Brokerages forecast record first-quarter results for Naver and Kakao, but their shares keep falling this year. Analysts say weaker visibility on monetising artificial intelligence is lowering valuation expectations. Securities firms have cut target prices for both companies. For Naver, rising infrastructure and promotion costs and delays to a blockchain-related merger are weighing on sentiment. For Kakao, investors are watching the super-app push and proof of AI agent utility.

South Korea\'s Financial Services Commission met on Tuesday for its first virtual asset committee meeting of 2026 at the Government Complex Seoul. The meeting reviewed the status and plans related to a mistaken virtual asset payment incident on Feb. 6 and discussed a government review draft of the Digital Asset Framework Act. Officials also considered strengthening exchange internal controls, IT and security standards, safeguards including no-fault liability, and standards for stablecoin issuance and ownership dispersion.