines and AI services,” Lee said. “The diversity of the internet, which requires the existence of multiple search engines and services, must be preserved.”
He added that the rise of AI does not mean the “end of the traditional search era” and that on the contrary, “search functions will expand and play an even larger role.”
Lee’s return to the forefront of management comes at a time when Naver’s competitiveness in the AI era is being tested. The company is falling behind in its competition with U.S. big tech firms that have vast capital resources and needs more tangible success in the global market.
Meanwhile, shareholders also approved the reappointment of CEO Choi Soo-yeon as an internal director, officially launching Naver’s second term under her leadership. Choi told reporters after the meeting that AI and global expansion would be Naver’s main focus in 2025.
“Transforming Naver’s services into AI-based platforms is our top priority, and my mission is to create another global success story following LINE and Webtoon,” she said.
Naver unveiled its On-Service AI strategy, which integrates AI into all its services including search, commerce, and advertising.
The company also plans to introduce an AI agent service as early as this year.
“We are preparing an agent-style service that supports users from discovery and exploration to purchase conversion,” Choi said.
