[Edaily Reporter Lee So-Hyun ] If the goal for creators in the search era was “top rankings,” competitiveness in the AI search era stems from “content worthy of being cited by AI.” To serve as the basis for AI responses, specific experiences, information density, and credibility are becoming more important than keywords.

Jeong Gu-hee (44), operator of the blog “Slim Men’s Fashion Archive”—which has recorded a cumulative total of 2.73 million citations on Naver’s (NAVER(035420)) AI Briefing—is a content creator who has experienced this shift firsthand. Going by the nickname “Myulchi Fashion,” he has diligently documented styling tips for slim Nsamngs for two years and was selected as a “Special Mate”—a recipient of the Naver Creator Fellowship’s monthly 10 million won grant.

A “Niche Topic” Became a Weapon in AI Search

Mr. Jeong’s content stems from his personal experiences and frustrations, delving deeply into the narrow topic of “skinny men.” In an interview with Edaily on the 20th, he explained, “I have a body type where, because I’m skinny with long limbs, if I adjust the sleeve length, the fit around my neck is off,” adding, “I started this to help people with similar insecurities conceal their body shape and reduce failed clothing purchases.”

He attributed his frequent citation in AI briefings to this narrow and well-defined target audience. Mr. Jeong said, “Thanks to the concept being limited to slender body types, I’ve accumulated specialized and rare information,” adding, “I write about 3,000 characters per post, and I think my content gets selected frequently because I try to pack in as much information as possible.” His goal is to ensure that readers don’t need to search for other articles after reading just one of his posts.

Simple Language Instead of ‘Vogue-Style’… Criteria for Articles Cited by AI

As AI Briefing citations have increased, writing styles have also changed. Mr. Jeong said, “I now write in greater detail about things I used to cover briefly, and I strive to include content not found in other reviews.”

While fashion content often employs the so-called “Vogue-style”—a mix of English-style expressions and abstract modifiers—Mr. Jeong has instead opted for plain language. “There are words that people who aren’t deeply familiar with fashion might not understand,” he explained. “I write in a way that even young students can understand, and when I use technical terms, I include an explanation afterward.” Her assessment is that the texts AI uses as the basis for its responses tend to prioritize clear explanations and specific information over fancy phrasing.

He has also identified the characteristics of content that AI tends to cite effectively. In the fashion sector, he explained that recommendation-style articles—such as those offering tips on how to harmoniously coordinate outfits or providing size measurements—are particularly well-suited for AI briefings. He shared his “trade secret,” noting that articles addressing specific situations—such as how to style items in challenging colors like purple pants or what combinations work for each season—are particularly popular. He added that when the condition “slender build” is included, the information becomes even more exclusive.

Mr. Jeong, who started his fashion blog two years ago, has now accumulated approximately 1,600 posts. “Although it’s a hobby, I aim to write two posts a day,” he said. “If I can’t post on a certain day due to my schedule, I make up for it on other days to meet my quota.” Recently, to increase page views and AI citations, he has been publishing four to five posts a day.

“Experience Is Something AI Can’t Do”

Mr. Jeong believes that a creator’s competitive edge in the AI era ultimately lies in “firsthand experience.” He argues that even as generative AI rapidly produces text and images, the role of the person creating the original content will inevitably grow. This is because, even if AI learns to write, it is merely a secondary process, whereas experience is always gained by humans first.

“Beyond experience,” Mr. Jeong said, “AI cannot replace content that captures distinctive traits, emotions, and the empathy that comes with them.” He added, “AI cannot empathize with emotions like the insecurities I felt about my slim build or the heartache of being teased.”

A prime example of content that overcame such insecurities and resonated with readers is the “Bermuda Shorts” post. He explained, “I usually avoided wearing shorts because of my insecurity about my skinny legs, but this year’s heatwave prompted me to research ways to wear shorts while concealing that insecurity, and when I posted about it, the response was better than expected.”

Traffic Up 20% Since Becoming a Special Mate… “I Need to Find What the AI Doesn’t Have”

There have also been changes since being selected as a Naver Special Mate. Mr. Jeong said, “Overall, blog traffic and page views have gradually increased,” adding, “It seems to have risen by more than 20% compared to before.” He also noted that more creators are taking on the challenge in hopes of earning the Special Mate emblem.

She plans to reinvest the 10 million won monthly grant into her content. While real-life experience is crucial for fashion content, there are limitations because she can’t keep buying clothes indefinitely. “I’ll use the grant to buy clothes and upgrade my photography equipment to enhance my content production capabilities,” she said.

He emphasized that even in the age of AI, consistency is the most important thing for creators. Mr. Jeong advised, “You have to choose a field that you find fun and interesting in order to stick with it for the long term.” He continued, “You should draw heavily on your own experiences and focus on things that AI cannot do,” adding, “Since AI already has access to most information these days, the challenge is to find what AI doesn’t have.”