AI integration reshapes newsrooms and digital competition in South Korea

The rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping both news production and the digital service landscape in South Korea. The Korea Internet Newspaper Association recently held a seminar titled ‘The Future of AI CMS and Newsrooms’ to address how generative AI is transforming the entire news cycle, from reporting and writing to editing and distribution.

Industry experts and companies such as iNews24, Zero2One, and Taboola Korea presented various approaches to utilizing AI-based Content Management Systems (CMS). These include automating content management to increase efficiency and shifting news services from keyword-based searches to question-based interaction models to match changing user behaviors.

Simultaneously, the competitive landscape for digital platforms is shifting as Google expands its AI footprint. With the release of the Gemini desktop app, Google is moving beyond the Chrome browser to establish AI as an independent workspace. Recent data indicates that Google's monthly active users (MAU) in South Korea have surpassed Naver's for two consecutive months, signaling a diversification in how users seek information. In response, Naver is accelerating its development of ‘action-oriented AI’ that integrates search with shopping and local services, while also expanding AI features within its Whale browser.