Special Lecture at Seoul National University Hospital Bio Forum
First Public Appearance of CEO Choi Sooyeon and Lee Haejin This Year
Naver founder Lee Hae-jin, who is set to return to the board of directors, made his first official public appearance this year by attending the Digital & Bio Forum alongside CEO Choi Soo-yeon.
On the 21st, Naver and Seoul National University Hospital jointly hosted the 'Digital & Bio Innovation Forum 2025' at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, the companies announced on the 24th. The forum was organized to lay the foundation for patient-centered future healthcare based on the research capabilities of Seoul National University Hospital.
On the 21st, at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Lee Hae-jin, Naver GIO (fourth from the left in the front row), Kim Young-tae, Director of Seoul National University Hospital (fifth from the left in the front row), and Choi Soo-yeon, CEO of Naver, among others, are posing for a commemorative photo at the 'Digital·Bio Innovation Forum 2025'. Provided by Seoul National University Hospital
The forum was attended by Kim Young-tae, director of Seoul National University Hospital, Lee Hae-jin, Naver Global Investment Officer (GIO), and Choi Soo-yeon, CEO of Naver.
Seoul National University Hospital is conducting the 'Naver Digital Bio Challenging Research Support Project' over three years with a budget of 30 billion KRW, utilizing donations received from Naver in July 2023. This project aims to create an environment where researchers can fully focus on their studies, systematically manage research outcomes, and establish a virtuous cycle ecosystem linking research, clinical practice, and commercialization.
The forum consisted of two sessions (AI-based Medical Innovation and New Horizons of Future Healthcare through Innovative Technologies) and a special lecture by GIO Lee.
In his lecture, GIO Lee said, "Naver’s investment in medical artificial intelligence (AI) is sincere, and after much consideration about how Naver can survive and lead the industry in the AI era, I believe this is the key. We must boldly ride the tremendous wave of AI, and I think investing first in smart people is essential to change direction and strategy and move forward successfully."
CEO Choi stated, "Naver has created innovation in various industries based on digital technologies such as AI, big data, and cloud computing, and we believe these technologies can bring new changes in the medical field as well. We hope that the research achieved through the collaboration between Naver and Seoul National University Hospital will lead to more innovative technology development and medical advancement in the future."
Director Kim said, "Through synergy with Naver, we will accelerate the hospital’s digital bio innovation, nurture excellent physician-scientists, and strengthen the virtuous cycle structure of research, clinical practice, and commercialization to present the direction of advanced future healthcare."
Meanwhile, Naver plans to hold a shareholders' meeting on the 26th. The agenda will include the appointment of GIO Lee as an inside director and the reappointment of CEO Choi as an inside director. If approved, GIO Lee will return to Naver’s board of directors after about seven years.
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