Naver said on Oct. 19 it has added a 'Trends' service to the Papago app that lets foreign visitors to South Korea check products and places that are widely searched in the country.

Trends is a feature that shows Korean products and places with high interest based on image translation data from foreign users. Users whose device language is set to a foreign language can use it via the 'Trends' button at the top right of the Papago app home screen.

Supported languages are 4: English, Japanese, and Chinese in simplified and traditional characters. In other foreign-language settings, it is provided in English.

The product section consists of: 100 popular products, fast-rising products, beauty, food and health. Users can check products with high image translation usage, products that have recently drawn more interest, and items by category in beauty, food and health.

When a user selects a product, they can check key information through an AI briefing provided in the device language. It also links to Naver Blog and Shopping to provide user reviews and detailed information together.

Place information is divided into 100 popular places, fast-rising places, and popular places by region. It shows places with high image translation usage and locations that have recently drawn more interest, and also provides popular places by region such as Myeongdong, Hongdae and Seongsu, as well as Jeju and Busan.

When a user selects a place, they can check Naver Place information such as business hours and location, menus and user reviews in the device language. They can then continue to directions and reservations through Naver Map.

Naver is expanding Papago from a translation tool into a service that supports foreigners throughout their travel in South Korea.

In April, it linked Naver Place restaurant and store information and AI briefing-based product information to image translation results. In July, it expanded the feature so that when users photograph Japanese signboards or product images, they can check restaurant information and product information from Tabelog.

This Trends feature focuses on going beyond translating and understanding products or places encountered on-site, and instead helping users discover new products and places based on actual translation data from other foreign users.

Shin Jung-hwi (신중휘), Naver's AI search leader, said, "Papago is expanding services beyond translation in a direction that helps foreign tourists across their trips, including shopping, directions and reservations."