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Naver headquarters in Seongnam, South Korea. (Photo: Naver) |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Naver Corp. is exploring merger and acquisition opportunities in physical artificial intelligence and fintech this year, raising the prospect of another major deal following its acquisition of cryptocurrency exchange operator Dunamu, according to an exclusive report by The Korea Economic Daily (Hankyung).
Kim Nam-sun, head of Naver’s Strategic Investment division, said the company is actively reviewing potential targets with M&A in mind, speaking at the UKF 2026 conference held in Redwood City, California, on Jan. 9 local time. “We are paying close attention to physical AI,” Kim said, adding that fintech and Web3 are also key areas under review.
Kim said Naver’s business remains stable and emphasized that global expansion will be a central focus this year. He indicated that North America, particularly the U.S., will be a priority market. “Rather than developing countries, we see stronger opportunities for AI, fintech and software businesses in stable markets such as North America,” he said, noting that Silicon Valley offers a particularly rich deal environment.
Kim, widely regarded as Naver’s top M&A strategist, has led the company’s investment and acquisition efforts since joining in 2020. He has served as chief financial officer and currently oversees strategic investments, while also playing a key role in Naver’s overseas expansion, including its acquisition of U.S.-based resale platform Poshmark.
The comments align with Naver’s broader push into physical AI and fintech. The company has been developing humanoid robots through Naver Labs and expanding its AI infrastructure, while its Dunamu acquisition marked a significant step into digital assets and next-generation payment systems.
Kim also said Naver is considering business diversification and AI-driven upgrades at Poshmark as part of its North American growth strategy, including expanding product categories beyond apparel and strengthening AI-powered search capabilities.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
