SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - Naver’s shopping app, Naver Plus Store, has emerged as the fastest-growing platform in South Korea’s e-commerce market this year, according to market data.
Data from Sensor Tower released on Tuesday showed that Naver Plus Store ranked first in both downloads and growth in South Korea between January and October, underscoring the success of Naver’s strategy to launch a standalone, AI-focused commerce application.
While Coupang continues to lead in monthly active users (MAU), the report said Naver Plus Store is rapidly narrowing the gap, posting the fastest MAU growth among major shopping apps. Upon its launch in March, the app topped popularity charts on Google Play and Apple App Store, and outpaced ChatGPT in downloads between March and May. By October, cumulative downloads approached 800,000.
User data indicated that Naver’s AI-driven approach has been effective in appealing to key consumer segments. Women accounted for 58 percent of users, while 41 percent were aged between 35 and 44, highlighting strong traction among household decision-makers.
Globally, the report showed China-based Temu leading in both downloads and MAU growth, while India’s Blinkit ranked first in download growth, reflecting rising potential in emerging markets. Sensor Tower said global e-commerce app downloads increased by 45 percent compared with 2019 levels, as online shopping habits became entrenched after the pandemic.
“As user acquisition slows in mature markets, competition is shifting toward retaining existing users and improving service experiences,” Sensor Tower said in a press release, adding that emerging regions such as Latin America and Africa are becoming key growth engines.
* This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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