South Korean Tech Giant Naver Signs ~2 Trillion KRW AI Compute Deal, Plans Independent AI Agent App and Logistics Investment
In its Q3 earnings call, Naver announced a ~2 trillion KRW, 20MW GPU supply contract with a US AI inference firm, alongside plans to launch an independent AI agent app by year-end and invest nearly 1 trillion KRW in logistics by 2030.
South Korean internet giant Naver disclosed major strategic developments during its third-quarter earnings conference call on November 12, 2026. CEO Choi Soo-yeon stated that the company has signed a computing service supply contract worth approximately 2 trillion KRW (about $1.4 billion) with a US-based AI inference company. The deal covers about 20 megawatts (MW) of computing power over four to five years, with initial revenue expected to begin in 2027. This order marks the first large-scale external customer for Naver’s “AI Factory” business, validating its strategy to convert internal infrastructure capabilities into B2B services.
The contract includes Nvidia B300 chips and the next-generation Vera Rubin platform. Naver emphasized that it has proactively secured most domestic data center capacities equipped with high-density power and liquid cooling facilities, noting that contracted capacity already exceeds its 2028 target of 200 MW. CFO Kim Hee-chul revealed that negotiations are underway with at least ten other potential clients, with further announcements expected. Naver previously reduced capital expenditure pressure through an investment agreement with Brookfield Asset Management and participation in Nvidia’s equity increase, adopting a model where an asset-holding company purchases GPUs while Naver leads operations.
Beyond infrastructure, Naver plans to launch an independent AI agent application by the end of 2026. This app will not only integrate generative AI features within search but also serve as a standalone service capable of performing actual tasks for users, such as bookings and payments. To adapt to the AI agent era, Naver’s advertising billing model will shift from “pay-per-click” to “value-based” charging tied to actual transaction outcomes, with a pilot program scheduled for the first half of next year.