Who founded the South Korean search portal Naver?

Lee Hae-jin founded the South Korean search portal Naver. He began the project after working at Samsung SDS, and Naver was established on June 2, 1999, becoming one of South Korea’s most influential internet platforms.

Naver was among the first Korean web providers to develop its own search engine. Its name combines “navigate” with the suffix “-er,” suggesting a person who navigates the vast ocean of information on the internet. The company’s search service was designed for Korean users and helped build a locally focused alternative to overseas search engines.

Under Lee’s leadership, Naver expanded beyond ordinary web search. The platform became known for services including Naver Mail, blogs, maps, news, and the Knowledge iN question-and-answer service, which made user-generated content a central part of its ecosystem. The company is headquartered in Seongnam, South Korea.

The answer is sometimes confused with other prominent Korean technology founders, including Bang Si-hyuk, Brian Kim, and Kim Beom-su. Those figures are associated with different companies and industries; Lee Hae-jin is the founder specifically linked to Naver Corporation.