[Exclusive] Naver to Include 'National Certifications'... Industry First Launch

Example screen of Naver Certification Service.

[Asia Economy Reporter Buaeri] Naver has launched a service that allows users to store and manage national certificates. Once a mobile driver's license service is added, the Naver app could potentially replace physical wallets.

According to industry sources on the 8th, the 'Naver Certificate' service was released in beta version on the 6th. It is a service that allows users to verify certificates and credentials through the Naver app, which the company claims is the first of its kind in the domestic internet industry.

Naver partnered with the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea) for the certificate service. The system automatically links with 495 types of certificates issued by HRD Korea, including Certified Real Estate Agent, Logistics Manager, and Construction Engineer. Naver users can check their issued certificates online without any separate linking process.

Users can easily check certificate information, issue dates, certificate numbers, and other details through the Naver app, making it convenient to use in situations requiring proof of qualification. Additionally, before the physical certificate is sent by mail, it is automatically linked to Naver, allowing users to verify their certificates promptly. Naver plans to launch the official service soon after the beta phase, aiming to include certificates covering both public and private sectors, including national certificates.

Naver is also preparing a 'Mobile Driver's License Verification Service' that allows users to register and use their driver's licenses. Those who have been issued a driver's license can register it through the Naver mobile app and use it with the same validity as the physical license. To this end, Naver obtained temporary approval from the Ministry of Science and ICT's ICT Regulatory Sandbox in September last year.

Recently, the internet industry has been accelerating the 'paperless' era by introducing services that store IDs and certificates in apps, enabling work to be processed through digital electronic media instead of paper documents. Kakao also recently launched a 'Wallet' service within KakaoTalk, which allows users to store and manage IDs, certificates, and documents. Kakao has set an ambition to completely replace physical wallets with KakaoTalk. Kakao plans to launch a national technical certificate service within the first half of the year.

A Naver official stated, "Since users' acquired certificates are organized within Naver, it is expected to serve as a portfolio," adding, "We plan to expand partnerships with certificate issuing institutions across various fields in the future."