Key Facts
Naver, the South Korean internet giant, announced on July 1 the launch of byUs, a new AI-powered story chat service. The platform enables users to create original stories by interacting with characters from creator-approved webtoon intellectual properties. The service is initially available only in South Korea, with plans to expand to more webtoon series.
Details of the Service
byUs offers two main types of content: Original Stories and Fan Stories. Original Stories begin with an introduction based on the original webtoon and then branch into new AI-driven conversations. Fan Stories allow users to create and share their own scenarios featuring existing characters through a built-in user-generated content tool. Additional features include AI-suggested replies, autoplay conversations, contextual image 'Snapshots,' and unlockable 'Special Cuts' that become available as users deepen their relationships with characters.
Impact and Expansion
The service launched with the webtoon 'The God of High School,' and Naver plans to expand the lineup to other fan-favorite series. Creator Sim-mok Woo expressed that the platform will allow readers to enjoy the webtoon's characters and world more deeply while creating their own stories with the author's approval. This launch follows Naver's earlier AI chatbot 'Character Chat,' which was introduced in South Korea in June 2024 and reached 100 million messages by June 2025. Character Chat later expanded to Japan under the localized name 'Kyara Chat' in February 2025.
What Readers Should Know
- byUs is currently available only in South Korea.
- The service uses AI to generate conversations and story branches based on official webtoon IPs.
- Users can create and share their own fan stories using the platform's tools.
- Naver's previous Character Chat service saw significant engagement, indicating strong demand for interactive webtoon experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is byUs?
byUs is an AI-powered story chat service launched by Naver that allows users to create original stories by interacting with characters from creator-approved webtoon IPs.
What types of content does byUs offer?
byUs offers Original Stories, which start with an introduction based on the original webtoon and branch into AI-driven conversations, and Fan Stories, where users can create and share their own scenarios with existing characters.
Is byUs available globally?
Currently, byUs is available only in South Korea. Naver plans to expand to additional webtoon series in the future.
How does byUs relate to Naver's earlier Character Chat?
Character Chat, launched in June 2024, allowed users to chat with webtoon characters and reached 100 million messages by June 2025. byUs builds on this concept with more interactive story creation features.