[Edaily Reporter Shin Yeong-bin ] Naver (NAVER(035420)) is consolidating its healthcare business capabilities under the parent company by acquiring a stake in digital healthcare firm Senacl from Naver Cloud. The plan is to enhance competitiveness in the healthcare business by integrating Senacl’s technology—which connects medical institutions and patients through Naver’s platform services such as search, booking, and payment—with Naver’s existing services.

Naver has decided to acquire 11,077,006 shares of Senacl held by its affiliate, Naver Cloud, for 18.499 billion won. The company approved the relevant resolution on the 13th, and the transaction is scheduled to close on the 20th. Once the transaction is finalized, Naver will become the largest shareholder, holding a 97.19% stake in Senacl.

Senacl is a digital healthcare company that operates “OrumChart,” a cloud-based electronic medical record (EMR) service, and “Cle,” a health management app for patients. OrumChart supports hospital operations—including medical records, prescriptions, and medical billing—while Cle helps patients manage their own health information.

Naver Cloud has been expanding its stake in Senacl since its initial investment in 2020, including an additional investment of 4 billion won in 2023. In November of last year, it became Senacl’s largest shareholder. This time, it is transferring its entire stake to Naver’s headquarters to streamline its business operations.

Naver has also been reorganizing its healthcare business structure around its headquarters. In March of this year, it transferred its medical AI development team from Naver Cloud to headquarters, and in October, it established a dedicated healthcare organization within its Tech Business division. Senacl’s co-CEOs, Wi Ui-seok and Park Chan-hee, have also joined this organization to lead the business.

Naver plans to strengthen its healthcare business by integrating Senacl’s medical information management technology into its existing platforms, such as Search, Places, Reservations, and Payments. The company envisions building a service that connects users through the entire healthcare journey—from accessing health information and searching for medical institutions to making appointments, receiving treatment, and post-treatment health management.

There are already examples of the two companies’ technologies being combined. Senacl’s “OrumChart” has been implemented at the in-house clinic located in Naver’s second headquarters, “1784,” to support medical services. Features such as pre-visit consultations using Naver Reservations and integration with Naver Works have also been implemented.

A Naver Cloud representative stated, “The goal is to bring together the healthcare business capabilities of Naver and Senacl under one organization to enhance technological and service synergies and strengthen business competitiveness,” adding, “We plan to build a healthcare ecosystem that satisfies both users and medical institutions.”