Naver CEO Soo-Yeon Choi Appointed as New Board Member of UN Global Compact

Recognized for Contributions to Building a Safe AI Ecosystem
Appointed as the First Korean Board Member in 17 Years

Soo-Yeon Choi, CEO of Naver, has been appointed as a new board member of a United Nations-affiliated organization.

On September 18, Naver announced that CEO Soo-Yeon Choi has been officially appointed as a new board member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). As a board member, Choi will participate in regular board meetings and major activities for the next three years.

Soo-Yeon Choi, CEO of Naver. Provided by Naver

Naver explained that this appointment recognizes Choi's leadership in participating proactively in international discussions to establish a safe artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem.

The UNGC is the world’s largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative, with over 25,000 companies and organizations from 167 countries participating. Established in July 2000, it presents ten principles across four key areas: human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption, supporting sustainable growth and responsible management for companies. In South Korea, more than 360 companies and organizations are currently active members.

The UNGC evaluated that CEO Soo-Yeon Choi has led global discussions on AI governance to establish ethical and responsible principles in AI technology development. In February, Choi participated in the AI Action Summit held in Paris, France, where she presented a vision for the direction of AI development and the promotion of diversity within the digital ecosystem. In June of last year, she unveiled the AI Safety Framework (ASF) to recognize and manage potential risks of AI systems.

Additionally, Choi established Naver Ventures in Silicon Valley to discover promising global startups and foster a collaborative ecosystem. In 2024, she launched 'Naver Impact,' presenting a growth model for mutual prosperity with local communities, small business owners, and startups.

Sanda Ojiambo, Executive Director of the UNGC, stated, "CEO Soo-Yeon Choi is a leader who presents global growth strategies grounded in the social responsibility and sustainability principles of digital enterprises. Her deep expertise and global leadership will be a great asset as we work with companies to achieve the UNGC’s Sustainable Development Goals."

Donggun Lee, Chair of the UNGC Korea Network, said, "We are delighted that CEO Soo-Yeon Choi has been selected as a UNGC board member, the first Korean in 17 years. We look forward to Naver continuing to lead the establishment of a sustainable management ecosystem on the international stage and to play an active role as a global leader through ongoing collaboration with the UNGC."

Meanwhile, CEO Choi will attend the upcoming UNGC Board of Directors meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York, United States, on September 20 (local time). As a new board member, she will actively participate in discussions to establish safe and trustworthy AI governance.