Naver's Science and Technology Committee Issues Statement Promising "Large-Scale AI Investment"

On-site Visit to Naver 1784 on the 19th
Choi Sooyeon: "Intense Competition for Domestic Protection... Request for Industry Promotion"

On the 19th, the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee visited Naver headquarters and announced a bipartisan joint statement pledging unwavering policy support to advance South Korea as a global top 3 powerhouse (G3) in artificial intelligence (AI). Naver is expected to focus on AI advancement centered around its founder and Global Investment Officer (GIO) Lee Hae-jin, who will return next month.

The statement released that day included commitments to actively pursue policy support and institutional improvements for the development of the AI industry. Specifically, it covered ▲large-scale AI investment and infrastructure development ▲strengthening communication with the AI industry ▲revising AI laws and regulations and expanding international cooperation ▲and prompt implementation of follow-up measures such as budget allocation.

Chairperson Choi Min-hee of the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee and Choi Soo-yeon, CEO of Naver, are greeting each other before a meeting at Naver headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on the 19th. Photo by Yonhap News

In his greeting, Choi Min-hee, chair of the Science and Technology Committee, said, "The Democratic Party, led by lawmakers Jeong Dong-young and Hwang Jeong-ah, is striving to allocate a 5 trillion won budget for AI and science in the supplementary budget." He added, "Another key focus is talent development. Through various forums, we have concluded that attracting overseas AI experts, including from Southeast Asia and China, is essential."

Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon stated, "Honestly, after attending the 'Paris AI Action Summit,' I felt that competition to protect domestic companies is fierce." She continued, "U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance criticized regulations like the European Union's AI Act as burdensome to American companies, and China has been supporting its domestic companies by any means, recently achieving results such as DeepSeek." She urged, "We strongly request attention to promote the AI industry," and added, "Naver will also actively invest in technical talent to compete globally with a sense of mission."

Chairperson Choi Min-hee (third from the right) of the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee, along with ruling and opposition party members of the committee, visited Naver headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on the 19th and applauded during a meeting with Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon (second from the right) and others. Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, there is growing expectation that with GIO Lee Hae-jin returning to the front lines of management, Naver can enhance its competitiveness in the global AI market. If the agenda to appoint Lee as an inside director passes at the shareholders' meeting scheduled for the 26th of next month, he will return as chairman of the board. This will mark his return to the chairmanship after about seven years since resigning in 2017.

On the day, ten members of the Science and Technology Committee, including Chair Choi Min-hee, attended the event. From Naver, CEO Choi Soo-yeon, Naver Labs CEO Seok Sang-ok, and Ha Jung-woo, head of Naver Cloud Future AI Center, introduced achievements such as AI search, generative AI, and robotics technologies. Afterwards, attendees experienced future technologies applied at Naver headquarters, including AI, robots, and digital twin technology (technology that digitally replicates objects or systems from the real world).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.