[THE INVESTOR] South Korean Internet giant Naver on July 28 posted its second-quarter operating profit of 272.7 billion won (US$240 million), up 44 percent from a year ago, largely buoyed by soaring overseas sales of its immensely popular LINE mobile messenger.

Revenue also soared 26.3 percent to 987.3 billion won during the April-June period.




Overseas sales saw a whopping 43.1 percent growth to 349.7 billion won compared to a year ago, making up 35 percent of the company’s total quarterly earnings.

Depending on businesses, advertising sales accounted for the largest 73 percent with 722.9 billion won, followed by contents business with 235.7 billion won. Of all the revenue, mobile sales made up 62 percent, while PC sales remained at 38 percent.

LINE Corp., the company’s Japanese affiliate that recently made its successful stock debut in Tokyo and New York, said on July 27 its second-quarter operating profit surged 35.7 percent to 38.2 billion yen (US$36.30 million).

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)