Google surpasses Naver in monthly average users in Korea for 1st time
Google has surpassed Naver in the number of monthly average users (MAUs) in Korea for the first time, signaling that artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping one of the few markets in the world where a homegrown portal has long maintained its lead over the U.S. tech giant. According to domestic market tracker Mobile Index, the Google app recorded 47.02 million MAUs last month, ranking first in…
For the first time ever, Google has surpassed Naver in the number of monthly average users (MAUs) in South Korea, marking a significant shift in the Korean tech market. This milestone, revealed by domestic market tracker Mobile Index, indicates that artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the landscape of Korea's leading portal, a position Google has held for years in the United States.
According to Mobile Index, Google's app recorded 47.02 million MAUs last month, outpacing Naver's 46.84 million, a first since Mobile Index began tracking data in March 2021. The Google app's user base had previously surpassed 40 million last May and 46 million in May 2023. Naver's monthly user count has fluctuated between 43 million and 46 million since January 2023.
The rise in Google's MAUs is attributed to the growing convergence of search and generative AI, diversifying how users access and consume information. Both Naver and Google operate AI-powered search services displaying AI-generated results.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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