Naver to Notify Media Outlets When News Comments Show 'Jwapo Jikgi' Coordinates

Naver to Notify Media Companies of 'Targeted' Comments
Lee Jungkyu: "We Respond Technically, but There Are Limits to Detecting Individual Participation"
Notification Feature to Launch in May

Naver announced on the 5th that if so-called 'targeting' of comments from a specific camp is detected in news articles managed by media companies, it will notify the media companies.

Chairperson Choi Min-hee of the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee is striking the gavel at the plenary meeting of the committee held at the National Assembly on the 5th. 2025.3.5. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

At the plenary session of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee (STIBC) held that day, Lee Jung-kyu, Executive Vice President of Naver's Service Operation Integrated Support, who appeared as a witness, responded to Rep. Hwang Jeong-ah of the Democratic Party of Korea's criticism that "targeting is being used for public opinion manipulation."

Lee said, "Naver already provides a selective function that allows media companies to turn the comment function on or off based on comprehensive judgment," adding, "If malicious comment abuse is detected, we notify the media companies so that they can comprehensively decide on the operation method of comments according to their management policies, and we are expediting improvements to this function."

Regarding Rep. Hwang's question, "Isn't it impossible to prevent public opinion manipulation just by notifying media companies about targeting?" he said, "We respond technically to the targeting part, but there are limits to detecting individual participation," and added, "As news consumption patterns are changing, we will strive to keep up with environmental changes."

In response to STIBC Chairperson Choi Min-hee's question about when the notification function for media companies will be launched, he replied, "We will launch it in May."