Naver Corp. is seeking to transform its mapping platform into a comprehensive mobility service through talks with Uber Technologies Inc., marking its first major push into South Korea’s competitive ride-hailing market.
The company’s Naver Maps, with 26.5 million users, plans to integrate Uber’s taxi-hailing service directly into its platform. This would allow users to check available Uber taxis without leaving the app, though ride completion would still require redirecting to Uber’s platform.
The move signals Naver’s ambition to expand beyond its core navigation business, where it currently dominates with a user base twice the size of rival Kakao Mobility’s 13.16 million users. The company has been methodically building its service offerings, having already introduced multilingual support in English, Chinese, and Japanese since 2018.
Naver has been particularly focused on attracting international visitors, recently expanding its language capabilities to include keyword reviews and information about local shopping events. The potential Uber partnership would further enhance its appeal to foreign users familiar with the global ride-hailing brand.
While neither company has officially confirmed the deal, industry experts suggest the collaboration could materialize this year, potentially reshaping South Korea’s mobility landscape where Kakao has long held the dominant position.
