Korean platforms add entertaining and offline appeals to keep consumers online

South Korean platform operators are coming up with entertaining tools and services to keep consumers online amid return to normalcy, outdoor activities, and travel.

Naver Z Corp., Naver's metaverse platform and Zepeto operator, recently introduced player versus player (PvP) and collectible games to its services as metaverse platforms are grappling with a fall in users in line with the revitalization of in-person gatherings after many Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted. It has also upgraded the Zepeto Studio so users can insert games when creating maps, following suit of Roblox.

As part of efforts to enhance entertainment features, Naver Z established a joint venture with MMORPG mobile game company SuperCat and invested in an IT company that it co-founded with Lunosoft, an Android game developer. It also invested in U.S. mobile game developer Brave Turtles. Naver Z is currently actively collaborating with major domestic entertainment companies such as Hybe, YG, and JYP.

SK Telecom Co. is planning to add various mini-games such as dice and dart games to its metaverse platform ifland.

The Korean metaverse operators’ latest moves mirror what their U.S. counterparts have been going through. In the U.S., where the endemic phase has already begun, OTT providers have changed their business strategies to cope with a fall in users.

Netflix, which previously allowed users to binge-watch entire series by releasing all the episodes at once, is planning to experiment with weekly releases to keep its subscribers engaged. The streaming giant has also begun its foray into in-person events through “Netflix Is A Joke: The Festival”, a 250-show comedy festival held across over 30 venues in Los Angeles. The comedy festival is its largest live event to date.

U.S. media giant Disney’s streaming platform Disney Plus is luring users with a 25 percent discount perk for their users’ room reservations with Disney Resort hotels from July to September.

The gaming industry pins high hope on blockchain technologies and NFTs with massive investment despite growing uncertainty. They are actively seeking to incorporate them into their games.

Home interior app Bucketplace Co., the operator of Korean home design and lifestyle platform OHouse, has also added new services that live stream construction processes and offer moving services. It recently announced a plan to enter foreign markets such as the U.S. and Singapore markets to offset loss in the local market.

Mobility and travel platforms, on the other hand, are gearing up for a “second golden age.” Kakao Mobility, UT, and SoCar are strengthening their taxi, train, flight, bus, parking, vehicle maintenance, and rental car services to meet the surging demand for travel services with eased Covid-19 restrictions.

Korea's hotel booking platform Yanolja has joined hands with local governments of regions such as Gangwon Province to develop local tourist destinations and digital content.

Good Choice, another domestic hotel and travel booking platform, started offering real-time flight reservation services and is planning to launch overseas hotel booking services as early as next month.

Local secondhand trading platform Danggeun Market upgraded its group chatting function for its Neighborhood service to allow its users to connect with their neighbors with the same interest, age, or gender and organize offline meetings.

Platform operators at home and abroad are suffering a downturn in stocks and earnings from pandemic-led online and mobile boon.

[ⓒ Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]