Naver, the undisputed leader of the Korean portal industry, has entered a period of massive transformation as of Spring 2026. Beyond simply being a place to check the news or go shopping, it is evolving into an era where AI directly guides our daily lives. Today, we will take a deep dive into the four core issues surrounding Naver as of April 2026, along with a synthesis of securities reports.
1. A 20-Year Overhaul: Full Integration of ‘AI Briefing’
The ‘Related Search Terms’ feature, one of Naver’s most familiar functions for the past 20 years, is finally disappearing into history. Replacing it is the ‘AI Briefing.’
Previously, Naver operated a separate AI search service called ‘Cue:.’ However, as of February 2026, it discontinued this standalone service and completely integrated it into the general search bar. Users no longer need to click a separate AI tab; instead, the AI summarizes information and provides answers directly at the top of the search results page.
Starting this April, this feature is becoming even more sophisticated. It has moved beyond simple information summaries to a structure that directly connects to bookings and payments. For example, if you search “Recommend a pension in Gapyeong that’s good to visit with kids,” the AI analyzes reviews and prices to provide an answer, allowing you to complete the reservation immediately via Naver Pay. This is interpreted as a powerful strategy to keep users within the Naver ecosystem for longer periods.
2. Chzzk’s Solidifying Dominance and 2nd Anniversary Achievements
‘Chzzk,’ Naver’s game streaming platform, released an impressive report as it celebrated its 2nd anniversary of official launch in April 2026. After forming a two-way rivalry with AfreecaTV following Twitch’s withdrawal from Korea, Chzzk now appears to have secured a clear advantage in the domestic market.
According to official announcements, Chzzk’s cumulative watch time has surpassed a staggering 51 billion minutes, with over 4 billion chat messages. It also recorded a peak of 760,000 concurrent viewers, growing beyond a simple hobby platform into a massive community.
Naver is not stopping there; it is strengthening its ‘Live Commerce’ functions, where streamers communicate with viewers in real-time to sell products. This serves as an excellent bridge to bring Gen Z and millennial users into Naver Shopping as core customers and is expected to become a vital pillar of Naver’s future revenue structure.
3. Completion of LY Corp System Separation and Changes in the Japanese Market
The relationship with Japan’s LY Corp, which was a hot topic as much as domestic defense export news last year, also seems to be reaching a conclusion. The separation of systems and networks between Naver and LY Corp, originally planned for the end of 2026, was finally completed in March 2026 due to administrative guidance from the Japanese government.
Technically, the authentication foundations of Naver Cloud and LY Corp have been completely separated, but this does not mean the end of their cooperation. Naver maintains its stance of continuing discussions with SoftBank regarding capital relationships while keeping cooperation within the larger framework of a global AI technology alliance. However, as there are concerns that Naver’s influence in the Japanese market may not be as strong as before, it is necessary to closely monitor future capital movements.
4. Q1 2026 Earnings Outlook and Securities Evaluations
The part you are likely most curious about is Naver’s stock price and performance. Looking at securities reports released in early April 2026, the prevailing opinion is that ‘earnings are solid, but expectations should be lowered.’
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Forecast Below Market Expectations: Hanwha Investment Securities expects Naver’s Q1 revenue to be 3.13 trillion KRW and operating profit to be 543.6 billion KRW, which is about 6% below market consensus.
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Lowered Target Price: Consequently, the target price was lowered from 340,000 KRW to 300,000 KRW. The main reason is the increased burden of costs, such as R&D for AI and marketing expenses for new businesses, which slightly squeezed margins.
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Positive Factors: On the other hand, firms like Korea Investment & Securities maintained a target price of 330,000 KRW, highly evaluating the strong performance in the commerce sector. The analysis suggests that once the structure of AI Briefing leading to advertising revenue is established, the stock price could gain momentum again.
5. In Conclusion
Naver is having a busier time than ever in April 2026. It has embarked on an adventure to change the very foundation of its search engine and is putting all its effort into catching the two rabbits of streaming and commerce.
Although the stock price flow may feel stagnant in the short term due to the cost burden, Naver’s true value will likely be determined by how much ‘AI Briefing’ resonates with users. Investors and blog operators should stay vigilant by monitoring changes in Naver’s search algorithms and responding accordingly.
✅ Core Summary (3 Lines)
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AI Search Formalized: Naver terminates existing related search terms and fully introduces the generative AI-based ‘AI Briefing’ to change the search paradigm.
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Chzzk Success: Within just two years of launch, Chzzk surpassed 51 billion minutes in watch time, establishing itself as a dominant player in the domestic streaming market.
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Conservative Earnings: Q1 operating profit is expected to fall below market expectations, and securities firms are lowering target prices due to the burden of AI investment costs.