Blab Tech
Naver Shuts Down VIBE and Naver TV to Focus on AI and Commerce
Naver Corporation announced that it will discontinue its music‑streaming service VIBE on December 31, 2026, and will stop accepting new subscriptions and payments on November 27. The decision follows a steep decline in VIBE’s monthly active users, which fell to 460,000 in June from about 1.5 million in 2023, according to market tracker Wiseapp Retail.
The company also confirmed that its video‑streaming platform Naver TV will close on September 30. Creators, subscribers and view counts will be migrated to the short‑form video app Clip, allowing Naver to concentrate its video business on Clip and the live‑streaming service Chzzk.
These moves are part of a broader portfolio rationalisation that began last year with the shutdown of Naver Post and Modoo, and earlier this year with the closure of the conversational‑AI service Clova X and the generative‑AI search service Cue:. The technology and user experience from those services have been absorbed into newer search features, including AI Briefing and the AI Tab.
AI Tab, launched in June 2026, has already attracted more than 10 million monthly active users as of early August, according to the company. The service, a conversational‑AI‑powered search interface, has a click‑through rate for shopping and local‑content links that exceeds 40 percent, indicating that users are converting searches into purchases and reservations.
Naver is expanding AI agents across several verticals, including shopping, maps, real‑estate listings and health services. The company is also investing heavily in AI infrastructure. In late August, Naver secured a $1 billion strategic investment from Nvidia and named Brookfield its preferred capital partner to raise up to $9 billion for an AI factory.
The first phase of the factory, a 55‑megawatt facility, is slated to begin operations in the first half of 2027, with a second phase expanding capacity to 200 megawatts by 2028. Naver’s long‑term goal is to reach 1 gigawatt of AI‑processing power.
Naver’s CEO, Choi Soo‑yeon, said during the company’s second‑quarter earnings call that the firm is shifting from a portfolio of standalone services to monetising AI across its core businesses. The company has already added Spotify’s premium plan to its Naver Plus Membership benefits, and it continues to integrate AI into its search, commerce and mapping products.
The shutdown of VIBE and Naver TV reflects the competitive pressure in South Korea’s music‑streaming market, where services such as YouTube Music, Spotify and Melon dominate. By reallocating resources to AI‑driven commerce and infrastructure, Naver aims to strengthen its position in high‑growth areas while reducing costs associated with low‑performing services.
As of September 7, 2026, Naver’s AI‑related initiatives are progressing, with the AI Tab already in widespread use and the AI factory project moving toward its first operational milestone in 2027. The company’s next steps will likely involve further integration of AI across its ecosystem and the expansion of its AI‑powered search and commerce offerings.
The company has not announced any additional service closures, but it remains focused on consolidating its portfolio and investing in AI infrastructure to support future growth.
The company also confirmed that its video‑streaming platform Naver TV will close on September 30. Creators, subscribers and view counts will be migrated to the short‑form video app Clip, allowing Naver to concentrate its video business on Clip and the live‑streaming service Chzzk.
These moves are part of a broader portfolio rationalisation that began last year with the shutdown of Naver Post and Modoo, and earlier this year with the closure of the conversational‑AI service Clova X and the generative‑AI search service Cue:. The technology and user experience from those services have been absorbed into newer search features, including AI Briefing and the AI Tab.
AI Tab, launched in June 2026, has already attracted more than 10 million monthly active users as of early August, according to the company. The service, a conversational‑AI‑powered search interface, has a click‑through rate for shopping and local‑content links that exceeds 40 percent, indicating that users are converting searches into purchases and reservations.
Naver is expanding AI agents across several verticals, including shopping, maps, real‑estate listings and health services. The company is also investing heavily in AI infrastructure. In late August, Naver secured a $1 billion strategic investment from Nvidia and named Brookfield its preferred capital partner to raise up to $9 billion for an AI factory.
The first phase of the factory, a 55‑megawatt facility, is slated to begin operations in the first half of 2027, with a second phase expanding capacity to 200 megawatts by 2028. Naver’s long‑term goal is to reach 1 gigawatt of AI‑processing power.
Naver’s CEO, Choi Soo‑yeon, said during the company’s second‑quarter earnings call that the firm is shifting from a portfolio of standalone services to monetising AI across its core businesses. The company has already added Spotify’s premium plan to its Naver Plus Membership benefits, and it continues to integrate AI into its search, commerce and mapping products.
The shutdown of VIBE and Naver TV reflects the competitive pressure in South Korea’s music‑streaming market, where services such as YouTube Music, Spotify and Melon dominate. By reallocating resources to AI‑driven commerce and infrastructure, Naver aims to strengthen its position in high‑growth areas while reducing costs associated with low‑performing services.
As of September 7, 2026, Naver’s AI‑related initiatives are progressing, with the AI Tab already in widespread use and the AI factory project moving toward its first operational milestone in 2027. The company’s next steps will likely involve further integration of AI across its ecosystem and the expansion of its AI‑powered search and commerce offerings.
The company has not announced any additional service closures, but it remains focused on consolidating its portfolio and investing in AI infrastructure to support future growth.
