[Exclusive] Naver Takes the Lead in the 'Unclaimed' Corporate Metaverse... Launches Platform 'Jump'

'Jump' Launch Expected by Year-End
Targeting B2B Markets in Entertainment and Education
Two-Track Strategy with Zepeto

Naver is launching a new metaverse (extended virtual world) platform called ‘Zump’. Naver also operates another metaverse platform, Zepeto, but Zump is aimed specifically at the B2B (business-to-business) market. This is analyzed as a two-track strategy to segment the market, having confirmed growth potential with Zepeto.

According to the IT industry on the 14th, Naver subsidiary Snow plans to introduce Zump to general users as early as the end of this year. After conducting a proof of concept (PoC) in August, it is now in the final stages of preparation. For full-scale commercialization, Snow separated the Zump team from Naver Z and reorganized it under Snow. Naver Z is a Snow affiliate that operates Zepeto.

Zump is a 3D metaverse platform where thousands of users can communicate in real time using avatars. It allows easy virtual space creation through AI-assisted text input. Unlike Zepeto, it is web-based, so there is no need to install a separate application, lowering the entry barrier and enabling large numbers of users to connect simultaneously. This means online concerts or events with tens of thousands of participants are possible.

Naver developed Zump following Zepeto to target the corporate market. Rather than building its own platform, the focus is on creating virtual spaces within companies’ separate channels. This approach allows flexible business expansion by targeting the client’s desired audience or utilizing existing corporate systems.

The PoC conducted in August with the virtual idol group ‘PlayB’ followed this model. The metaverse access link involving PlayB was shared with fans, allowing the target audience to enter directly. Mini-games and concerts featuring the members attracted five times more users than the expected 30,000 attendees.

The company believes it can particularly excel in the entertainment and education sectors. It plans to target the streaming market by collaborating with entertainment companies and virtual creators (VTubers). Since metaverse can be used as an experiential education site, the education sector is also considered important. Naver Cloud is targeting the edutech market with its education platform ‘Whale Space’ and educational device ‘Whalebook,’ which is expected to create synergy. Discussions are underway with education offices and major universities for collaboration.

The metaverse platforms that had been springing up rapidly have now entered a mature phase after a lull. Among B2C (business-to-consumer) services, Zepeto has survived, while B2B-targeted platforms like MetaLounge (KT) and Com2Verse (Com2us) have closed down one after another. However, since metaverse utilization remains high in the B2B sector and there is no dominant player, the growth potential is considered significant. According to the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA), the metaverse market size is expected to grow from $128.98 billion (about 177.8892 trillion KRW) this year at an average annual rate of 38%, reaching $2.3697 trillion (about 3,268.2902 trillion KRW) by 2033.

Naver is now able to pursue a two-track approach targeting both B2C (Zepeto) and B2B (Zump) markets. Launched in 2018, Zepeto has gained popularity mainly in Japan and Southeast Asia, with over 400 million cumulative users. It has strong entertainment elements, with the MZ generation (Millennials + Gen Z) customizing their own avatars and building worlds. Although fashion brands and retailers hold marketing events within Zepeto as part of B2B business, it is fundamentally B2C-focused. A Snow official said, "One platform cannot satisfy all market needs, so we believe Zump will not overlap with Zepeto."