Choi Soo-yeon

Choi Soo-yeon, the President and CEO of Naver Corporation, South Korea’s largest internet company valued at more than $26 billion.

Born in South Korea, Choi Soo-yeon earned a degree in Civil Engineering from Seoul National University, followed by law degrees from Yonsei University and Harvard Law School.

When she took the helm at Naver at just 40 years old, Choi Soo-yeon became the company’s second and youngest-ever female CEO - bringing a mix of global perspective, business strategy, and purpose-driven leadership to a company often called “Korea’s Google.”

She has driven Naver’s expansion into AI, robotics, cloud computing, and e-commerce, and oversaw the launch of HyperCLOVA X SEED, an open-source large language model advancing the company’s vision of “sovereign AI” (AI designed to align with each nation’s unique culture and language).

Under her leadership, Naver surpassed $7.5 billion in annual revenue for the first time in 2024 - a record for any Korean internet business. Fortune magazine named her #16 on the Most Powerful Women in Asia in 2024.

In 2025, Choi Soo-yeon was appointed to the United Nations Global Compact Board, the UN’s advisory body on responsible business. Her appointment made her the first Korean member in 17 years, and she now plays a key role in shaping international dialogue on ethical AI and innovation.

Last updated: November 2025