Naver has unveiled HyperClova X, a new generative artificial intelligence (AI) platform. Naver will build an AI ecosystem and establish a model for mutual growth with Korean startups through the AI platform.At the DAN23 Conference held at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas on Aug. 24, Choi Soo-
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at jaemin.ahn@nhqv.com -- Ed.NAVER’s AI businesses are to kick off in earnest with the unveiling of HyperCLOVA X on Aug 24. Despite competition from global tech giants, we expect NAVER to maintain its leadership in the domest
ABSOLUT premium vodka, Pernod Ricard Korea’s flagship brand, is collaborating with Sticky Monster Lab to open a pop-up space called ‘ABSOLUT Ground’ mix with Sticky Monster Lab at Common Ground near Konkuk University in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul.Our second pop-up space following last year’s ‘ABSOLUT Home’
Despite a sharp decline in operating profits, the top 50 companies in the stock market (KOSPI) have increased their workforce by more than 13,000 employees.According to the semi-annual reports released on Aug. 16, the combined operating profit of the top 50 companies in the KOSPI index, excluding fi
Over the past five years since 2018, Samsung has reduced the number of its overseas subsidiaries by approximately 100, whereas Hanwha has increased its number by more than 400, leading the group with the most overseas entities. Particularly, Samsung has actively reduced 22 of its subsidiaries in Chi
The market capitalization of conglomerate subsidiaries listed on the KOSPI has shown a sharp increase of approximately 350 trillion won (US$271.21 billion) compared to the beginning of the year. Particularly, 17 companies affiliated with Samsung Group recorded the largest increase, with their combin
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at jaemin.ahn@nhqv.com -- Ed.Earnings season for the sector is to begin on Aug 2 with Kakao Games. As earnings at Alphabet and Meta Platforms came in solid, Korean Internet companies are also expected to perform well. If the
One Team Korea will dispatch a reconstruction cooperation delegation to Ukraine by the end of August.According to the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT) on July 24, the Korean government recently assembled a reconstruction cooperation team with government officials and th
Naver announced on the 20th that Poshmark, the C2C fashion commerce platform it acquired last January, has launched “Posh Lens,” which allows users to quickly search for products with just one photo.Posh Lens can find products that match or are similar to images of clothes, shoes, and bags taken by
Malicious code has been discovered in Chinese-made measurement devices supplied to government agencies. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported that the malicious code was pre-installed in the Chinese equipment before delivery, and they have decided to investigate all Chinese-made devices d
Business leaders from Korea and Japan gathered again in Seoul for the Korea-Japan Industrial Cooperation Forum to discuss ways to boost cooperation between the two countries. Recently the two countries have accelerated their economic cooperation, including the signing of a currency swap for the firs
The author is an analyst for Shinhan Securities. She can be reached at kimaram@shinhan.com -- Ed.YLAB is a webtoon studio that has published popular titles like Island, Reawakened Man, Terror Man, Get Schooled, Reality Quest, and Study Group on NAVER Webtoon. Some of these stories are set in a share
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at jaemin.ahn@nhqv.com -- Ed.With another earnings season to begin in July, and with a semi-peak season for ad and commerce having begun, we examine whether Internet firms have achieved q-q earnings growth in 2Q23. Although g
The government, domestic AI semiconductor, and cloud industries are teaming up to challenge the dominance of Nvidia, adopting a strategy to respond to the generative AI era with ultra-fast, low-power domestic AI semiconductors like what ChatGPT uses.On June 26, Lee Jong-ho, minister of science and I
Nurihaus, which operates the global influencer community Nuri Lounge, headed by CEO Baek Ah-ram, and Ecomobi, led by CEO Truong Cong Thanh, a key player in building the creative career for creators with the first all-in-one monetization platform for Creators in Southeast Asia, have announced the sig
The author is an analyst for Shinhan Securities. He can be reached at sokang@shinhan.com -- Ed.Fears over possible reinstatement of China’s ban on Korean contentIn December 2022, Chinese regulators resumed granting license approvals for games developed by Korean companies, which was followed by addi
The number of YouTube users is rapidly closing in on Kakao. If the current trend continues, it appears that YouTube will surpass Kakao in the second half of the year. Meanwhile, as Google expands its influence in search, local portal Naver is witnessing a reduction in its footprint.According to the
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at jaemin.ahn@nhqv.com -- Ed.During the era of ample liquidity just a few years ago, the Internet sector enjoyed a strong boom as a leading platform industry. However, with interest rates rising and the economy slowing, Inter
A number of high-profile mergers and acquisition (M&A) deals were made in the entertainment industry recently. Kakao and HYBE's investment in SM Entertainment is a recent good example.Korean showbusiness companies are partnering with blockchain platforms for metaverse platforms or the non-fungib
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at jaemin.ahn@nhqv.com -- Ed.NAVER’s generative AI service HyperCLOVA X, which is set to be unveiled this summer, should prove more competitive than the offerings of global rivals, at least in Korea. With its long-term invest