#South Korea #Seoul #Web3 #Naver #Dunamu

Dunamu and NAVER Unite for a New Era in AI and Web3

The tech landscape is on the verge of a major transformation, and leading South Korean companies Dunamu Inc., NAVER Corp., and NAVER Financial Corp. are positioning themselves to spearhead this shift. On November 28, 2025, these industry giants announced a strategic merger that will not only enhance their operational capabilities but also set the stage for significant innovations in AI and Web3 technologies.

A Powerful Collaboration

Dunamu, known for operating Upbit, Korea's largest cryptocurrency exchange, is combining forces with NAVER, the country's leading internet platform, to strengthen their foothold in the emerging fintech space. This merger is underpinned by a strategic share swap that will integrate Dunamu into the NAVER group. This bold move, outlined during a press conference at NAVER's headquarters, signifies an intent to expand their influence in global markets through advanced technologies.

NAVER's CEO, Soo Yeon Choi, emphasized that this collaboration comes at a pivotal moment, as the adoption of blockchain technology coincides with the development of autonomous AI systems. The fusion of these capabilities will mark a crucial inflection point, generating new opportunities for innovation on a global scale.

Vision for a Comprehensive Financial Ecosystem

Dunamu’s Chairman, Chi-hyung Song, highlighted their shared vision of creating a next-generation financial infrastructure that blends AI with blockchain solutions. This ambitious plan aims to go beyond mere payment and settlement systems, aspiring to encompass a full spectrum of financial services and integrate them into everyday life.

The strategic importance of this merger is further underscored by NAVER’s Founder, Hae-jin Lee, who noted that leveraging NAVER’s AI capabilities alongside Dunamu’s Web3 expertise is critical for dominating the next wave of markets. He stated, "To keep pace with global digital finance, we must undertake ambitious initiatives that have yet to be explored by our international peers."

Massive Investment to Fuel Growth

In addition to the operational synergies, the companies announced a significant investment initiative, pledging KRW 10 trillion over the next five years. This investment is aimed at bolstering Korea's technology ecosystem in areas like AI and blockchain while nurturing talent and supporting promising startups within the framework of this emerging digital landscape.

CEO Choi explained that this planned investment is crucial as it will help build a resilient infrastructure that can withstand global competition. The SWAT-like teams formed by these three companies aim to solidify Korea's competitiveness in the fast-evolving tech space.

Looking Ahead: Synergies and Global Expansion

As the merger moves forward, CEO Kyung-seok Oh of Dunamu emphasized the need to focus on realizing the synergies resulting from this integration, rather than making immediate governance changes. The strategic alignment between these organizations intends to prioritize the creation of a global-first operating culture, essential for aggressively entering the international Web3 market.

Oh remarked that they perceive the current global transformation not as a risk but as an opportunity for substantial advancement. With this merger, the combined strengths in AI, Web3, payments, content, and commerce are set to forge new paths in the global marketplace.

This collaboration between Dunamu and NAVER aims not only to elevate the K-fintech sector but also to reimagine financial services through technological innovation and strategic investments, positioning both companies as leaders in the future digital economy.