Naver Cloud announced its participation in the 'Local Government & Public Sector Week Japan 2026' held in Tokyo, where it showcased its artificial intelligence (AI) welfare phone service, 'Naver Care Call.' The company aims to strengthen its presence in the Japanese public market through this initiative.
The Local Government & Public Sector Week is Japan's largest exhibition in the smart city and public digital transformation (DX) sectors, sponsored by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Last year, approximately 21,000 officials from 554 local governments attended the event. This year's exhibition took place from May 13 to 15.
At the exhibition, Naver Cloud operated a booth where visitors could experience the Care Call service firsthand. Attendees received Care Call phone calls on their smartphones, engaging in conversations with AI about daily well-being and health status. The booth also demonstrated the interactive capabilities of the Care Call's conversational AI technology.
A Naver Cloud representative stated, "We received positive feedback from key local government officials in Japan, who recognized the interactive features as practical solutions that can be implemented immediately."
During the exhibition, Naver Cloud conducted consultations with several local governments interested in adopting Care Call, expanding its business connections nationwide.
According to the company, Naver Care Call is characterized by its natural Japanese language proficiency and has been in use since June of last year in Izumo City, one of Japan's super-aged cities. The AI infrastructure is utilized to alleviate the burden of repetitive tasks for welfare personnel, addressing gaps in care due to workforce shortages.
Additionally, Naver Cloud held a seminar during the exhibition focused on 'Digital Transformation in Elderly Care' in collaboration with Izumo City, sharing the results and operational processes of the Care Call pilot program. According to statistics from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, approximately 2.4 million care workers will be needed this year.
Industry reports indicate that Japan's senior market is expected to reach 100 trillion yen (over 900 trillion won) by 2025, driving rapid growth in the country's age tech market. In response to workforce shortages, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is promoting 'Care DX' policies, heavily investing in pilot projects that incorporate AI, Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics into care settings to address issues such as the aging population and solitary elderly individuals.
The local government market in Japan presents high entry barriers, but once a product's performance is validated locally, there are significant opportunities for nationwide expansion. Naver's recent success in Izumo City has positioned it favorably at this exhibition.
Kim Yoo-won, CEO of Naver Cloud, remarked, "Last year, we took our first step into the Japanese public market through our collaboration with Izumo City, and this time we have expanded our connections by meeting with local government officials from across the country. As the demand for care in Japan continues to rise, we aim to strengthen our foothold in the public market as a partner that addresses practical issues with AI technology."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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