Naver Partners with Kurly, Uber for E-commerce Growth

Seoul, South Korea - Naver Corp announced on Tuesday new partnerships with grocery platform Kurly and ride-hailing service Uber as part of efforts to increase user retention in its e-commerce operations.

Yoon-sook Lee, head of Naver's shopping business division, said at a company event that Naver is expanding its approach to include both sellers and users.

The executive stated that the company is pursuing partnerships to enhance what it terms "user loyalty."

Naver launched "Kurly N Mart," combining products from its Smart Store marketplace with Kurly's food inventory.

The service offers early morning delivery, with free shipping for Naver Plus members on orders exceeding KRW 20,000 (approximately US$15.30).

Kurly's logistics unit, KurlyNextMile, joined Naver's fulfillment network NFA this month to handle early morning deliveries for Smart Store sellers.

According to Naver, the arrangement combines Kurly's product selection and logistics with Naver's user base and recommendation technology.

The company plans to integrate Uber Taxi's "Uber One" membership service with Naver Plus memberships during the third quarter. No financial details were disclosed.

Naver also announced modifications to its Naver Plus Store platform.

Jeong Kyung-hwa, product leader, stated that the company will incorporate seller performance data, including order fulfillment, delivery, and customer service metrics, into its recommendation algorithms.

The system currently uses pricing, delivery speed, reviews, and membership benefits for recommendations.

The company stated it will expand personalized recommendation areas on the Naver Plus Store homepage in the second half of 2025.

The system is designed to analyze user behavior patterns and suggest relevant products and stores.

Naver indicated it will continue seeking partnerships in streaming, grocery, and mobility sectors with companies that have established market positions.

(US$ 1 = KRW 1,307.50)