Naver is the South Korean internet company founded in 1999 that ranks among major global businesses by market value.
Naver began as an online search service developed by Naver Com Corporation, which was established in 1999. Its search engine became South Korea’s leading portal, offering services such as news, shopping, maps, finance, and user-generated content. The company is also known for Webtoon, its digital-comics platform.
Naver’s business expanded internationally through web comics, artificial-intelligence services, cloud computing, and digital content. In 2021, Naver completed its acquisition of Wattpad, the Canadian online storytelling platform, strengthening its position in global intellectual property and entertainment.
Naver is sometimes confused with Kakao, another major South Korean technology company. Kakao is best known for KakaoTalk and related services, while Naver is historically associated with South Korea’s dominant search portal. Market capitalization is share-price based and therefore changes over time.