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Photo = Yonhap news |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] NAVER Corporation (035420), once considered an underperformer in the Korean stock market, has staged a remarkable comeback, surging nearly 40% over the past week. As of June 25, NAVER closed at KRW 290,500, up KRW 500 (0.17%) from the previous trading day, marking a significant jump from KRW 206,500 on June 17.
This rally has propelled NAVER’s market capitalization to KRW 45.87 trillion, ranking it 5th on the Korea Exchange, following Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Samsung Biologics, and LG Energy Solution.
The recent surge is attributed to a series of favorable developments. Notably, key figures from NAVER have been appointed to senior government positions, reinforcing NAVER’s image as a major beneficiary of the new administration’s AI-focused agenda. President Lee Jae-myung recently nominated Han Seong-sook, former CEO of NAVER, as Minister of SMEs and Startups. Han, recognized for her leadership in platforms like LINE and NAVER Webtoon, was named to Fortune’s “International Power Women 50” for four consecutive years.
On June 15, Ha Jung-woo, Head of NAVER Cloud’s AI Innovation Center, was appointed as the first Chief of Future AI Planning at the Presidential Office. He will lead efforts to implement President Lee’s vision of positioning South Korea among the top three global AI powers.
The government's clear intent to strengthen the AI sector, along with rising expectations for stablecoin integration into Korea’s financial system—following the U.S. passage of the ‘Genius Act’—has further boosted investor sentiment.
NH Investment & Securities analyst Ahn Jae-min commented, “The new government’s policies are expected to positively impact NAVER’s advertising, commerce, AI, and fintech businesses, driving both investor interest and earnings growth.”
NAVER’s stock is now approaching the psychological milestone of KRW 300,000, signaling renewed confidence in the company’s growth trajectory in the emerging AI-driven economy.
Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
