Naver launches CEO-led task force to drive future tech ventures

A photo of Naver Labs' robot / Courtesy of Naver

Naver has launched a new task force under its CEO Choi Soo-yeon to drive the development and business expansion of next-generation technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), digital twins and smart cities.

The company established R-TF, short for Revolution-Task Force, through an organizational restructuring earlier this month. The team is created to leverage the research and technological achievements of Naver Labs, the tech giant’s advanced technology research subsidiary, across Naver’s services and business operations, accelerating the large-scale commercialization of cutting-edge innovations.

R-TF will also work to drive the company’s global expansion into business-to-business and business-to-government markets, while leading efforts to develop and commercialize emerging technologies such as physical AI.

Naver Labs CEO Seok Sang-ok will head the task force. He has overseen the company’s core technology research and commercialization initiatives.

Seok was responsible for the design of Naver 1784 — the world’s first robot-friendly smart building — in Gyeonggi Province, and has extensive experience exporting smart city technologies to international markets including Japan and the Middle East.

The company has also appointed Chang Sung-wook, former senior vice president at Kakao Mobility, as the team’s leader.

In addition to spearheading the next mobility lab at Kakao Mobility, Chang brings experience from Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor. With expertise in autonomous driving, robotics research and business development, Chang is expected to play a key role in expanding Naver’s spatial data and mobility technology businesses.

Through the company’s R&D subsidiary, Naver has developed a suite of key technologies, including ARC eye, a high-precision three-dimensional mapping and positioning solution for indoor and outdoor use, as well as a digital twin solution, ALIKE, and an AI-driven three-dimensional reconstruction system, DUSt3R.

R-TF is anticipated to serve as a strategic centerpiece in Naver’s push to extend its technological ecosystem beyond the local market. Building on Naver Labs technologies, the company completed digital twin platforms earlier this year for cities in Saudi Arabia such as Mecca, Medina and Jeddah, providing virtual replicas for the physical spaces.

Naver is also expanding technological cooperation with Saudi Arabia’s large-scale smart city development project New Murabba in Riyadh, and is jointly pursuing a smart building project in Tokyo with Japanese tech company NTT Group.