Naver launches 'Special Naver Mate' AI fellowship with up to W10m monthly

Naver has announced "Special Naver Mate," an AI fellowship program offering support of up to 10 million won ($6,700) per month.

Naver said Wednesday it launched Special Naver Mate while operating its Naver Mate AI fellowship in beta. Naver Mate is an AI fellowship program that spotlights about 3,000 user-generated content creators each month who contribute to the company's content ecosystem. Selections are based on the number of AI briefing citations, subject-area expertise and activity level.

Special Naver Mate consists of one representative creator and 10 outstanding creators per field, chosen from among Naver Mate selections across 10 categories — travel, lifestyle, tech and seven others — who added new value to the AI ecosystem during their selection month.

Naver plans to provide the representative creator in each field with 10 million won per month, which includes a base activity fee of 300,000 won. The 10 outstanding creators in each field will each receive an additional 3 million won per month.

Naver also revealed the 10 representative creators by field selected last month: Naildong: Ilbon Yeohaeng Cafe (travel), Mangdi's Meogeullog (food), MJ's Hudadak Recipe~♥ (recipe), GO OUT CASUALLY DRESSED (style), Photographer Sinnam's IT World (tech), Momsholic Baby (lifestyle), Old Spice Ieumsae (culture), Boneun Saram (media), Girokhaneun Tuja Note (insight) and Game Info (hobby).

In addition, 100 outstanding creators — 10 per field across all 10 categories — eligible for the 3 million won monthly special support were also announced.

Naver said the 10 representative creators have been widely cited in AI briefings since January. Blogs such as Mangdi's Meogeullog and Boneun Saram have built up multiple posts on individual topics, covering trend analysis, firsthand experiences and information sharing. Cafes such as Naildong: Ilbon Yeohaeng Cafe and Momsholic Baby have seen active information sharing driven by user interaction on topics including travel and parenting.

"Together with Naver Mate, we are exploring various directions to invigorate the UGC ecosystem — one that carries the human experiences and insights that are growing in value in the AI era," said Lee Il-gu, head of Naver's content service division. "Through Special Naver Mate, we will continue efforts to broaden recognition of quality creators and content, and to expand creators' influence."