Naver News Partnership Guide — How to Get Your Online Newspaper on Korea's Biggest Portal

If you've launched an internet newspaper in Korea, your next milestone is Naver News Partnership. Being listed on Naver NewsStand dramatically increases your visibility and traffic — it's the single most impactful step for growing your media outlet.

However, the evaluation process is notoriously rigorous. This guide walks you through eligibility requirements, technical preparation, and strategies for passing the review.

What Is Naver News Partnership?

Naver News Partnership allows media organizations to supply articles directly to Naver's news services. Once approved:

• Your media logo appears on Naver NewsStand
• Articles are directly indexed in Naver News search
• Content appears in the Naver News section
• Traffic typically increases by 10x or more

Eligibility Requirements

1. Legal Requirements

• MCST (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) internet newspaper registration (mandatory)
• Periodical registration certificate
• At least 6 months of operation after registration (1+ year recommended)
• Minimum 3 full-time journalists on staff

2. Content Requirements

• High ratio of original reporting (avoid simple press release republication)
• Consistent article publishing frequency (minimum 5-10 articles per weekday)
• Demonstrated expertise in a specific field or strong local coverage
• Article quality: proper grammar, depth of reporting, professional writing

3. Technical Requirements

• Stable website operation (minimal downtime)
• SSL certificate (HTTPS) mandatory
• Mobile responsive design
• RSS/Atom feed properly configured
• sitemap.xml with article URLs
• Permanent, unique article URLs
• Clear separation between ads and content

💡 With BylineCloud: SSL, mobile responsiveness, RSS feeds, sitemaps, and SEO-friendly URLs are included out of the box — no additional technical setup needed.

Preparation Checklist

✅ Content Quality Review

Content quality is the most important factor in the evaluation.

1. Original Reporting Ratio

- Reduce the proportion of republished press releases

- Increase direct interviews, on-site coverage, and independent analysis

- Exclusive scoops are a significant advantage

1. Article Writing Quality

- Headlines: Accurate and not clickbait

- Body: Structured following journalistic standards (5W1H)

- Photos: Original photography or properly licensed images

- Attribution: Clear sourcing for all citations

1. Publishing Frequency & Consistency

- Minimum 5 articles per weekday

- Avoid publishing all articles on a single day

- Maintain minimal coverage on weekends/holidays

✅ Technical Audit

✅ Legal & Ethical Compliance

• Adherence to journalism ethics codes
• No copyright violations (no unauthorized republication)
• Privacy policy page exists
• Publisher and editor information displayed on site
• Correction/rebuttal request procedures published

Application Process

Step 1: Preparation (3-6 months)

• Meet all checklist items above
• Build sufficient article archive (500+ articles recommended)
• Complete Korea Press Foundation training programs (bonus points)

Step 2: Apply Online

• Submit application at Naver News Partner
• Provide detailed media information, staff details, publishing history
• Submit technical specifications (RSS URL, sitemap URL, etc.)

Step 3: Review Period (2-3 months)

• Quantitative evaluation: article count, publishing frequency, site stability
• Qualitative evaluation: article quality, expertise, public interest
• Technical evaluation: RSS functionality, site architecture

Step 4: Results

• Approved: Naver News integration process begins
• Rejected: Reasons provided, reapplication possible (typically after 6 months)

Strategies for Passing the Review

Demonstrate Expertise

• Focusing on one field is advantageous
• Clear identity: "IT & Startup specialist", "Education specialist", "Local news"
• Article quality worthy of being cited by other publications

Build Your Archive

• Quality over quantity, but volume matters too
• At least 6 months of consistent publishing history
• Balanced distribution across categories

Maximize Technical Quality

• Minimize site downtime (99%+ uptime)
• Optimize page loading speed
• Clean, trustworthy UI/UX design

What to Avoid

• ❌ Excessive clickbait headlines
• ❌ Unauthorized copying of other media's articles
• ❌ Disguising sponsored content as regular news
• ❌ Intrusive popup ads or poor user experience
• ❌ False or exaggerated reporting

BylineCloud: Technical Requirements Solved

Naver's technical requirements are quite specific. With BylineCloud, the following are automatically covered:

This means journalists can focus entirely on content while BylineCloud handles the technical infrastructure.

Conclusion

Naver News Partnership is the biggest growth catalyst for Korean internet newspapers. While the evaluation is demanding, systematic preparation makes it achievable.

Key takeaways:

1. Write great articles consistently (most important)
2. Cover all technical requirements thoroughly
3. Maintain legal and ethical standards
4. Build 6+ months of operating history

From newspaper launch to Naver News Partnership, BylineCloud supports your technical foundation. If you want to focus on content, contact us about BylineCloud.