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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Ellie Kim] Illegal overseas trading of accounts belonging to South Korea’s leading portal Naver remains widespread, with sales now taking place not only on the dark web but also through dedicated online marketplaces.
According to a report by The Fact on April 27, Naver accounts are openly being sold in regions including North America and China. Prices vary by region, ranging from 200 to 4,000 won per account in China and around 10,000 won in North America.
One website based in Los Angeles was found offering up to 20 accounts per transaction. The platform advertised that purchased accounts could be used across Naver’s services—including blogs, online communities, e-commerce, and fintech—claiming benefits such as increased brand exposure, direct customer engagement, improved marketing efficiency, and enhanced credibility.
Sellers also emphasized “aged” and “verified” accounts as key selling points. During an attempted purchase, the seller directed communication to a Telegram chat, stating that newly created bulk accounts are typically banned within hours, whereas their accounts—already verified and long-established—could be used almost permanently.
When questioned about how such accounts were obtained in large quantities, the seller abruptly deleted the conversation and disappeared.
As many of these transactions are believed to involve compromised or stolen accounts, experts warn that users must exercise heightened caution. At the same time, criticism is growing that Naver should take more proactive measures beyond issuing user warnings to combat account abuse.
알파경제 Ellie Kim 인턴기자(press@alphabiz.co.kr)
