[DigitalToday reporter Ho-jung Lee] Naver and Kakao have simultaneously launched an AI-based public service agent, 'AI citizen secretary', each in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Ahead of the service launch on March 10, the two companies attended the opening ceremony for the pilot service held on March 9 at the Gyeonggi Center for Creative Economy and Innovation in Pangyo Techno Valley.

The service was designed to reduce procedures and improve access in the process of using public services. Users can issue electronic certificates and book public facilities within existing platforms without installing a separate app. Both services commonly offer issuance for about 100 types of electronic certificates and search and reservation functions for about 1,200 public sports facilities and meeting rooms nationwide.

Naver applies HyperCLOVA X, expands user experience through Place linkage

Naver's AI citizen secretary was implemented by linking a conversational agent based on its in-house large language model, HyperCLOVA X, with public services. Users can access it through the 'AI citizen secretary' button in the 'My' tab on the main Naver app, or enter through a banner shown in Naver Place search results.

The electronic certificate service is linked to the ministry's electronic certificate issuance and distribution system and supports a one-stop process from search to issuance and submission. When a user enters "Issue a resident registration copy for me," the AI guides the relevant certificate, checks the information needed for issuance and can send it directly to pre-registered recipients such as banks. For differences among certificate types or issuance fees, it applies AI briefing technology to provide immediate answers along with sources.

The SharingNuri reservation service is linked with Naver Place and is designed to handle facility searches, checks of available dates and usage fees, delivery of requests, and reservation changes and cancellations at once. After a reservation is completed, it also provides recommendations for nearby restaurants based on review data and location information accumulated in Place.

Naver plans to expand the service so that public services can be provided in a timely manner tailored to a user's situation by linking it with its integrated agent, 'AI Tab', slated for launch in the first half of the year.

Naver CEO Sue-yeon Choi (최수연) said, "Going forward, we will continue to advance the service so that public services can be used more conveniently by working closely with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety based on Naver's AI capabilities and service operation know-how."

Kakao implemented on Kanana, available via KakaoTalk channel

Kakao's AI citizen secretary was implemented based on its in-house AI model Kanana. It also applied a guardrail model, Kanana Safeguard, to filter harmful content, securing safety and reliability suitable for public services. Kakao's in-house 'AI agent builder' was used in configuring the service.

The launch is a follow-up to a business agreement signed with the ministry in October last year for innovation in public services based on AI agents. Users can access the service through the official KakaoTalk channel, 'Citizen Secretary Gubbi'. If a user enters "Issue a resident registration copy for me" in the chat window, the AI guides whether issuance is possible and, after authentication, connects to electronic certificate issuance. Public facility reservations are handled in one go from search to booking through linkage with the ministry's SharingNuri.

Kakao plans to expand linkages with daily-life public services such as KTX and SRT train tickets, and to add a voice interface to strengthen accessibility.

Kakao CEO Shin-a Jung (정신아) said, "We will work to establish it as a service that can be of practical help to people's lives by making attempts to go beyond providing guidance on public information and transform the administrative processing experience with AI technology."