Naver-Toss rivalry deepens as both sides trade accusations

The rivalry between Korean tech giants Naver and Toss has intensified, with both companies exchanging accusations of unfair business practices. According to lawmakers, the dispute revolves around Naver's decision to exclude Toss Place's point-of-sale (POS) system from a service that combines merchants' transaction data with Naver's search and map services.

This integration enables users to access information such as a restaurant's popular menu items and peak hours. Representative Song Eon-seog of the main opposition People Power Party pointed out that Naver has integrated its platform with 15 other POS providers but has intentionally left out Toss Place. Toss Place's CEO, Choi Jae-ho, revealed that the company has been attempting to integrate with Naver for two years but has received no clear explanation of the inclusion criteria.

Naver, on the other hand, denied engaging in discrimination against Toss Place, stating that it is gradually expanding integrations based on objective criteria. During a parliamentary audit on Monday, the Fair Trade Commission announced that it would examine both sides' claims to determine if any unfair discrimination took place.